Aquaculture Production
5.10 Aquaculture Production
This section includes:
5.10.2 Conversion to organic aquaculture
5.10.4 Location of production units
5.10.5 Location of collection areas
5.10.10 Transportation of living marine animals
5.10.1. Scope
Aquaculture includes the farming of many different species using diverse forms of production in fresh-, brackish- and saltwater.
This Standard covers aquatic plants and fish and carnivorous, omnivorous and herbivorous organisms of all types and at all stages of growth, grown in any form of enclosure such as earthen ponds, tanks and cages (open and closed systems). Wild, stationary organisms in open collecting areas can be certified as organic. Organisms that are moving freely in open waters, and/or that are not capable of inspection according to general procedures for organic production, are not covered by these Standards.
Wild, sedentary organisms in open collecting areas may be able to be certified as organic, refer to section 5.10.5 Location of Collecting areas.
Organic aquaculture is based on:
- High quality water entering the system
- Sound management practices
- The use of appropriate stocking rates
- Consideration of stock welfare
- The use of approved inputs
Operators shall comply with all relevant general requirements of section 4 and 5 and aquatic ecosystems shall be managed to comply with relevant requirements of the introduction section of this Standard.
Aquatic plant production shall comply with the relevant requirements of the introduction section and section 4 of this Standard.
5.10.2 Conversion to Organic Aquaculture
General Principles
The total production in each farming unit or under each operator’s control should be converted to organic aquaculture over a specified period of time. Aquaculture production methods can vary widely according to biology of the organisms, technology used, geographical conditions, ownership structure, time span etc. These aspects need to be considered when determining the length of conversion. If a production unit is not converted all at once, part of the aquaculture unit may be converted and certified, as long as organically managed stock can be clearly defined and a designated area is set aside for organic production only.
Independent sections of the production unit should be converted in such a way that these standards are completely met on each section before it is certified as organic.
There should be a clear plan of how to proceed with the conversion. This plan shall be updated as necessary and should cover all aspects relevant to these standards.
5.10.2.1 The operation must comply with basic organic standards throughout the conversion period. Calculation of the conversion period may not start before the date of the last non-complying input or practice.
5.10.2.2 Where the entire production is not converted the following is required:
- Physical separation between conventional and organic production units
- Organic production can be inspected with respect to water quality, feed, medication, input factors or any other relevant sections of these standards, adequate documentation including financial accounting is available for both production systems
- Converted units are not switched between organic and conventional management
5.10.2.3 The length of the conversion period shall be 12 months or at least one life cycle of the organism in question, and will take into account life cycle and species, environmental factors, and past use of the site with respect to waste, sediments and water quality.
5.10.2.4 Organisms shall be raised organically from birth. Organisms of conventional origin may be brought-in if organic stock is not available provided they are not genetically engineered. Brought in organisms shall meet the following conversion periods:
- 12 months in the case of three year old fish for meat production or at least three quarters of their lifetime
- Six months in the case of small fish under two years
- 10 weeks for the production of pansize brought in before they are 20grams of weight
- 12 months in the case of caviar production
5.10.2.5 No conversion period is required in the case of:
- Open collecting areas for wild, sedentary organisms where the water is free-flowing and not directly or indirectly contaminated by substances prohibited in these standards
- Where the collecting area can be inspected with respect to water quality, feed, medication, input factors or any other relevant sections of these standards and where all requirements are met
5.10.3 General Principles
Management techniques must be governed by the physiological and ethological needs of the organisms in question. The organisms should be allowed to meet their basic behavioural needs. Management techniques, especially when applied to influence production levels and speed of growth, must maintain and protect the good health and welfare of the organisms.
When introducing non-native species, special care must be to avoid permanent disruption to natural ecosystems.
Production will maintain the aquatic environment and surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, by using a combination of production practices which:
- Encourage and enhance biological cycles
- Use a wide range of methods for disease control e.g. emptying ponds between batches to light kill bacteria
- Prohibit synthetic fertilisers and avoid chemotherapeutic agents
- Provide for polyculture where possible
Converting material of plant and animal origin into animal production results in nutrient and energy losses. Where possible farms should have settling ponds for recycling nutrients and to ensure that the water quality leaving the farm is equal to the quality arriving to the farm
Standards
5.10.3.1 Operators must comply with all the relevant general requirements listed in sections 4 and 5 of this Standard for fish and aquatic plants.
5.10.3.2 There must be adequate room in cages or ponds for the fish to exhibit natural behaviour, such as forming shoals. Stocking densities shall not compromise animal welfare. Operators shall routinely monitor water quality, stocking densities, health and behaviour or of each school and manage the operation to maintain water quality, health, and natural behaviour.
5.10.3.3 The standard-setting organization may allow artificially prolonged light periods, appropriate to the species and geographical location. Day length shall not be artificially prolonged beyond 16 hours per day.
Construction agents
5.10.3.4 Construction and operation of the production unit must not have a significant adverse effect on the surrounding aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems, the environment or local communities in accordance with the Resource Management Act.
Construction materials and production equipment must not contain compounds that could detrimentally affect the environment or contaminate the certified product, e.g. paints, materials impregnated with synthetic/chemical agents etc.
5.10.3.5 Adequate measures must be taken to prevent escapes of introduced or cultivated species, from enclosures and document any that are known to occur.
5.10.3.6 Adequate measures must be taken to prevent predation on species living in enclosures. The poisoning of predators is not permitted.
5.10.3.7 Environmental parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity and suspended solids must not fluctuate drastically within the system.
Operators shall take verifiable and effective measures to minimize the release of nutrients and waste into the aquatic ecosystem.
Continuous addition of ample unpolluted water is essential in preventing stress and sickness in farmed fish and is a cornerstone of organic aquaculture. If O2 levels at the outflow of the farm fall below 50% of the incoming level for more than 24 hours action needs to be taken to lift the O2 levels either by reducing fish numbers or increasing water flow.
Where possible farms should have settling ponds for recycling nutrients and to ensure that the water quality leaving the farm is equal to the quality arriving on the farm. In the case of filter feeding molluscs the water leaving the unit is likely to contain less nutrient and be of higher quality than water entering the farm.
Fertilisers and pesticides are prohibited unless they appear in tables 1 and 2 of section 10.
5.10.4 Location of Production Units
General Principles
Location of organic production units maintains the health of the aquatic environment and surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem.
Production units shall be at appropriate distances from contamination sources and conventional aquaculture.
Aquaculture production will minimise negative environmental impact.
Standards
5.10.4.1 For sedentary or sessile organisms not living in enclosures the area shall be at an appropriate distance from pollution or harmful influence from conventional aquaculture/agriculture.
5.10.5 Location of Collecting Areas
General Principles
Wild, sedentary/sessile organisms in open collecting areas may be certified as organic if they are derived from an unpolluted, stable and sustainable environment.
Collecting areas should be at appropriate distances from contamination and conventional aquaculture.
Negative environmental impact from aquaculture production or harvesting shall be minimised.
Standards
5.10.5.1 The harvesting/production area shall be clearly defined and shall be capable of inspection with respect to water quality, feed, medication, input factors and other relevant sections of these standards.
5.10.5.2 Collecting areas shall be at appropriate distances from pollution and possible harmful influences from non-organic aquaculture.
5.10.6 Health and Welfare
General Principles
Living aquatic organisms should be handled as little as possible. Operators shall ensure that they meet legislative requirement as appropriate.
Note refer to Animal Welfare Act.
The cause of outbreaks of disease or infection should be identified, and management practices implemented to prevent the causative events and future outbreaks. When treatment is necessary the use of natural methods and medicines should be a first choice.
Disease treatment should be carried out so that it minimises harmful effects on the environment.
Standards
5.10.6.1 Conventional, veterinary medicinal products may only be used if no other justifiable alternative is available, and/or if the treatment is required by legislation. If an organism becomes sick or injured despite preventive measures that animal shall be treated promptly and adequately. Operators shall not withhold medication where is will result in the unnecessary suffering of the organism, even if the use of such medication will cause the organism to lose its organic status.
If veterinary medicinal products are used, the length of the withholding periods shall be not less than double of that required by legislation, or a minimum of 48 hours, whichever is longer.
The use of chemical allopathic veterinary drugs and antibiotics is prohibited for invertebrates.
5.10.6.2 Prophylactic use of veterinary drugs, except vaccinations in certain cases (see 6.6.3.), is prohibited. The use of malachite green or formalin is not permitted as fungal treatment of eggs.
5.10.6.3 Vaccinations are permitted if diseases that cannot be controlled by other management techniques are known to exist in the region. Vaccinations are also permitted if mandatory under applicable legislation.
Genetically engineered vaccines are prohibited.
5.10.6.4 Synthetic hormones and growth promoters are prohibited.
5.10.6.5 Current, accurate disease management records shall be kept. The records shall include:
- Identification of the infected and infecting organisms concerned
- Details of treatment and duration, including application rate, method of application, frequency of repetition, concentration of organisms
- Brand names of drugs used and active ingredients
5.10.6.6 In case of irregular behaviour by the organisms, the water quality shall be analysed and adjusted as necessary according to the needs of the organisms.
5.10.6.7 Aquatic animals shall not be subject to any kind of mutilation.
5.10.7 Breeds and Breeding
General Principles
Breeding strategies and practices in organic aquaculture interfere as little as possible with natural behaviour of the animals. Natural breeding methods should be used whenever possible.
Production systems that do not provide for natural breeding, for instance collection of fish eggs and sperm and their combination under human control leading to hatching of fish eggs may be used.
Organisms shall be raised organically from birth. If organic organisms are not available, brought in conventional aquatic organisms should spend at least 2/3 of their life in the organic system before being acceptable for certification.
Brought in conventional aquatic organisms should spend at least 2/3 of their life in the organic system before being acceptable for certification.
5.10.7.1 Where available brought in aquatic organisms shall come from organic sources.
5.10.7.2 The minimum length of time brought in aquatic organisms must be managed organically before certification is permitted see section 6.2.4.
5.10.7.3 Artificially polyploided organisms and genetically engineered species or breeds, and sex-reversed fish are prohibited.
5.10.8 Nutrition (Aquaculture)
General Principles
Organic aquaculture production provides a good quality diet balanced according to the nutritional needs of the organism. Feed is only offered to the organisms in a way that allows natural feeding behaviour, with minimum loss of feed to the environment.
5.10.8.1 Aquaculture feeds shall generally contain 100% certified organic components or wild feed resources. When supplying food collected from the wild, the “Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries” (FAO, 1995) shall be followed.
When certified organic components or wild foods are not available in adequate quantity or quality, AsureQuality may allow feed of conventional origin up to a maximum of 5% (by dry weight). Permission from AsureQuality must be sought.
Operators may use non-organic aquatic animal protein and oil sources provided they:
- Are harvested from independently verified sustainable sources
- Are verified to have contamination levels below limits established by AsureQuality
- Do not constitute 100% of the diet
In cases of unforeseen severe natural events, the standard-setting organization may grant exceptions from the percentages mentioned above in. 5.10.8.1. Specific time limits and conditions will be established for such exceptions. Permission from AgriQuality must be sought.
Operators may feed a limited percentage of non-organic feed under specific conditions for a limited time in the following cases:
- Organic feed is of inadequate quantity or quality:
- Organic aquaculture is in early stages of development
At least 50% of the diet should be organic ingredients by 2020.
5.10.8.2 Feed rations should be designed so that plant /or animal sources, or both, supply most of the nutritional needs of the organism.
The use of mineral supplements if they are applied in their natural composition is permitted.
5.10.8.3 The following products shall not be included in or added to the feed or be given in any other way to the organisms:
- material from the same species/genus/family as the one being fed
- feedstuffs subjected to solvent (e.g. hexane) extraction
- pure amino acids
- urea
- synthetic growth promoters and stimulants
- synthetic appetisers
- synthetic antioxidants and preservatives
- artificial colouring agents
- genetically engineered organisms or products thereof.
5.10.8.4 Vitamins, trace elements and supplements used shall be from natural origin when available.
Allowable additives for colouring effects include yeast and algal-based products that have approval.
The use of substances from synthesised or unnatural sources will only occur under conditions established by the standard-setting organization.
5.10.8.5 The following feed preservatives may be used:
- bacteria, fungi and enzymes
- by-products from the food industry (e.g. molasses)
- plant based products.
- salt if appropriate
Synthetic chemical feed preservatives may be permitted in response to severe weather conditions. The standard-setting organization shall establish conditions for their use.
5.10.9. Harvesting
Standards
Harvesting certified organic aquatic organisms from enclosures or collecting areas creates minimum stress to the organisms. The act of collection does not negatively affect natural areas.
Harvesting or gathering of products shall not exceed the sustainable yield of the ecosystem, or threaten the existence of other species or negatively affect wild areas.
5.10.9.1 Aquatic vertebrates shall be stunned before killing. Operators shall ensure that equipment used to stun fish is sufficient to remove sensate ability and or kill the fish and is maintained and monitored.
Ice/ice slurry and clove oil for pre slaughter sedation of fish is permitted.
Fish must not be slaughtered in a pond or a cage containing live fish.
The process must be managed so as to avoid stress to the fish prior to slaughter and to avoid suffering during slaughter.
Must be in compliance with the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997.)
5.10.9.2 The species will only be certified if the sustainable yield of the ecosystem is not exceeded, and that the existence of any other species is not threatened.
5.10.9.3 The farm manager must keep an operations logbook as the record of inputs and outputs for each production unit. It must record:
i. the number and source of fingerlings introduced to ponds/cages
ii. the type, source (including batch number) and quantity of food used in each fish-raising unit
iii. fish deaths and estimated mortality in each unit
iv. the diagnosis for significant mortalities and any treatment administered
v. the numbers of fish transferred between units or harvested
vi. the data obtained from environmental monitoring undertaken by the manager or Regional Council, e.g. water temperature, oxygen content and pH
5.10.9.4 Additives and processing aids must only be used to:
i. maintain product quality and keeping ability
ii. enhance composition, consistency and appearance
Unrefined sea salt with no additives, and rock salt are permitted.
Preserving products by smoking may be permitted depending on the materials and process used. Prior written approval must be obtained from the certifier.
5.10.10 Transportation of Living Marine Animals
Standards
The transportation medium should be appropriate for the species with regards to water quality including salinity, temperature, oxygen etc. Transportation distance, duration and frequency should be mini¬mised.
Transport of living aquatic animals should be minimised and be done in the most considerate manner. Living animals should be monitored regularly and maintained in a healthy state during transportation.
The operator shall implement defined measures to ensure that organic aquatic animals are provided with conditions during transport and slaughter that meet animal specific needs and minimize the adverse effects of:
- Diminished water quality
- Time spent in transport
- Stocking density
- Toxic substances
- Escape
5.10.10.1 Oil of cloves and ice/ice slurry is permitted for transport
Transportation shall not cause avoidable stress or injury to the animals. Transportation equipment and/or construction materials shall not have toxic effects. Any sorting or moving of fish stock must be recorded.
5.10.10.2 Chemically synthesised tranquillisers or stimulants shall not be given to the animals prior to or during transport or at any time.
5.10.10.3 There shall be a minimum of one person specifically responsible for the well being of the animals during transport.
5.10.10.4 Each organism or groups of organisms shall be identified at each step in the transport and slaughter process.
