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 than24hours 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.