Harvesting
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; or
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.
