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Water Type

Feed Dependent

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Indicator 4.1.2.21

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP, following consultation with a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional, considers the use of anaesthesia during handling activities.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

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Indicator 4.1.2.20

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes consideration of the environmental conditions associated with handling activities, with the intent of preventing handling under adverse conditions that could affect the health and welfare of the cleaner fish. **

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • This clause overlaps with Indicator 4.2.1.4 regarding fish. Please refer to Indicator 4.2.1.4 for a detailed description.

Indicator 4.1.2.19

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes contingency plans for handling activities, including at least the following: a) immediate response measures in the case of system failure; and b) humane culling response measures (see Indicator 4.1.3.9); and c) mass mortality event response measures. **

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Indicators 4.1.2.17–4.1.2.18

Requirement

The UoC shall develop, implement and maintain a site-specific Handling Management Plan (HMP), with the intent of ensuring good health and welfare of cleaner fish. The HMP shall be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary.

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes all handling activities carried out on site. **

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • This clause overlaps with Indicator 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2 regarding fish. Please refer to Indicator 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2 for a detailed description.

  • Any additional handling events that are unique to cleaner fish need to be added to the HMP:

    • Removal from refuges/ hides

Useful resources (if applicable)

Indicator 4.1.2.15

Requirement

The UoC shall adhere to a limit of 15 seconds maximum time out of water.7474An exemption applies to anaesthetised fish and pangasius (due to its ability to breathe air facultatively).

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Fasting duration:

    • Calculation in degree days provides a more precise indication of fish metabolic activity because it incorporates time and temperature, which better reflect the biological processes, and provides a standardised metric across different locations and time periods.

    • The concept of degree days involves accumulating the average daily temperature over a period of time, i.e. 3 days at an average daily temperature of 19 °C, are 57-degree days.

    • In the case of exceptional situations (see requirement footnote) the length of fasting would be linked to the duration of the event rather than a pre-set timing or veterinarian or aquatic health professional rationale.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records confirming the required parameter and their conformance with minimum/maximum value.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established minimum/maximum fasting time.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The minimum/maximum time fasting time is included in the HMP and incorporates considerations related to intrinsic factors and is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Indicator 4.1.2.14

Requirement

Indicator 4.1.2.13

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes acclimatisation measures to prevent sudden changes in water conditions affecting the health and welfare status of the fish.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Standardised acclimatisation measures should be designed and maintained, e.g.:

    • Water temperature during transportation must be as close as possible to that which the fish came from.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Standard acclimatisation measures and monitoring of the water quality according to the HMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of acclimatisation parameters before stocking.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the acclimatisation measures and monitoring process above.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The acclimatisation measures included in the HMP incorporate the minimum required elements and are implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

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Indicator 4.1.2.12

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a post-handling evaluation process that considers at least the following: a) abnormal behaviour; and, b) morphological scores; and, c) moribund animals and mortalities.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Abnormal behaviour related to the handling should be recorded.

  • During and post-handling moribund fish and mortalities related to the handling should be recorded and removed.

  • Moribund fish should be collected and culled following responsible stunning and killing according to Criterion 4.1.3.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Behavioural monitoring.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of the behaviour, moribund and mortalities during and post-handling.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established behavioural and mortality monitoring process above.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The behavioural monitoring process included in the HMP incorporates the minimum required elements and it is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

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Indicator 4.1.2.11

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a visual inspection process to identify abnormal behaviour in relation to the handling activity and defines mitigation measures when identified.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Visual inspection during handling should be included in the HMP.

    • When direct visual inspections are not possible (e.g. pangasius transportation) or considered invasive (e.g. during live fish transport inside a well), cameras can be used. Alternatively, fish behaviour can be assessed when loading and discharging the fish as a minimum requirement.

Evidence of Implementation

  • The monitoring process, that incorporates the corrective actions required, included in the HMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of the behaviour.

    • A checked box on the monitoring records indicating whether monitoring behavioural took place or not is accepted.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established behavioural monitoring process.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The monitoring process included in the HMP that incorporates the corrective actions and is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

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Indicator 4.1.2.10

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a water quality monitoring process according to Appendix 12 (12.3, Table 2). In the case of live transport,7373An exemption applies where live transport after harvest is conducted by a third party outside of the scope of the UoC’s certification. Once the product leaves the certified supply chain it can no longer be sold as ASC certified. monitoring shall be conducted at the point of departure, during transport and on arrival. An exception applies where monitoring during transport negatively affects fish health and welfare, in which case monitoring is not required.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Maintaining good water quality is a critical factor during fish handling.

  • Concentrations of substances within the water system that rise above or fall below specific levels can be harmful to fish populations and should be monitored.

  • For developing an adequate environment for fish during handling the UoC should consider:

    • Water quality monitoring equipment e.g.

    • Constant monitoring.

    • Every 15 minutes (by hand, automatic).

    • Water quality monitoring frequency.

      • Prior to, during, and post handling.

    • Water quality monitoring for live transport.

    • Departure/arrival and during live transport unless this could cause detrimental impact.

    • While Table 2 of Appendix 12 of the ASC Farm Standard specifies water quality parameters that must be included in the monitoring process, other parameters may be considered based on the specific requirements of the UoC.

    • Conformance with maximum and minimum thresholds for the required parameters, customised to suit the species and environmental conditions, should be incorporated as part of the HMP water quality monitoring process.

    • Corrective actions must be provided according to the HWMP that may be considered acceptable as a reference to develop and implement a water quality monitoring process (Indicator 4.1.1.10.1).

Evidence of Implementation

  • The water quality monitoring process, that incorporates the minimum elements required, included in the HWMP.

  • Records confirming the monitoring of the required parameters and their conformance with maximum and minimum thresholds.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established water quality monitoring process during handling.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The water quality monitoring, that incorporates the minimum elements required, included in the HWMP. and cross-checking with the handling operations present in the HMP.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

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