Better Health for All

AquaBounty's AquAdvantage Salmon, their primary product, contains 40% higher levels of a hormone linked to certain cancers and exhibited up to 52% higher levels of 'allergenic potency.'

It also has 65.4% less omega 3/6 fatty acids and 5% less protein compared to wild salmon, and 58% more total fat than conventionally farmed salmon. The company targets sales to the restaurant industry where the product does not have to be labeled as genetically engineered, preventing informed consumer choice. Former worker testimony alleges consistent violations of food safety and consumer health standards, including contamination of salmon tanks with unsafe levels of fiberglass particles and heavy metals. The company received multiple notices of noncompliance for effluent water exceeding ammonia limits in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and was fined for repeatedly violating environmental regulations. In March 2021, 15,000 gallons of tank water spilled. Employees were instructed to obscure the reality of fish mortalities and water quality before tours. A former employee who contacted OSHA was fired within a week, though OSHA dismissed his complaint. The new Ohio facility intends to pump 3 to 5 million gallons per day from the Michindoh Aquifer and discharge into the St. Joseph river.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on aquaculture and the production and sale of salmon.

The company's core business does not involve lending, insuring, moving, or storing money, nor does it offer financial services to consumers. Therefore, all KPIs related to financial products, services, fees, lending practices, customer financial outcomes, and financial literacy initiatives are not applicable to its operations. While the company aims to provide high-quality, healthy, affordable salmon to all consumers, including underserved communities, and locates farms close to key consumption markets, this relates to product access, not financial inclusion. The company retains future earnings to finance operations and growth, which is standard profit retention, not reinvestment in community finance.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

The company has no public record of labor-law breaches, violations, fines, or compliance issues.

While allegations of safety violations were made, an OSHA complaint related to these allegations was dismissed.

Honest & Fair Business

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. has a formal whistleblower protection policy, which includes a 24/7 confidential Reporting Hotline and an online web form for reporting concerns.

However, no evidence is provided regarding independent investigation processes for these reports. The company also mentions a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, but no details are available on its content, enforcement, or due diligence practices.

Kind to Animals

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. conducted safety and effectiveness studies for regulatory approval, submitting data from over 150,000 of its own salmon and approximately 9,000 non-GE Atlantic salmon.

The company does not have an explicit animal testing policy in the provided articles. Allegations from a former employee include ignored animal welfare concerns, high mortalities in densely packed fish tanks, and fish dying from ruptured stomachs due to artificially fast growth. Reports also mention inhumane killing methods, fish corpses left to rot, and fin erosion due to high density. The company's CEO called these allegations 'grossly mischaracterized and sensationalized'. A federal judge ruled in February 2021 that the FDA ignored serious possible environmental consequences by approving genetically engineered salmon and was in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. The company has faced legal challenges and consumer backlash regarding its genetically engineered salmon, and there is no evidence of active engagement in animal welfare policy improvement or advocacy for higher standards.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

AquaBounty Technologies has no formal partnerships with indigenous or local community groups, despite operating in areas with indigenous populations.

Indigenous groups, including the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, have repeatedly called for a full Environmental Impact Assessment and consultation with Northwest Treaty Tribes regarding GM salmon. The company has largely avoided engagement with NGOs and the general public. There is no evidence of a formal cultural impact assessment protocol, and indigenous communities are calling for such assessments. The US District Court ruled that the FDA violated environmental laws in approving GE salmon, forcing a re-examination of consequences. The company has not engaged affected communities in Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, with indigenous groups actively opposing GE salmon and filing lawsuits.

Safe & Smart Tech

The company states it takes appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access or alteration of data, and no documented incidents of unauthorized data use are mentioned.

Users have the right to access, update, or delete their personal information by sending an email to privacy@aquabounty.com, which represents industry-standard user privacy controls. The company maintains a system of internal controls that comply with applicable securities laws and has filed all SEC Reports since January 1, 2024, on a timely basis. Its privacy policy also mentions compliance with California Business & Professions Code Section 22575(b) regarding 'Do Not Track' browser settings and the laws of Massachusetts. The Board has overall responsibility for risk oversight and cybersecurity. The company utilizes the Aqua Trivy scanner to continuously uncover vulnerabilities in code, container images, third-party components, open source packages, and dependencies, and aims to prevent known vulnerabilities from reaching production. It also states that it finds and fixes vulnerabilities early in the application lifecycle.