Rationale

More than 22 million people are employed in the aquaculture industry globally6262FAO SOFIA 2024. The industry is a major contributor to people’s livelihoods and communities. As with any industry, if not carried out with proper care and attention, seafood farming can have negative impacts on people’s wellbeing such as through poor working conditions, social exclusion and land grabbing.

This principle addresses key topics related to the rights of employees, Indigenous people and communities, aiming to protect the human rights of those who work in aquaculture and live in surrounding communities, while acting as a catalyst for broader industry-wide change.

The criteria in this principle draw upon International Labour Organisation Conventions and Recommendations, and are aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)6363https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work6464https://www.ilo.org/ilo-declaration-fundamental-principles-and-rights-work and the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights6565https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf. Alignment with these important international instruments places the respect of human rights and social responsibility at the forefront of ASC’s certification system.

Details of applicable ILO Conventions and other resources can be found in Appendix 1.

Most farmed animals require feed. Although feed must meet the nutritional and welfare needs of the animal, it can have a negative environmental impact in how it is produced and utilised.

More than 70% of animal aquaculture is fed.5959Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2024). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024—Blue transformation in action. Rome, Italy: FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en Life cycle assessments indicate that feed can account for up to 90% of environmental impacts of fed aquaculture production.6060Little, D. C., Young, J. A., Zhang, W., Newton, R. W., Al Mamun, A., & Murray, F. J. (2018). Sustainable intensification of aquaculture value chains between Asia and Europe: A framework for understanding impacts and challenges. Aquaculture, 493, 338-354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.12.033 Although most of those impacts typically occur during the production, harvesting, and processing of raw materials, environmental impacts can also occur during on-farm use through nutrient pollution and inefficient use of feed.

This Criterion addresses the environmental impacts resulting from feed usage on farm, as well as efficient use of feed raw materials. In addition, ASC-certified farms need to source feed from mills certified to the ASC Feed Standard, through which responsible sourcing of ingredients is assured.

Intent – The aquaculture industry uses responsibly produced feed efficiently.

Scope – Every UoC using feed.

Waste is generated through human activities such as agriculture, construction and demolition, industrial or commercial operations, the healthcare sector and domestic refuse. Improper material use and disposal can cause long-term pollution of terrestrial and aquatic environments, and have a direct effect on biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change.5353UN Environment Programme (2024). Beyond an age of waste – Turning rubbish into a resource. DOI: LXXTW:HSMSVK1091172000118224499

From construction, to operation and decommissioning, aquaculture farms use materials and generate waste that can be hazardous. Copper-based antifoulants can leach into the water and cause harm to marine life in the water column and to the sediments below the farm. Therapeutants and chemicals used to treat farmed animals can also create unintended impacts on the animals themselves, the ecosystem and their handling staff.

Aquaculture gear or infrastructure can contribute to plastic pollution in aquatic environments, particularly where materials are lost, damaged or degraded. Plastic pollution can persist in the environment, affect habitats and wildlife, and create long-term risks for aquatic ecosystems. Responsible material use and management practices can reduce the likelihood of plastic loss, leakage and pollution from aquaculture operations.

This Criterion focuses on ASC-certified farms using, and re-using, resources responsibly, minimising generated waste, and preventing pollution and harm to communities and the environment.

Intent – The aquaculture industry prevents pollution by responsibly managing and disposing of waste and chemicals.

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.