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Feed Dependent

Species

Indicator 2.12.6

Requirement

The UoC shall annually report to ASC the feed properties, feed use and calculated feed efficiency values per site, according to ASC data submission procedures. !A group of people standing next to each other Description automatically generated!

Indicator 2.12.5

Requirement

The UoC shall adhere to the species-specific limits on feed efficiency, according to Appendix 2 (2.2).

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • To facilitate compliance with the feed efficiency requirements the UoC should consider:

    • Using feed formulations:

      • With a high percentage of marine by-products and trimmings.

      • That includes alternatives to fishmeal/fish oil.

        • Implementing on-site feed management measures, for example:

  • The use of:

    • Feed trays.

    • Cameras.

    • Pellet sensors.

    • Staff training on the use of feed management measures.

    • Verification process to confirm management measures are operational and continuously meet their intent, for example, documented records of visual feed response.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records:

    • Feed purchased (including % of whole fish ingredients, EPA and DHA).

    • Feed fed.

    • Feed efficiency calculations.

    • Visual feed response.

    • Staff training.

    • Stocking biomass.

    • Production (weight harvested).

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Feed efficiency metrics are met.

  • Records:

    • Feed purchased (including % of whole fish ingredients, EPA and DHA).

    • Feed fed.

    • Feed efficiency calculations.

    • Visual feed response.

    • Staff training.

    • Stocking biomass.

    • Production (weight harvested).

Indicator 2.12.4

Requirement

The UoC shall not feed wet feedstuffs, moist pellets, or uncooked/ unprocessed marine raw materials.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Wet feedstuffs used as binders for probiotics and other feed additives in top-coating or top-dressing applications are allowed.

  • Wet feedstuffs can be used as carbon sources for water quality control i.e., anaerobic fermentation or biofloc technology.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records:

    • Feed purchased.

    • Feed fed.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Wet feedstuffs, moist pellets, or uncooked/ unprocessed fish are not used by the UoC by cross-checking records with observations and personnel interviews.

  • Records:

    • Feed purchased.

    • Feed fed.

Indicator 2.12.3

Requirement

The UoC shall not use feed containing protein derived from the same genus as the species being farmed. An exception applies where it can be demonstrated that same-species protein hydrolysates are verified to be <10,000 daltons, in which case use is allowed.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records:

    • Feed purchased (including information on species/genus used as marine ingredients for fishmeal).

    • Feed fed.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Records:

    • Feed purchased (including information on species/genus used as marine ingredients for fishmeal).

    • Feed fed.

Useful Resources

  • Although the science behind prion diseases, infectivity and pathogenicity in fish in association with Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) is not very well developed, ASC has taken a precautionary approach and followed the guidelines of FAO (2011) Aquaculture Development. 5. Use of Wild Fish as Feed in Aquaculture Principle 9.1 “For biosecurity reasons, intraspecies recycling is an unacceptable practice that should be prohibited”.

  • Protein hydrolysates verified to <10,000 daltons are allowed as controlling the molecular weight provides a good verification of the appropriateness of an applied transformation process. This is in line with Regulation (EU) 142/2011 regarding the use of animal by-products.

Indicator 2.12.2

Requirement

Indicator applicability: every UoC using seaweed as a direct feed source. The UoC shall only use seaweed from regulated sources.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Regulated source means that there are national/international laws, agreements or policies governing the harvesting or farming of seaweed and that these are complied with, or the seaweed is from a certification scheme which addresses the responsible management of seaweed, whether wild-harvested or farmed.

  • Seaweed certified to the following standards meet this ASC requirement on regulated sources:

Evidence of Implementation

  • Legislation which stipulates responsible harvesting or farming.

  • Supplier harvesting or farming permits.

  • Certification documentation.

  • Records:

    • Harvest.

    • Transport to the UoC.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Legislation which stipulates responsible harvesting or farming.

  • Presence and validity of permits.

  • Certification documentation.

  • Records.

  • Harvest.

  • Transport to the UoC.

Indicator 2.12.1

Requirement

Indicator scope: every UoC using compound feed. The UoC shall only use ASC-conforming compound feed.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • ASC-conforming compound feed is sourced from feed mills certified to the ASC Feed Standard.

    • It includes feeds produced under the mass balance model, as well as feeds produced under the segregation model.

  • This requirement does not apply to non-certifiable species (e.g., cleaner fish).

Evidence of Implementation

  • Documented process to confirm feed is ASC-conforming that includes verification of (see Indicator 1.4.3):

    • The feed mill certification against the ASC Feed Standard.

  • The documentation that identifies:

    • The feed as ASC-conforming.

    • The feed production model applied (i.e., mass balance or segregation).

    • In the case of segregated feed, a distinct feed name which is also listed on the schedule to the feed mill certificate.

    • Whether the feed is traceable as ASC-conforming throughout all steps between the feed mill and site.

  • Records:

    • Feed purchased and type.

    • Feed delivery notes – confirming traceability between feed mill and site.

    • Feeding records.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Documented process to confirm feed product is ASC-conforming that includes verification of (see Indicator 1.4.3):

    • The feed mill certification against the ASC Feed Standard.

  • The documentation identifies:

    • The feed as ASC-conforming.

    • The feed production model applied (i.e., mass balance or segregation).

    • In the case of segregated feed, a distinct feed name which is also listed on the schedule to the feed mill certificate.

    • Whether the feed is traceable as ASC-conforming throughout all steps between the feed mill and site.

    • Records

    • Feed purchased and type.

    • Feed delivery notes – confirming traceability between feed mill and site.

    • Feeding records.

Indicators 2.11.21–2.11.23

Requirement

Indicator applicability: water-based UoC The UoC shall ensure that visible aquaculture infrastructure is uniform in positioning and orientation.

Indicator applicability: water-based UoC The UoC shall not use any floats made from polystyrene foam.

Indicator applicability: Bivalve producers The UoC shall ensure that surface floats are uniform in colour.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Aquaculture infrastructure should not impede navigation.

  • Legal requirements might impose the use of specific colour floats, for example, for navigational purposes.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Through site inspection:

    • That visible aquaculture infrastructure is uniform in positioning and orientation.

    • That floats are not made from polystyrene foam.

    • That surface floats are uniform in colour.

Indicator 2.11.20

Requirement

The UoC shall clean up waste from the receiving shoreline or land surrounding the site.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records of regular litter collection activities and the responsible disposal of any items recovered.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Regular litter collection activities have taken place.

  • Alternatively, conduct a visual inspection to demonstrate low levels of waste are present on the receiving shoreline or land surrounding the site.

Useful Resources

Indicators 2.11.18–2.11.19

Requirement

Indicator applicability: water-based UoC The UoC shall mark and record substantial aquaculture gear.

Indicator applicability: water-based UoC The UoC shall retrieve lost aquaculture gear.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Intent of Indicator 2.11.18 is that substantial aquaculture gear is identifiable as belonging to the site.

    • So, it can be attributable to the site in case of gear loss and facilitate retrieval (see Indicator 2.11.9).

  • Substantial gear includes:

    • Floats.

    • Cages.

    • Bags.

    • Predator nets.

    • Racks.

    • The site should maintain equipment and/or mechanisms for retrieving lost aquaculture gear, for example, scoop nets and grapple hooks (Indicator 2.11.19).

Evidence of Implementation

  • A record, or log, of substantial aquaculture gear should be maintained.

    • At a defined frequency, the substantial aquaculture gear record should be contrasted with the physical inventory present at the site to determine whether any gear has been lost.

  • Policies or procedures for locating and retrieving substantial aquaculture gear.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Record, or log, of substantial aquaculture gear.

  • Through site inspection:

    • That substantial aquaculture gear is attributable to the site and recorded.

    • That the site maintains equipment and/or mechanisms for retrieving lost aquaculture gear.

    • Policies or procedures are in place to locate and retrieve substantial aquaculture gear.

Useful Resources

Indicator 2.11.17

Requirement

The UoC shall adequately maintain machinery, aquaculture gear and infrastructure to minimise performance degradation and failure.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The site should develop a maintenance plan that identifies the schedule for regular maintenance of machinery, aquaculture gear and infrastructure.

  • The person(s) conducting maintenance should have an adequate level of competence based on the type of maintenance required.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Maintenance plan that identifies the schedule for regular maintenance of machinery, aquaculture gear and infrastructure.

  • Records to demonstrate maintenance was performed according to the schedule outlined in the maintenance plan.

  • Written justification should be in place in cases of deviation from the schedule outlined in the maintenance plan.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The site has a maintenance plan covering regular maintenance of machinery, aquaculture gear and infrastructure.

  • Records that the schedule has been adhered to.