Organic Aquaculture
Aquaculture in general is one of the food production activities with the highest growth rates worldwide. In contrast, almost everywhere sea fishing activity has become static, as its sustainable limits have been exceeded.
In this scenario, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the problems related to the safety and quality of aquaculture products and of the relevant environmental and animal welfare issues.
As the above considerations are true for a vast geographic area, IFOAM (
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements - www.ifoam.org), which is the international umbrella organization for organic products, has decided to set the procedures for the approval of Basic Standards also for organic aquaculture.
Voluntary certification standards for fish products already exist in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, Ireland, the United States and Canada.
It is a well-known fact, that organic farming has remarkably developed in Italy in recent years. It was thus expected that consumers of organic products would turn their attention also to aquaculture products.
In the light of all this, ICEA developed a new voluntary certification scheme based on the Standard recently issued by AIAB (Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica), which regulates both tank and sea farming.
The elaboration of this new certification scheme has been entrusted to Dr. Pino Lembo, a researcher of the experimental observatory for the study of sea resources of Torre a Mare, Bari (COISPA Technology & Research).
The Standard approved by AIAB is the result of the joint work of researchers, producers and consumers. It also incorporates the experiences reported in a multidisciplinary study conducted a few years ago by UNIPROM Consortium. Needless to say, the Standard adheres to the rules laid down in the IFOAM Basic Standard and in the Organic Aquaculture Bill at the Senate.
The Standard promulgates the basic criteria of organic livestock farming, appropriately adapted to the aquaculture sector. More specifically, its characteristic features can be summarized as follows:
a) Concern for the environment and ethics;
b) Rearing practices ensuring animal welfare;
c) Natural rearing and quality as key targets.
To guarantee consumers and for balanced diets, some tables containing indications for the natural, GMO-free feeding of fish, have been prepared ensure the protection of the species.
The physico-chemical parameters of water, the rearing space in tanks, effluents and even the speed of the currents under the rearing units have received due attention, and so has the critical conversion stage.
Among the first to apply the Standard, were Blu Valley Srl, with an extensive culture in a protected area of the Venetian lagoon, and Nautilus of Vibo Valentia, a mariculture cooperative.
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