Posts Tagged ‘Sustainability’


National Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture Act

December 23rd, 2009 by Hayley

Surfaced Aquapod

Open Ocean Aquaculture (Source: Ocean Farm Technologies, Inc.)

The National Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture Act 2009 has been introduced in the US to protect ocean health from risks of open ocean aquaculture. 

There are currently no overarching policies or laws stipulating how this method of fish farming should be governed in America’s territorial waters, generally beyond three miles from the coastline. 

This legislation establishes the first legally binding national standards for how fish farming should be conducted in the open ocean and offers a scientific based precautionary approach including environmental, socioeconomic and liability standards.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said it will offer its own national aquaculture policy early in 2010.

Click here to read the full article.

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Aquaculture Stewardship Council

December 1st, 2009 by Michelle

WWF is in the process of forming an Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), similar to the existing Marine Stewardship Council.  The ASC is expected to be operational by 2011 and will be responsible for working with independent, third party entities to certify farms that are in compliance with the standards for responsible aquaculture being developed by participants of the Aquaculture Dialogues.

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

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?

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Is the Use of Fishmeal and Fish Oil in Aquaculture Diets Sustainable?

September 3rd, 2009 by Hayley

A new document has been added to the Envirofinfish Library.

“The conversion of small wild fish into the fishmeal and fish oil (F&FO) for use in formulated diets for farmed fish and crustaceans has become a hotly debated topic.  Some argue that the practice of using wild fish in the form of F&FO to feed farmed fish species potentially competes with their direct use for human consumption and their value in the ecosystem.  At the centre of the debate are two questions: (i) How many kilograms of wild fish in the form of F&FO does it take to produce 1 kg of farmed fish? (ii) Is the use of wild fisheries to product F&FO sustainable? ”              

               G. Schipp, Manager Aquaculture, Fisheries, Darwin Aquaculture Centre.

Click here to read more on this topic by viewing the whole article.  The document is also accessible from the Library menu.  Share your views on this topic by leaving a comment below.

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