FoS speaks at Aqua 2012 on the importance of aquaculture sustainability

Paolo Bray – Director of Friend of the Sea – will be speaking at the 2012 meeting of the World Aquaculture Society, which will be held from the 1st to the 5th of September in Prague. Aquaculture Europe and World Aquaculture meet in the capital of the Czech Republic, 6 years since last successful meeting held in Florence.
The theme of the event is “Global Aquaculture – Securing our Future”. According to last UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, aquaculture output is expected to rise 33% over the next decade. By 2018 farmed fish will exceed captured fish for human consumption for the first time and its share should reach 52% in 2021. Global fish demand is increasing as it represents a valuable source of protein and essential micronutrients for a balanced nutrition (source: Reuters).
From this point of view aquaculture is facing a big challenge and both economic and environmental sustainability are a key-issue to be considered for the development of the entire sector. Our future depends on how we manage our resources in a long term perspective.
Friend of the Sea certifies aquaculture products since the very beginning of its activity. Friend of the Sea certification strict requirements guarantee that farmed fish and seafood carrying FOS logo have been reared and harvested respecting the critical habitats, not damaging the surrounding eco-system and with no use of harmful antifoulants and growth hormones.
First FOS certifications of farmed fish date back to 2006 when the first Shetland Islands salmon plant and Italian seabream and rainbow trouts were approved. From then on the variety of species and the number of certified products originated from aquaculture activities, all over the world, has notably increased. Now 65% ca. of all FOS certified products are farmed and a further increase is likely predictable.
The most certified species are mussels and shrimps, followed by salmon, trout, seabream and seabass. FOS certified farmed products originate from almost 50 countries worldwide, lead by Spain, Italy, Norway, South America and Australia.
In the context of Aqua, Paolo Bray will update of FOS certification program, explaining the procedures and giving evidence of all the benefits the certification entails. (Bray’s speech is scheduled on the 2nd of September within the “Standards & Certifications” session. See also https://www.was.org)
For more info:
www.friendofthesea.org
@mail: info@friendofthesea.org
Phone: +39.02.87075167
Mobile: +39.3485650306
skype: friend.of.the.sea
Friend of the Sea
Friend of the Sea is an international non-profit certification scheme for products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Certified products are fished from not overexploited nor IUCN Redlisted stocks and with selective methods which do not impact the seabed. Those originate from aquaculture are reared with respect of critical habitat, with no use of antifoulants, GMOS and growth hormones.

World Aquaculture Society
World Aquaculture Society  was founded in 1969 as the World Mariculture Society. Since it’s beginning the membership in WAS has grown to more than 3,000 members in about 100 countries representing the global aquaculture community. In order to meet the expanding international nature of the Society and to address specific needs in various areas of the world, the WAS has created Chapters in the United States, Japan, Korea, Latin American and Caribbean region and the Asian-Pacific region and  is associated with other aquaculture associations. Through its international networks, the WAS provides leadership for enhanced international communications, collaboration and information exchange. AQUA 2012 is one of the largest Aquaculture Tradeshow involving producers from Europe and Africa, Canada, USA and Latin America as well as the Middle East and Asia Pacific region. The show, including an intense conferences’ program, is offering one of the widest variety of products giving the opportunity to inspect the latest in products and services for the aquaculture industry.

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