Mussels - soon to be certified? (Source: Stock.xchng)

Over 2000 participants, including farmers, conservationists, academics and government officials  are working towards developing standards for 12 species: shrimp, salmon, abalone, clams, mussels, scallops, oysters, Pangasius, tilapia, trout, Seriola and cobia.  WWF believe the outcome of the dialogues will be the creation of the most credible standards for the aquaculture industry, which the ASC will implement.   

Not everyone shares this view – according to an article on SeafoodSource 70 international non-government organisations from 5 countries expressed their opposition to the formation of the ASC in a letter to WWF.  They believe the ASC will support industrial aquaculture and harm local environments and indigenous communities.

What do you think?  Will the ASC encourage more sustainable aquaculture practises world wide or will it simply be another ‘eco-labelling’ system that will confuse consumers?

The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), industry representatives and licensees recognised that a duplication and overlap in the environmental assessment of aquaculture existed. This prompted a review of environmental legislation by DEC in 2005. Aquaculture activities in general are low risk and regulations are now being amended to totally preclude aquaculture activities from the requirement to be separately environmentally licensed by DEC.

It has been agreed that the future management of aquaculture should be undertaken solely by way of DoF Aquaculture Licences and that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DoF and DEC be developed to ensure the environmental interest previously managed by DEC is addressed through DoF’s regulatory role. DoF is now implementing a series of protocols to facilitate this agreement.

Using the National ESD Framework for Aquaculture process, considered an open and transparent process, incorporates input from industry, NGOs and the regulatory agencies. This will lead to Codes of Practice, Management and Environmental Monitoring Plans (MEMP) and revised licence conditions for the finfish and prawn aquaculture sectors.

Progress to date has been significant:

1. The Final ESD Risk Assessment Report for Marine and Land-based Finfish Aquaculture has been completed.

2. The Final ESD Management Report for Marine Finfish Aquaculture has been completed.

3. The Final ESD Risk Assessment Report for Prawn Aquaculture has been completed.

4. The Draft Code of Practice for the Management of the Western Australian Marine Finfish Aquaculture Industry is being developed in consultation with DEC.

5. The Draft Guideline for Collection of Baseline Data Relevant to Aquaculture Licence Applications in Coastal Waters of Western Australia is being formulated in consultation with DEC and the EPA.

6. The Draft Guidance Statement for Developing a Management and Environmental Monitoring Plan (MEMP) for Marine Finfish Aquaculture will set out the requirements of the various regulatory agencies. The template will be based on current monitoring regimes as well as new research. This statement is being developed in consultation with DEC/ EPA.

7. The Draft ESD Management Report for Prawn Aquaculture is progressing.

8. A Memorandum of Understanding is being discussed between DoF and DEC

The Department of Fisheries will use this website to open discussions with others in the aquaculture community, various government agencies as well as industry to allow us to draw on their experience and activities. The documents mentioned above will be available shortly through this website and it is hoped that other jurisdictions will also chose to share similar documents.

Ms Fiona vom Berg, Manager Aquaculture Section DoF, will be attending the WAS Conference in Mexico in September to present a paper on the work being done in the area of environmental assessment in WA and to kick-start discussions on the potential benefits of coordinating a broader network.