ASC on schedule to launch consumers label next year
With the Aquaculture Dialogue (AD) standard for Tilapia farming finalized and the Pangasius standard in the last round for public comment, two out of twelve Aquaculture Dialogue standards are ready to be handed over to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). The ASC led by dr. Philip Smith and co-founded by WWF and IDH, will implement the standards and shall ultimately launch a consumers label for farmed fish in mid 2011.
The Aquaculture Dialogue Standard for Tilapia is finalized mid December and the Pangasius standard is close to finalization. The AD Standard for farmed fish describe rules and regulations on social and environmental issues for fish farmers that include rules for sustainable water management, use of antibiotics, feed and labor conditions making aquaculture more sustainable.
The last round of Pangasius standards for public comment is open to all possible stakeholders. ‘We welcome feedback because we know that tapping into the experiences and expertise of a broad and diverse group of people will make the standards more robust’ says Dr. Flavio Corsin of WWF, who coordinates the Pangasius standards. ‘I am confident that, because of the open and transparent process we use, the final standards will help transform the pangasius farming industry’.
Currently twelve Aquaculture Dialogues Standards are formulated by over 2000 participants in eight multistakeholder groups that are initiated and facilitated by WWF.
Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Once Aquaculture Dialogues are finalized they are handed over to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). From 2011 on the 12 sustainable aquaculture standards will be implemented. To create market pull through the ASC will launch mid 2011 a consumers label for sustainable farmed fish that retailers can carry to offer their customers sustainably farmed fish (like the MSC offers a label for sustainably free caught fish).
The development of the ASC is led by Dr. Philip Smith. From 2004 to 2007, Dr. Philip Smith was Managing Director of Marine Harvest Europe, a leading seafood company and largest producer of farmed salmon. Prior to this he held positions as Managing Director of the Aquaculture Feed Division of Nutreco and CEO of EWOS, a leading supplier of feed for the international aquaculture industry. In his various posts Dr. Smith has been responsible for operations in Europe, US, Canada, Chile, Japan and South-East Asia, and for the complete value chain of many species of fish.
Read more about the Aquaculture program of IDH
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