7 NGO Approaches to Aquaculture
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the collaboration of NGOs and other stakeholders with governments. Marine protected areas are an important tool for coastal zone management and the designation of
areas where aquaculture is prohibited can ensure the protection of sensitive ecological
areas such as breeding grounds and migration routes for wild fish or sea mammals.
Thoughtful coastal zone planning, undertaken by governments in collaboration
with stakeholders, can help to ensure not only that critical habitats are protected,
but that fish farms are sited in the most appropriate areas: the existence of “no-go”
areas for aquaculture implies that there are also “go” areas. Producers should have
a strong incentive to ensure that farms are appropriately sited. WWF’s work with
agricultural producers has shown that farming marginal areas is not only bad for the
environment, but a financial loss for producers. There is extensive anecdotal and
some empirical evidence that shows that there is a business case for taking these
marginal areas out of production (Clay 2004; Fransen 2005). It is believed the same
will hold true for aquaculture.
Voluntary measures can complement regulation by encouraging innovation and
the best production practices. WWF believes that through collaboration and the
implementation of voluntary changes in the industry, the entire range of producers
can be shifted forward to a better performance level. The better performance of today
will be the average performance level in the future. When the performance curve is
shifted forward, regulation can then be updated, strengthened, and shifted as well.
7.4.3 Standard Development
WWF is convening multi-stakeholder dialogues to develop standards for the
responsible production of over a dozen aquaculture species. These standards can
then be used in a variety of ways, including producer or buyer screens, as part of
government permitting processes, and as the basis for a certification program or
ecolabel.
Numerous standards and codes of conduct for aquaculture production have been
developed in recent years. These include industry developed codes and standards,
retailer purchasing standards, chain of custody standards and organic production
standards. This proliferation of standards as well as their complexity has become
problematic in today’s market. It can be burdensome on producers and confusing to
consumers.
By way of example, WWF found that some banana producers in Central
America are certified and audited by up to 8 different certification programs in
order to sell into different markets. Each of the 8 signifies paperwork, audits, and
in most cases a financial cost to the producer. Half of the items audited are required
by multiple certification programs but still must be undertaken each time and the
harmonization of programs could reduce costs significantly.
New standards continue to be developed, in part because retailers or producers
are looking for a way to distinguish their products, and in part because those developing the standards are not satisfied with the existing standards. This holds true for
243
the collaboration of NGOs and other stakeholders with governments. Marine protected areas are an important tool for coastal zone management and the designation of
areas where aquaculture is prohibited can ensure the protection of sensitive ecological
areas such as breeding grounds and migration routes for wild fish or sea mammals.
Thoughtful coastal zone planning, undertaken by governments in collaboration
with stakeholders, can help to ensure not only that critical habitats are protected,
but that fish farms are sited in the most appropriate areas: the existence of “no-go”
areas for aquaculture implies that there are also “go” areas. Producers should have
a strong incentive to ensure that farms are appropriately sited. WWF’s work with
agricultural producers has shown that farming marginal areas is not only bad for the
environment, but a financial loss for producers. There is extensive anecdotal and
some empirical evidence that shows that there is a business case for taking these
marginal areas out of production (Clay 2004; Fransen 2005). It is believed the same
will hold true for aquaculture.
Voluntary measures can complement regulation by encouraging innovation and
the best production practices. WWF believes that through collaboration and the
implementation of voluntary changes in the industry, the entire range of producers
can be shifted forward to a better performance level. The better performance of today
will be the average performance level in the future. When the performance curve is
shifted forward, regulation can then be updated, strengthened, and shifted as well.
7.4.3 Standard Development
WWF is convening multi-stakeholder dialogues to develop standards for the
responsible production of over a dozen aquaculture species. These standards can
then be used in a variety of ways, including producer or buyer screens, as part of
government permitting processes, and as the basis for a certification program or
ecolabel.
Numerous standards and codes of conduct for aquaculture production have been
developed in recent years. These include industry developed codes and standards,
retailer purchasing standards, chain of custody standards and organic production
standards. This proliferation of standards as well as their complexity has become
problematic in today’s market. It can be burdensome on producers and confusing to
consumers.
By way of example, WWF found that some banana producers in Central
America are certified and audited by up to 8 different certification programs in
order to sell into different markets. Each of the 8 signifies paperwork, audits, and
in most cases a financial cost to the producer. Half of the items audited are required
by multiple certification programs but still must be undertaken each time and the
harmonization of programs could reduce costs significantly.
New standards continue to be developed, in part because retailers or producers
are looking for a way to distinguish their products, and in part because those developing the standards are not satisfied with the existing standards. This holds true for