Best Aquaculture Practices

Best Aquaculture Practices is a set of guidelines and standards developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance to promote responsible and sustainable aquaculture practices. The program is designed to ensure that aquaculture operations, such as those at Cermaq and Marine Harvest, meet certain standards for environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and animal welfare, as outlined by organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Wildlife Fund. By adopting these practices, aquaculture facilities, including those in countries like Norway and Chile, can reduce their environmental impact and improve the overall quality of their products, which are often certified by organizations like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council. This approach is supported by research institutions like the University of California, Davis and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

● Introduction to

Best Aquaculture Practices The Best Aquaculture Practices program was established to address the growing concerns about the environmental and social impacts of aquaculture, as highlighted by organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme. The program is based on a set of principles and standards that were developed in consultation with industry stakeholders, including companies like Cargill and Skretting, as well as environmental organizations like the Ocean Conservancy and the Seafood Watch program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The standards cover a range of issues, including water quality, waste management, and animal health, and are designed to be applicable to a wide range of aquaculture operations, from small-scale farms like those in Vietnam to large-scale industrial facilities like those in China. The program is also supported by research institutions like the University of Washington and the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

● Principles of Responsible Aquaculture

The principles of responsible aquaculture, as outlined by organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Aquaculture Society, include a commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and animal welfare. These principles are reflected in the Best Aquaculture Practices standards, which require aquaculture operations to implement measures to minimize their environmental impact, protect the welfare of their animals, and respect the rights of local communities, as emphasized by organizations like the International Labor Organization and the United Nations Development Programme. For example, aquaculture facilities like those in Scotland and Ireland must implement measures to reduce their water pollution, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable feed practices, as recommended by organizations like the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the Irish Marine Institute. The principles of responsible aquaculture are also supported by research institutions like the University of Oxford and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

● Certification and Standards

The Best Aquaculture Practices program includes a certification scheme that allows aquaculture operations to demonstrate their compliance with the program's standards, which are recognized by organizations like the Global Food Safety Initiative and the International Organization for Standardization. The certification process involves a third-party audit of the aquaculture operation, which is conducted by organizations like SGS and Bureau Veritas, to verify that it meets the program's standards for environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and animal welfare. Certified operations are then allowed to use the Best Aquaculture Practices logo on their products, which are often sold in markets like those in Japan and South Korea. The certification scheme is also recognized by retailers like Walmart and Costco, which have committed to sourcing seafood from certified sustainable sources, as recommended by organizations like the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and the Ocean Council.

● Environmental Impact and Sustainability

The Best Aquaculture Practices program includes standards for environmental sustainability, which require aquaculture operations to implement measures to minimize their environmental impact, as emphasized by organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These measures include reducing water pollution, protecting biodiversity, and promoting sustainable feed practices, as recommended by organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the Ocean Conservancy. For example, aquaculture facilities like those in Australia and New Zealand must implement measures to reduce their energy consumption, minimize their waste, and protect the health of their animals, as outlined by organizations like the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. The program also encourages aquaculture operations to adopt innovative and sustainable technologies, such as recirculating aquaculture systems and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, which are supported by research institutions like the University of California, Santa Barbara and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

● Animal Health and Welfare

The Best Aquaculture Practices program includes standards for animal health and welfare, which require aquaculture operations to implement measures to protect the health and well-being of their animals, as emphasized by organizations like the World Animal Health Organization and the American Veterinary Medical Association. These measures include providing adequate housing and nutrition, minimizing stress and disease, and ensuring humane treatment, as recommended by organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the Animal Welfare Institute. For example, aquaculture facilities like those in Canada and United States must implement measures to reduce their use of antibiotics, promote disease prevention, and ensure that their animals are handled and slaughtered humanely, as outlined by organizations like the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the US Department of Agriculture. The program also encourages aquaculture operations to adopt best management practices for animal health, such as vaccination programs and parasite control measures, which are supported by research institutions like the University of Guelph and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

● Social Responsibility and Community Engagement

The Best Aquaculture Practices program includes standards for social responsibility and community engagement, which require aquaculture operations to respect the rights of local communities and promote social responsibility, as emphasized by organizations like the International Labor Organization and the United Nations Development Programme. These standards include requirements for fair labor practices, community engagement, and respect for indigenous rights, as recommended by organizations like the Fair Labor Association and the Indigenous Peoples' Biocultural Climate Change Assessment. For example, aquaculture facilities like those in Indonesia and Philippines must implement measures to promote fair labor practices, engage with local communities, and respect the rights of indigenous peoples, as outlined by organizations like the International Labor Organization and the Asian Development Bank. The program also encourages aquaculture operations to adopt best practices for social responsibility, such as stakeholder engagement and community development programs, which are supported by research institutions like the University of Cambridge and the Harvard Business School.

● Implementation and Management of Best Practices

The implementation and management of Best Aquaculture Practices require a commitment to continuous improvement and a culture of responsibility, as emphasized by organizations like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the International Organization for Standardization. Aquaculture operations must establish management systems and procedures to ensure that they are meeting the program's standards, as recommended by organizations like the Global Food Safety Initiative and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. This includes establishing policies and procedures for environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and animal welfare, as well as implementing training programs for staff and monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure compliance, as outlined by organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The program also encourages aquaculture operations to adopt innovative and sustainable technologies, such as aquaculture management software and remote sensing technologies, which are supported by research institutions like the University of California, Berkeley and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.