Sustainable Aquaculture
Friend of the Sea certification programme for sustainable fish farming provides a tool for aquaculture industry to develop in respect of the marine environment.
Why Certify Sustainable Aquaculture?
Today aquaculture accounts for over 50 percent of the fish destined for human consumption (FAO 2016).
By 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, which is a 34 percent increase from today. In order to feed this larger population, food production must increase by 70 percent.
With this expanding population coupled with the declining productivity of natural fisheries, aquaculture is expected to play an ever greater role in meeting this demand in the future.
This rapid growth of the aquaculture sector inevitably presents sustainability challenges and there are major environmental concerns related to fish farming, including habitat destruction, organic and chemical pollution of nearby aquatic and benthic ecosystems and disease and parasite transmission to wild populations.
Therefore the development of carefully defined aquaculture standards and rigorous certification processes are key to the progression and growth of sustainable aquaculture.
How reliable is sustainable aquaculture certification?
Certification schemes focus on achieving sustainability of the aquaculture sector.
Aquaculture standards and certification schemes provide practical and functional sustainability benchmarks thus giving consumers more accurate information on sustainable production methods of their seafood choices.
About Our Sustainable Aquaculture Standards
Friend of the Sea has developed a series of sustainable standards of certification for aquaculture that minimises the negative effects of aquaculture operations, therefore providing a tool for the fish farming industry to develop whilst respecting the marine environment and preserving our valuable natural resources for the future.
Friend of the Sea’s Sustainable Aquaculture Certification criteria require:
- no impact on critical habitat (e.g. mangroves, wetlands, etc.);
- compliance with water quality parameters;
- reduction of escapes to negligible levels;
- no use of harmful antifouling nor growth hormones;
- compliance with social accountability;
- reduction of carbon footprint.
Technical Documents
Would you like to receive a quotation for Friend of the Sea audit and royalties to use our Friend of the Sea logo?
Please fill out the online Preliminary Information Form (PIF) on Sustainable Aquaculture Certification:
- All the information will be kept strictly confidential and implies NO commitment from your company.
- The Friend of the Sea certification is voluntary and NOT mandatory to gain access to markets.
- The application process is NOT discriminatory on size, scale, management and minimum number of operators.
- Friend of the Sea is a NGO and it strives to make participation in the audits affordable for all companies.
- Please, contact us for more information on Government funding which might be available in your country for sustainability certifications: info@friendofthesea.org
