HQ Sustainable Maritime Industries, Inc. (HQS), a specialist in toxin-free integrated aquaculture and aquatic product processing, said it has received the order from a buyer that supplies major fast-food and retail chains with tilapia as a sustainable alternative to ocean harvested fish.

The order is for HQS's new frozen block fillets and for frozen, toxin-free all natural tilapia fillets. It was announced because HQS says the order will have a material effect on the company's finances, as well as a significant impact on its production and processing of tilapia products. HQS declined to name the customer.

HQS says it developed the block fillets to replicate the taste and texture of Alaskan pollack, a species typically used in fast-food fish sandwiches. It claims that major chains are looking to the aquaculture industry to supplement their fillet supply, since wild ocean stock continues to decline from "overfishing, global warming and pollution".

"This order signals a new direction for HQ Sustainable and will require a major increase in our production," said Norbert Sporns, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. "This customer does not take on new suppliers lightly and conducted substantial due diligence before deciding to work with us. We've been gearing up for some time, and we are thrilled to have earned their confidence, as this opportunity offers incredible market potential."

HQ Sustainable says it is the first major tilapia provider to receive Best Aquacultural Practices (BAP) certification for its processing operations from the Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC certification), a benchmark required by many US retailers.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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