WWF & Aquaculture Certification

Colin Brannen, World Wildlife Fund

Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers

October 22, 2009

WWF and Aquaculture

Focus on aquaculture began with shrimp

Studied impacts and realized they could be reduced

Evolved into multi-stakeholder development of performance-based, voluntary standards

An aquaculture eco-label should cover a suite of species

Standards to be created for 12 species

Tilapia

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Salmon

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Trout

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x th

ousa

nds)

Pangasius

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x th

ousa

nds)

Catfish

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Aquaculture Capture

Source: FAO FishStat – Aquaculture Production: Quantities 1950-2005 and Capture Production: 1950-2005

Shrimp

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Standards to be created for 12 species

Source: FAO FishStat – Aquaculture Production: Quantities 1950-2005 and Capture Production: 1950-2005

Oysters

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Clams, Cockles & Arkshells

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Mussels

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Seaweed

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

Aquaculture Capture

Abalone

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x th

ousa

nds)

Scallops

Pro

duct

ion

(met

ric t

ons

x m

illio

ns)

WWF’s Experience with Certification Programs

Rainforest Marketing – 1980s

Forest Stewardship Council – 1990s

Marine Stewardship Council – 1990s

Marine Aquarium Council – 1990s

Protected Harvest – 2000

Climate Savers - 2000s

Aquaculture Stewardship Council – 2010

Aquaculture Dialogues

Science based

Performance based

Transparent and credible process

Truly multi-stakeholder

Bivalve Aquaculture Dialogue

Dialogue Meetings Washington, DC, August 2004

Regional US meetings Pacific Northwest , Gulf Coast , Atlantic Coast, Northeast

Nelson, New Zealand

Santiago De Compostela, Spain

Victoria, Canada

Brussels, Belgium (Global Steering Committee)

Qingdao, China

Over 350 participants from 13 countries

Wide ranging representation – NGOs, producers, scientists, researchers, retail, and industry groups

Welcome Input From All Stakeholders

Global Steering Committee

Bill Dewey: Taylor Shellfish

Peter Cranford: Bedford Institute of Oceanography /DFO Canada

Bob Rheault: East Coast Shellfish Growers Association

Mike Mandeno: Aquaculture New Zealand

Ken Grange: National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (New Zealand)

Francene Wineti: Te Ohu Kai Moana

Aad Smaal: Wageningen University

Paddy Walker: The Wadden Sea Society

Tom Pickerell and David Jarrad: Shellfish Association of Great Britain

Antonio Hervas: IFQC

Corey Peet: The David Suzuki Foundation

Sandy Shumway: University of Connecticut

Colin Brannen: WWF

Need ‘shared language’ to reach agreement

Definition Non-aquaculture example

Aquaculture example

Impact The problem we want to minimize

Overweight Waste in effluents

Principle The guiding principle for addressing the impact

Maintain a healthy weight

Conserve water resources

Criteria The area to focus on to address the impact

Food consumption Nutrient use and release

Indicator What to measure in order to determine the extent of the impact

Calories The amount of phosphorus added and released per metric ton of fish produced

Standard The number and/or performance level to reach to determine if the impact is being minimized

< 4.5 calories/kilogram of body weight/day

Phosphorus input or utilization in tilapia aquaculture operations will not exceed 30 kg P /mt fish produced and loads of phosphorus released into natural receiving waters will not exceed 22 kg P/mt fish produced

10

Piranha Aquaculture Dialogue

Principle 3 : Protect worker health and safety

Criteria

Accidents on the farm

Indicator

The number of lost fingers per month

Standard

No more than 2 lost fingers per month

Method Classification Decision Condition

Seabed video/ imaging and surficial sediment sulfide (S) concentration at farm sampling sites vs. reference sites

Non-depositional, coarse sediment (sand, cobble) orS ≤1500 µM)

Acceptable Monitor every 5 years

Depositional, fine sediment and

A) S >1500 and ≤ 3000 µM

Acceptable Monitor every year

B) S > 3000 µM Unacceptable Management response (e.g. site fallowing) necessary before farm is eligible for certification

Benthic Assessment

Looking Forward

Bivalve Aquaculture Dialogue Draft Standards- open for public consultation until November 30th

December 9-11th GSC meeting in Sydney, Australia to address public comments and amend the draft standards

Second public comment period January-February 2010

Bivalve Aquaculture Dialogue Standards finalized in early 2010 and incorporated into ASC

MSC and enhanced fisheries

Capture-based Aquaculture – known as ‘Catch and grow’ fisheries. For example, in mussel fishing where the fishers catch small, young mussels and grow them on ropes. The important factor that separates this from pure aquaculture is that the fish start out being caught from the wild. Some catch-and-grow fisheries fall within the scope of the MSC standard.

Culture-based fisheries – also known as ‘Hatch and catch’ fisheries.

Habitat modification: for example, providing ropes for mussels to grow on.

Dialogue Definition of Aquaculture

The active husbandry of bivalve shellfish from seed to harvest within a defined area and with defined ownership of the shellfish being cultured.

MSC vs. ASC certification

Scope (farm vs. fishery)

Cost

Reputation and recognition

Detail

Social component of the ASC

17

colin.brannen@wwfus.org, www.worldwildlife.org/aquadialogues

Thank You