Core Principles of Organic Aquaculture Certification

The core principles of organic aquaculture certification reflect the difficulty of applying the rules and standards from organic plant production to organic aquaculture, and the effect of consumer preferences. As a result, organic aquaculture in producing countries has developed more slowly than organic plant production. In countries such as the UK, Germany, and the US, legal and standard-setting work continues, and some points are still under active debate, including disease control and organic feed raw materials.

Organic aquaculture practice varies by species but rests on the main principles below, in line with current regulation.

Site selection and environmental interaction

The production site has to be set up in an area with good water flow, away from stress factors and pollutants, and shielded from negative influence from conventional production methods.
The natural landscape around the facility has to be respected, and in particular endangered plant species cannot be harmed.
The water source in use has to continue to perform its natural ecological function in situ.
Farm-protection controls have to avoid physically harming other species in the surrounding environment.
Escape of organic aquaculture organisms from the farming environment has to be prevented.

Transition period

The transition periods below apply to sites moving existing aquaculture production to organic aquaculture.
A 2-year transition applies to facilities where water cannot be drained and disinfected.
A 1-year transition applies to sites where the water has been drained or left to dry out.
A 6-month transition applies to facilities where the water has been drained and disinfected.
A 3-month transition applies to sites for bivalve molluscs.

Stock type and origin

Organic aquaculture products should come from organic broodstock and from generations produced at organic farms.
Species selected for production should not cause significant harm to wild stocks.
Locally produced species are the first choice for farming.

Farming practice

Production has to be sustainable, resources have to be used efficiently, and dependence on off-farm inputs has to be kept to a minimum.
The welfare of organic aquaculture organisms on the site has to be actively managed.
Stocking density has to be lower than in intensive production.
Hormones are not permitted, even when sourced from the same species.
Feed has to meet the natural nutritional needs of the cultured organism without compromising natural taste.
Feed for wild-caught organic aquaculture has to come from fish and plant products raised to organic farming principles.
Where fish oil or fish meal is used as feed, the source has to be sustainable.
Antibiotics, synthetic appetite stimulants, and synthetic pigments that colour fish flesh cannot be used.
Hatcheries and firms may be permitted to raise organic and non-organic juveniles at the same site, provided there is clear physical separation between units and a separate water-distribution system.

Organic feed raw materials and feeding of organic aquaculture

Feeding regimes are set with animal health and final-product quality as priorities, combining high production yield with low environmental impact.

Feed for organic aquaculture should come first from organic aquaculture production, from organic feed products sourced accordingly, from organic aquaculture products and their by-products, from fish oil and fish meal or fish products listed in the organic aquaculture regulation, and from plant-based organic feed materials, subject to the regulation's restrictions.

Disease, treatment, and animal welfare

Hygiene measures have to be at the highest level. Regular health assessments are used to detect potential disease early. Stress factors are minimised. For treating disease and pests, plant-based preparations are preferred over synthetic chemical products. Treatment choices also have to consider the welfare of the organic aquaculture organisms and environmental sensitivities.
Preventive measures come first, to stop organic aquaculture organisms from becoming ill.
In cases of disease, natural treatment methods are applied first.
For disease management and cleaning of tanks and equipment, certain inorganic compounds can be used (rock salt, hydrogen peroxide, quicklime, sodium hypochlorite).
Use of non-toxic organic substances that occur naturally in the environment (formic acid, citric acid, alcohol, and similar) is permitted.

Organic Aquaculture Certification Principles