What is the Organic Aquaculture Certificate?

What is the organic aquaculture certificate?

The organic aquaculture certificate is issued after analysis verifies that the water used for farming has never contained heavy-metal or chemical residues. Organic aquaculture production takes place in locations that are not significant sources of pollution, that are not on a watercourse, that source water without disrupting ecological balance, and that operate in line with the organic aquaculture regulation.

Work on organic aquaculture started in Europe in the mid-1990s. Salmon is produced organically in the Netherlands and Germany, black and sand mussels in Australia, and shrimp in Ecuador. These products are widely available to consumers through large retailers.

The rules and standards of organic plant production have to be implemented in organic aquaculture as well. Because the priorities set by ministries differ from country to country, organic aquaculture has developed more slowly than organic plant production. In countries such as Germany, the UK, and the US, legal and standard-setting work on the subject is still under way, and debate continues on certain topics (disease control, organic feed raw materials).