Organic Aquaculture
Aquaculture in general is one of the food production activities with the highest growth rate worldwide. In contrast, almost everywhere the sea fishing activity is 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 have Basic Standards approved also for organic aquaculture. Voluntary certification standards for fish products exist already in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, Ireland, the United States and Canada.
As it is well known, organic farming has had a remarkable development in Italy in recent years. So, it was to be expected that consumers of organic products would turn their attention also to aquaculture products.
Therefore, ICEA has 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 IFOAM Basic Standard and in the Organic Aquaculture Bill at the Senate.
The Standard lays down 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.
Some tables have been prepared that give indications for the natural, GMO-free feeding of fish guaranteeing consumers and for balanced diets ensuring 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, we can mention Blu Valley Srl, an extensive culture in a protected area of the Venetian lagoon, and the mariculture cooperative Nautilus of Vibo Valentia.
Download:
· AIAB Aquaculture Standard
For this certification, ICEA has adopted the Certification Regulation and documents pertaining to the IFOAM-accredited system. However, only after the final approval of the Basic Standards will it be possible to have certificates and product labels bearing indications referring to IFOAM accreditation.
For information, please contact:
Dr. Pino Lembo