Rationale 4.4
Veterinary therapeutants are chemicals used to treat or improve health conditions in aquatic animals and include antibiotics, antiparasitics, antifungals, antivirals, hormones, anaesthetics and vaccines.
The use of therapeutants has provided many benefits to the aquaculture industry but has also resulted in their overuse and misuse. This has led to the creation of risks associated with the release of drugs or their metabolites to the environment, the presence of drug residues in final products for human consumption, and the development of antimicrobial resistance.111111World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). (2024). Aquatic Animal Health Code. Available online at https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/aquatic-code-online-access/
This Criterion focuses on the correct use of antibiotics and therapeutants on ASC-certified farms, including oversight, monitoring and efforts to reduce usage in line with ASC’s support of the World Health Organisation’s ‘One Health’ approach to reduce antibiotic dependency over time.112112World Health Organization (WHO). (2017). WHO guidelines on use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
Intent – The aquaculture industry uses therapeutants responsibly and reduces reliance upon therapeutants over time.
Criterion 4.4 – Veterinary therapeutants
Indicators 4.3
4.3.1 – Bivalves
Indicators
Description
4.3.1.1
4.3.1.2
4.3.1.3
4.3.1.4
4.3.1.5
Applicable to
4.3.2 – Abalone
Indicators
Description
4.3.2.1
Applicable to
4.3.2.2
Applicable to
4.3.2.3
4.3.2.4
Applicable to
4.3.2.5
Applicable to
4.3.2.6
Applicable to
4.3.2.7
Applicable to
4.3.2.8
Applicable to
Rationale 4.3
Many aquatic animals are sentient beings that can feel and experience pain, stress and anxiety. While the question of the sentience of molluscs is still being discussed, keeping them in good health is a responsible practice that boosts productivity and prevents the spread of disease.
This Criterion focuses on farming practices by ASC-certified farms to support good mollusc health, including training, monitoring and the development of an effective health management plan to demonstrate commitment to responsible aquaculture practices.
Intent – The aquaculture industry ensures good health of cultured molluscs.
Criterion 4.3 – Molluscs
Indicators 4.2
4.2.1 – Crustaceans – Health and Welfare
Indicators
Description
4.2.1.1
Applicable to
4.2.1.2
4.2.1.3
4.2.1.4
4.2.1.5
4.2.1.6
Applicable to
4.2.1.7
Applicable to
4.2.1.8
4.2.1.8.1
4.2.1.8.2
4.2.1.8.3
Applicable to
4.2.1.8.4
4.2.1.8.5
Applicable to
4.2.1.8.6
Applicable to
4.2.1.8.7
4.2.1.9
Applicable to
4.2.1.10
4.2.1.11
4.2.1.12
4.2.1.13
Applicable to
4.2.2 – Crustaceans – Handling
Indicators
Description
4.2.2.1
Applicable to
4.2.2.2
4.2.2.3
4.2.2.4
Applicable to
4.2.2.5
4.2.2.6
4.2.2.7
Applicable to
4.2.2.8
4.2.2.9
4.2.2.10
Applicable to
4.2.3 – Crustaceans – Slaughter and Killing
Indicators
Description
4.2.3.1
4.2.3.2
4.2.3.3
4.2.3.4
Applicable to
4.2.3.5
Applicable to
4.2.3.6
Applicable to
4.2.3.7
4.2.3.8
4.2.3.9
Applicable to
Rationale 4.2
Many aquatic animals are sentient beings that can feel and experience pain, stress and anxiety. While the question of the sentience of crustaceans is still being discussed, keeping them in good health and welfare is a responsible practice that supports them to adapt to their surroundings, boosts productivity, prevents the spread of disease and reduces reliance on chemicals with potentially negative environmental effects. Handling activities and slaughter are major factors in the welfare of farmed aquatic animals. If not carried out appropriately, they can lead to stress and overall suffering.103103Pedrazzani, A. S., Cozer, N., Quintiliano, M. H., Tavares, C. P. d. S., da Silva, U. d. A. T., & Ostrensky, A. (2023). Non-Invasive Methods for Assessing the Welfare of Farmed White-Leg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Animals, 13(5), 807. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050807
Maintaining good health and welfare in aquaculture production includes consideration of a wide range of practices and conditions. Key aspects include disease detection and response, feeding practices, appropriate handling of aquatic animals and monitoring of water conditions.8787Ashley, P. J. (2007). Fish welfare: current issues in aquaculture. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 104(3-4), 199-235. Best practices in the slaughter of crustaceans include the implementation of responsible stunning and killing methods to ensure that there is rapid loss of consciousness, which is not regained before killing.104104Pedrazzani, A. S., Cozer, N., Quintiliano, M. H., Tavares, C. P. d. S., da Silva, U. d. A. T., & Ostrensky, A. (2023). An effective management plan and site-specific handling plans can help avoid mortality events, demonstrating commitment to responsible aquaculture practices.
This Criterion focuses on farming, handling, and slaughter practices by ASC-certified farms to support good crustacean health and welfare, including training, monitoring, veterinarian oversight, and development of a site-specific Health and Welfare Management Plan (HWMP).
Intent – The aquaculture industry ensures good health and welfare, humane handling and slaughter practices of cultured crustaceans.
Criterion 4.2 – Crustaceans
Indicators 4.1
4.1.1 – Fish – Health and Welfare
Indicators 4.1.1.1-4.1.1.13: Scope: all fish species except cleaner fish (see Indicators 4.1.1.14-4.1.1.27)
Indicators
Description
4.1.1.1
Applicable to
4.1.1.2
Applicable to
4.1.1.3
Applicable to
4.1.1.4
Applicable to
4.1.1.5
Applicable to
4.1.1.6
Applicable to
4.1.1.7
Applicable to
4.1.1.8
Applicable to
4.1.1.9
Applicable to
4.1.1.10
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.1
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.2
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.3
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.4
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.5
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.6
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.7
Applicable to
4.1.1.10.8
Applicable to
4.1.1.11
Applicable to
4.1.1.11.1
Applicable to
4.1.1.12
Applicable to
4.1.1.13
Applicable to
Indicators 4.1.1.14-4.1.1.27: Scope: Cleaner fish
Indicators
Description
4.1.1.14
Applicable to
4.1.1.15
Applicable to
4.1.1.16
Applicable to
4.1.1.17
Applicable to
4.1.1.18
Applicable to
4.1.1.19
Applicable to
4.1.1.20
Applicable to
4.1.1.21
Applicable to
4.1.1.22
Applicable to
4.1.1.23
Applicable to
4.1.1.24
Applicable to
4.1.1.25
Applicable to
4.1.1.26
Applicable to
4.1.1.26.1
Applicable to
4.1.1.26.2
Applicable to
4.1.1.26.3
Applicable to
4.1.1.26.4
Applicable to
4.1.1.26.5
Applicable to
4.1.1.26.6
Applicable to
4.1.1.27
Applicable to
4.1.2 – Fish – Handling
Indicators 4.1.2.1-4.1.2.16: Scope: all fish species except cleaner fish (see Indicators 4.1.2.17-4.1.2.32)
Indicators
Description
4.1.2.1
Applicable to
4.1.2.2
Applicable to
4.1.2.3
Applicable to
4.1.2.4
Applicable to
4.1.2.5
Applicable to
4.1.2.6
Applicable to
4.1.2.7
4.1.2.8
Applicable to
4.1.2.9
Applicable to
4.1.2.10
4.1.2.11
Applicable to
4.1.2.12
Applicable to
4.1.2.13
4.1.2.14
4.1.2.15
Applicable to
4.1.2.16
Indicators 4.1.2.17-4.1.2.32:
Indicators
Description
4.1.2.17
Applicable to
4.1.2.18
4.1.2.19
4.1.2.20
4.1.2.21
Applicable to
4.1.2.22
Applicable to
4.1.2.23
Applicable to
4.1.2.24
Applicable to
4.1.2.25
Applicable to
4.1.2.26
4.1.2.27
Applicable to
4.1.2.28
Applicable to
4.1.2.29
Applicable to
4.1.2.30
4.1.2.31
Applicable to
4.1.2.32
4.1.3 – Fish – Slaughter and Killing
Indicators 4.1.3.1-4.1.3.8: Scope: all fish species except cleaner fish (see Indicators 4.1.3.9-4.1.3.18)
Indicators
Description
4.1.3.1
Applicable to
4.1.3.2
4.1.3.3
Applicable to
4.1.3.4
4.1.3.5
4.1.3.6
4.1.3.7
Applicable to
4.1.3.8
Applicable to
Indicators 4.1.3.9-4.1.3.18: Scope: Cleaner fish
Indicators
Description
4.1.3.9
Applicable to
4.1.3.10
4.1.3.11
Applicable to
4.1.3.12
4.1.3.13
4.1.3.14
4.1.3.15
4.1.3.16
Applicable to
4.1.3.17
4.1.3.18
Rationale 4.1
Many aquatic animals, including fish, are sentient beings that can feel and experience pain, stress and anxiety. Keeping them in good health and welfare is a responsible practice that support aquatic animals to adapt to their surroundings, boosts productivity, prevents the spread of disease and reduces reliance on chemicals with potentially negative environmental effects. Handling activities and slaughter are major factors in the welfare of farmed aquatic animals. If not carried out appropriately, they can lead to stress and overall suffering.8787Ashley, P. J. (2007). Fish welfare: current issues in aquaculture. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 104(3-4), 199-235.
Maintaining good health and welfare in aquaculture production includes consideration of a wide range of practices and conditions. Key aspects include disease detection and response, feeding practices, appropriate handling of aquatic animals and monitoring of water conditions.8787Ashley, P. J. (2007). Fish welfare: current issues in aquaculture. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 104(3-4), 199-235. Best practices in fish slaughter include the implementation of responsible stunning and killing methods to ensure that there is rapid loss of consciousness, which is not regained before killing.8888Lines, J. A., & Spence, J. (2014). Humane harvesting and slaughter of farmed fish. Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 33(1), 255-264. An effective management plan and site-specific handling plans can help avoid mortality events, demonstrating commitment to responsible aquaculture practices.
This Criterion focuses on farming, handling, and slaughter practices by ASC-certified farms to support good aquatic animal health and welfare, including training, monitoring, veterinarian oversight, and development of a site-specific Health and Welfare Management Plan (HWMP).
Intent – The aquaculture industry ensures good health and welfare, humane handling and slaughter practices of cultured fish.