Rationale 2.10

Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental challenges globally with wide-ranging environmental and socio-economic implications. Food systems account for roughly a third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions5050Crippa, M., Solazzo, E., Guizzardi, D., Monforti-Ferrario, F., Tubiello, F. N., & Leip, A. J. N. F. (2021). Food systems are responsible for a third of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Nature Food, 2(3), 198-209. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00225-9 making the transforming of food systems towards lower-emission production and taking action to reduce emissions from food supply chains, critically important in combatting climate change.

Aquaculture contributes to GHG emissions through the use of fossil fuel-derived energy, production of feed ingredients, deforestation for feed crops or farm siting, and numerous other activities. While aquaculture products typically have a lower GHG impact than land-based alternatives5151Gephart, J. A., Henriksson, P. J., Parker, R. W., Shepon, A., Gorospe, K. D., Bergman, K., … & Troell, M. (2021). Environmental performance of blue foods. Nature, 597(7876), 360-365. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03889-2,5252Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science, 360(6392), 987-992. https://www.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0216 the GHG performance of aquaculture production varies widely.

The Criterion focuses on the measurement, reporting, and management of GHG emissions by ASC-certified farms to encourage climate-responsible aquaculture production.

Intent – The aquaculture industry measures and reduces greenhouse gas emissions so it remains a producer of climate-friendly food.