Akaroa Salmon is the smallest ocean-based salmon farm in the world. Nestled in the pristine waters of Akaroa Harbour on Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū (Banks Peninsula), the boutique producer has spent nearly 40 years perfecting the art of raising king salmon, a species unique to New Zealand
The business began in 1985 when father and son Tom and Duncan Bates diversified from sheep and beef farming into aquaculture. Today, still 100 percent New Zealand owned with mana whenua Ōnuku Rūnanga as partners, Akaroa is recognised globally for its sustainability and quality. It is also a proud FernMark Licensee, carrying the FernMark as both a mark of trust and a safeguard for its brand in export markets, where it provides an added layer of intellectual property protection.
For Sales and Marketing Manager Nik Mavromatis, this ownership model is part of what makes Akaroa Salmon unique. “We’re deeply connected to this place, and that comes through in how we farm,” he says. “We’re not trying to be the biggest. We just want to do things the right way, to respect the environment, our community, and the fish.”
Akaroa Salmon has long been recognised for its sustainable, low-impact practices. Stocking densities are kept extremely low, just one percent fish to ninety-nine percent water, ensuring the salmon have plenty of space to thrive. The team hand-feed their fish with a carefully formulated diet, using underwater cameras to avoid waste. They have reduced reliance on wild caught fish oil and meal by utilising farmed algae oil for healthy Omega 3’s. “We want to farm in a way that leaves the environment as healthy as we found it,” says Nik.
The results speak for themselves. Akaroa Salmon is rated “Green” by global sustainability monitor Seafood Watch and is recognised as having one of the lowest carbon footprints of any ocean salmon farm in the world. Independent studies by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries confirm its footprint is lower than many other animal proteins. For Nik, transparency is key. “We know aquaculture gets a lot of criticism overseas, and often unfairly. That’s why we’re open about our practices. We want people to see that salmon farming, done well, can be part of the solution to feeding the world sustainably.”
That commitment to quality and authenticity is also why Akaroa Salmon values the FernMark. In 2024, the company faced a confronting challenge in Hong Kong when counterfeit salmon carrying a fake FernMark appeared on the market. With the support of the FernMark team, the issue was quickly shut down.
“The involvement of the FernMark legal team gave us an authority we simply couldn’t achieve by ourselves,” says Nik. “It demonstrated the real benefit of having the New Zealand Government backing our brand.”
For Akaroa Salmon, the FernMark has become a valuable safeguard and a mark of origin. It reassures overseas buyers that the product is genuine and sustainably produced, while giving the business the confidence that its intellectual property is protected. As global demand grows for traceable, premium seafood, Akaroa Salmon plans to expand carefully and sustainably, not by scaling rapidly but by refining practices and continuing to raise the world’s best king salmon.
The FernMark will be a key part of that journey. “It gives us credibility in export markets where we’re competing with much bigger players,” says Nik. “The FernMark represents trust, integrity and ingenuity, values that align perfectly with who we are.”
After nearly four decades, Akaroa Salmon remains grounded in its origins: a small farm, a strong community and a deep respect for the environment. “For me, the proudest moments are when we see our salmon on a plate overseas and know it’s been produced to the highest standards, right here in Akaroa,” says Nik. “It shows that a small New Zealand business can compete globally while staying true to its values.”
With the FernMark by its side, Akaroa Salmon is not only raising premium king salmon but also raising the profile of New Zealand as a leader in sustainable, authentic and trusted food.