Seafood is one of the most popular sources of protein worldwide. By volume, more than half of the seafood we eat is farmed, while the other half comes from the wild. Aquaculture’s contribution is expected to continue to rise while the wild-caught supply is expected to diminish or remain stable, as fisheries have reached their maximum production limits.
As with any rapidly growing activity, there are global concerns regarding aquaculture production. Specifically, the possible impacts commonly associated with aquaculture, such as water pollution, the enhancement and spread of disease, escapes outcompeting native species, habitat degradation, and social impacts to surrounding communities.
Within the aquaculture industry, some operators are better than others at mitigating these negative environmental and social impacts. It is important that we face the challenge of identifying the key areas where production can be improved. These changes could reduce or, ultimately, eliminate negative impacts. For such undertaking to be successful it is important to develop market mechanisms to reward and to help finance the improvements.
One solution is the creation of a set of requirements (i.e. Standard) for responsible aquaculture products that reward best practices. Certification requirements for social and environmental responsibility, when they are adopted and compliance is appropriately verified, can help reassure retailers and consumers that the impacts related to aquaculture are minimized and mitigated to acceptable levels1. A Standard can also provide aquaculture industry stakeholders with the tools to demonstrate to consumers and major buyers the real cost of production, which could help to ensure that farmers are appropriately compensated for their products