Wild fish and other aquatic organisms as feed in aquaculture in Europe 245
increasingly recognized that the long-term future of the aquaculture industry is
entirely dependent on sustainably managed fisheries, and all concerned need to take
full account of this.
4.3.1 Barriers to buying aquafeeds sourced from sustainable feed fisheries
There are a number of practical reasons why it has been difficult for the feed
manufacturing industry to source fish feeds entirely from sustainable sources:
TABLE 21
Summary of principles, criteria and corresponding indicators of feed fisheries sustainability
Principle Criterion (C) Indicator
- Fishing pressure and sustainability
1.1 High productivity of stock
maintaineda) Level of understanding of species and stock biology
b) Knowledge of fishing methods, effort and mortality
c) Existence of acceptable reference points
d) Existence of defined harvest strategy
e) Robust and regular assessment of stocks
f) Stocks are at an appropriate precautionary reference level.
1.2 Fishery able to rebuild stock to a predefined level within a specific time frame
1.3 Reproductive capacity of
stock maintaineda) Information on fecundity and recruitment dynamics
b) Information on stock age/sex structure
c) Evidence of changes in reproductive capacity- Structure, productivity, function and diversity of dependent ecosystem
2.1 Natural functional
relationships between species
maintained without ecosystem
state changesa) Understanding of ecosystem factors relevant to target species
b) General risk factors known and understood
c) Impacts of gear use and loss known
d) Ecosystem management strategy developed
e) Ecosystem assessment shows no unacceptable impacts
2.2 Fishery does not threaten
biodiversitya) Level of knowledge and implications of interactions
b) Management objectives set for impact identification/avoidance
2.3 Recovery of non-target
species populations permitteda) Information on necessary changes to allow appropriate recovery
b) Management measures permit adaptive change to fishing
c) Management measures allow recovery of affected populations- Information, organizational and legislative capacity for sustainable management
3.1 Management
system criteriaC2 a) Clearly defined institutional and operational framework
C1, 2, 3 b) Management system has clear legal basis
C2, 5, 7 c) Has a consultative and dispute resolution strategy and pathways
C6 d) Subsidies or incentives exist that affect fishing practices
C8 e) Adequate, operational research plan to address information needs
C7, 9, 10 f) Monitoring and evaluation system for fisheries management objectives
C11 g) Control mechanisms for enabling and enforcing management objectives
3.2 Operational
criteriaC12, 13 a) Operational mechanisms to reduce impacts on habitats and non-target
species
C14, 15 b) Measures to discourage operational wastes and destructive practices
C16 c) Fishers aware of/compliant with managerial, administrative and legal
requirements
C17 d) Fishers involved in catch, discard and other relevant data collection- Economic and social considerations
4.1 Respects the needs
of fisheries-dependent
communities, historic rights and
culturesa) Does not impact resource availability or access, directly or indirectlyb) Fisheries and fishers demonstrate understanding and sensitivity to
traditional practices and ways of life
4.2 Fishery and market operate
under natural conditions.a) Fishery operates in an economically efficient manner
b) Product trade is not artificially favoured by trade barriers or
protectionism
4.3 Labour conditions conform
to International Labour
Organization (ILO) standardsa) Freedom from enforced labour
b) Freedom of association and collective bargaining
c) No discrimination of individuals and organizations
d) Non-use of child labour
4.4 Fishery does not prejudice
food securitya) Pricing structure operates within market norm
b) Supply operates within market norm
Source: Huntington (2004)