Acme Honors Our Oceans

Smoked Salmon, Rooted in Responsibility.

At Acme Smoked Fish, we believe great food should nourish, keeping people and the planet healthy along the way. As we celebrate World Oceans Day on June 8th, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the role the ocean plays in every bite of smoked salmon we craft. In doing so, we wanted to share our appreciation for the ocean with you, and what we’re doing to help protect it.

From our sourcing practices to our sustainability partnerships, honoring the ocean isn’t just a one-off campaign. As Citizens of Seafood, ocean conservation is one of our core values as a company. It’s part of our DNA.

Why the Ocean Matters to Us...

More than 70% of the Earth is covered by water. On an existential level, our oceans regulate our climate and supply over half the oxygen we breathe. They also support billions of people by providing sustenance and employment and play a fundamental role in cultural identity and exchange. As a company built on seafood, we understand how deeply our operations are connected to the health of our waters.

That’s why we’ve made sustainability a core part of our mission. We know that crafting exceptional smoked salmon, smoked whitefish, smoked tuna, and more starts with respecting where our fish comes from.

Smoked Salmon, Sustainably Sourced.

Our smoked salmon starts with a commitment to sourcing responsibly. That includes working with trusted suppliers who meet rigorous environmental standards and harvest from well-managed stocks. Today, 99% of the Atlantic salmon we use is considered sustainable within the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) framework, and 100% of our wild sockeye salmon is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a global leader in identifying and certifying sustainable seafood and fisheries.

But our sustainability efforts don’t stop with salmon. We also work with responsible suppliers of lake whitefish, whiting, herring, and tuna, ensuring each species is handled with care and aligns with our sourcing standards. For example, our tuna is sustainably harvested in the Western Pacific and Micronesia from MSC-recognized fisheries, and our lake whitefish is sourced from well-managed freshwater ecosystems in the Great Lakes region.

Additionally, we partner with suppliers of farm-raised sturgeon who use Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), which are closed-loop systems that minimize water use and prevent pollution. When managed properly, aquaculture is a powerful solution for meeting growing demand while helping protect wild fisheries.

Our 1% for Climate Initiatives Program.

Last year, Acme Smoked Fish joined 1% for the Planet, committing 1% of select product sales toward environmental nonprofits. In our case, that means funding the Seafood Industry Climate Awards, a series of grants offered yearly to some of the most promising solutions to lowering the carbon footprint of the seafood industry. That means when you buy our smoked salmon, you’re also supporting grassroots efforts to protect marine ecosystems.

It’s a small but meaningful way to turn everyday meals into a force for good.

Cleaner Fish, Clearer Conscience.

We also take pride in minimizing waste throughout our supply chain. That includes using nearly every part of the fish, from fillets and belly trim to roe, across a wide range of products. Likewise, we’ve embraced innovations in packaging, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction across our facilities. It’s all part of our effort to reduce our footprint and be better stewards of the ocean.

What You Can Do...

Celebrating World Oceans Day doesn’t require a grand gesture. It can be as simple as:

• Choosing smoked salmon from certified sustainable sources.
• Supporting restaurants and retailers that prioritize responsibly sourced smoked fish.
• Learning more about the seafood supply chain and where your smoked fish comes from.

Every Bite Has a History.

Every package of Acme smoked salmon carries with it a story, from the pristine waters where the fish was harvested to the skilled hands that trimmed, cured, and smoked it with care. That story is shaped by people who believe food should be both honest and delicious.

So, this World Oceans Day, we raise a toast (preferably avocado toast with smoked salmon) to the seas that sustain us. And we recommit ourselves to making choices that ensure future generations can enjoy these same heritage foods, and a thriving ocean, for many years to come.

A special thanks to the Marine Stewardship Council and the Bristol Bay Seafood Development Association for providing select photos.