30 JUNE 2019 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG without increasing harm to the environment or to future human populations, it will be necessary to find new and innovative ways to operate farms and to find ways to recognize and reward farms that do the right thing. The theme of this article will be to question whether internationally-recognized certification schemes could help to achieve this. The Rise of Sustainability Certification There are many different types of sustainability standards around the world, with a range of different standards being developed as a response to perceived environmental and social problems that result from aquaculture. Sustainability certification is a market-based system and credible aquaculture certification schemes normally consist of three main components: standards, accreditation and certification. Although the unit of certification varies among standards, most include the following steps: 1) Standards for farm-level ecological and social interactions are designed and set by a standard-holding body, 2) Independent auditors are appointed to check that farms comply with the set standards, 3) Entities that are judged to comply with the standards are Introduction At least three billion people on the planet depend on seafood for a significant portion of the protein in their diets. Although significant quantities of seafood are still fished from the oceans, the demand for fish is increasing each year and the oceans are unlikely to be able to cope with future demands. An alternative source of seafood will be required. To accommodate the growing demand for more seafood, the world must increasingly turn to aquaculture as an alternative. Current estimates by the FAO (State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018) suggest that aquaculture now supplies more than half of all seafood produced for human consumption and this is expected to reach 109 million t by 2030. Over the past 20 years or so, aquaculture – in the sea and in fresh water – has been the fastest-growing food production system on the planet and includes production of a wide range of species, from tilapia and trout in freshwater to salmon and oysters in seawater. Despite its importance as an alternative to wild fish, poorly managed aquaculture can create its own set of new problems. Ecological damage, water pollution, antibiotic overuse, threats to biosecurity, and excessive use of fresh water and energy, could all result from poor aquaculture practices. To produce more seafood Has International Aquaculture Certification Resulted in Better Environmental and Social Outcomes of the Industry? Peter Cook Farmed Atlantic salmon leads the way with sustainability certification. Abalone seed attached to substrate in a land-based system. Intensive production of macroalgae.
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