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Indicator 2.4.2

Requirement

The UoC shall implement escape prevention measures that include the installation, inspection and maintenance of containment structures suitable for the species, life stages and environmental conditions under which the site is operating.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • This Indicator requires the UoC to prevent the escape of cultured animals. It focuses on three key aspects:

    • Installation of containment structure; these structures must be appropriate for:

      • The species; consider size and behaviour

      • Different life stages; consider that smaller animals require different mesh sizes compared to bigger animals

      • Environmental conditions; consider currents, tides, floodings, floating debris, natural predators that can damage the containment structure.

  • Inspection of containment structures to check for structure integrity, including:

    • Signs of damage or weaknesses; consider especially moving elements of the construction for ‘wear and tear’ signs

    • Environmental conditions that impact the structure (e.g. erosion)

    • Species-specific behaviours (e.g. net-biting, burrowing)

    • Maintenance of containment structure:

      • Regular maintenance needs to be conducted so that containment structures are kept in, or restored to, a good state, or to prepare for known severe weather events (e.g. forecasted storms, flooding, etc.).

Evidence of Implementation

  • Escape prevention measures are installed according to construction specifications that incorporate environmental conditions and species-specific characteristics.

  • Documents demonstrating inspection and maintenance is occurring regularly and when needed (e.g. after a storm).

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Escape prevention measures have been installed according to construction specifications and are appropriate to environmental conditions and species-specific characteristics.

  • Documents have been presented which demonstrate inspection and maintenance has occurred regularly and as required.

Useful Resources

Indicator 2.4.1

Requirement

The UoC shall not stock transgenic animals.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The stocking and culture of transgenic animals is not permitted on ASC certified sites.

  • Transgenic animals are not common in aquaculture, but transgenic stocks of Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, channel catfish and Nile tilapia are known to exist.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Evidence that non-transgenic animals are stocked should be presented to the auditor. This could consist of a declaration from the hatcheries that non-transgenic animals are used.

    • In case of doubt regarding origin, submitting animals for DNA-testing could be considered.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • All stock is from non-transgenic origin.

Indicator 2.3.13

Requirement

The UoC shall report to ASC on wildlife mortalities, according to ASC data submission procedures.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records of data submissions to ASC.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Data on wildlife mortalities has been submitted to ASC and is accessible.

Indicator 2.3.12

Requirement

The UoC shall publicly disclose all wildlife mortalities per site within 30 days of each incident.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Wildlife mortalities are disclosed and are easily and publicly available.

  • Hardcopies of mortalities are available to stakeholders, if requested.

  • Records are kept demonstrating when mortalities have been disclosed.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Sampling results are easily and publicly available. If applicable, confirm that the site has made hard copies of test results easily available to stakeholders.

  • Mortalities have been disclosed per site within 30 days of each incident.

Indicator 2.3.11

Requirement

Indicator applicability: all abalone farming in regions where the farmed species is Threatened The UoC shall only use seed originating from native wild broodstock (not selectively bred animals).

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Wild abalone populations can be impacted through selectively bred animals recruiting into, and breeding with, wild abalone populations.

  • Potential genetic impacts to at-risk populations can be mitigated by means of minimising escapes from abalone sites and by farming with stock originating from the same genetic stock as the local wild populations surrounding the site.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Documentation demonstrating the origin of seed and that it originates from native wild broodstock.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Documentation has been presented demonstrating the origin of seed and that it originates from native wild broodstock.

Indicator 2.3.10

Requirement

Indicator applicability: all bivalve species The UoC shall2222An exemption applies to wild caught larvae. only use wild caught seed if: a. the species is not listed as a Threatened Species; and b. the seed is harvested from a regulated source.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Documentation (e.g. batch records) demonstrating that the species used for wild caught seed is not listed as a Threatened Species.

  • The IUCN Red List can be used to check whether the species used for wild caught seed is listed as Threatened.

    • Traceability documentation can be used to demonstrate the origin of the species used for wild caught seed.

    • Traceability should be back to the source and demonstrate it is regulated and not from an open-access, unregulated source.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Evidence has been presented that the species used for wild caught seed is not a Threatened Species.

    • This may include verifying traceability documentation, demonstrating traceability back to the source.

    • The evidence demonstrates the source is well regulated and not from an open-access unregulated source.

Useful Resources

Indicator 2.3.9

Requirement

Indicator applicability: hatchery-raised bivalve seed The UoC shall only source from hatcheries that have procedures to address genetic concerns specific to the species and geographical region where the seed will be stocked.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The translocation of wild bivalve seed can pose risks to the genetic diversity of wild populations.

  • Genetic risks to wild populations therefore need to be assessed and procedures need to be implemented to address any genetic risks. These will be based on the species and geographic region where the seed will be stocked.

  • Efforts should be made to address genetic concerns specific to the species and the geographic region where the seed will be stocked.

  • This may include preserving diversity of broodstock and seed by:

    • Using local broodstock,

    • Rotation of broodstock within spawning seasons and between years, and

    • Avoiding the use of hatchery-propagated stock in the hatchery as broodstock.

      • The scale of farming and the reproductive potential of crops (e.g. whether diploid or triploid, or considering age at harvest and age at first maturation) are well below the size and reproductive potential of the natural population within a reasonable ‘dispersal kernel’ from the site.

    • Sterile seed may be produced for stocking.

Evidence of Implementation

  • An assessment of genetic risks presented from the translocation of wild bivalve seed, based on the species and geographic region where the seed will be stocked.

  • The hatchery has procedures and measures in place to address any genetic concerns. For example:

    • Documentation of the use of local, wild broodstock to address genetic concerns specific to the species and the geographic region where the seed will be out-planted.

    • Documentation of the scale of farming activities and the reproductive potential of crops (e.g. whether diploid or triploid, or considering age at harvest and age at first maturation) are well below the size and reproductive potential of the natural population within a reasonable ‘dispersal kernel’ from the site.

    • Documentation on the production of sterile seed for out-planting from breeding programmes that intentionally alter wild stocks for improved culture traits, such as growth, yield, survival and morphology.

    • Provide documentation of cooperation with restoration efforts in the geographic region using out-planting that involves the intentional divergence from wild stocks to produce disease resistant wild populations.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Evidence has been presented that genetic risks to wild populations have been assessed and the hatchery has implemented procedures and measures to address these risks. For example:

    • Verify that efforts have been made to address genetic concerns specific to the species and the geographic region where the seed will be out-planted.

    • Document the site’s use of the local, wild population for the broodstock with appropriate rotation of spawned individuals. If there is uncertainty about whether a broodstock is of local origin, record source locality.

    • Verify that the reproductive potential (e.g. whether diploid or triploid, or considering age at harvest and age at first maturation) of the hatchery produced seed is well below the size and reproductive potential of the natural population within a reasonable ‘dispersal kernel’ from the site.

    • Verify the existence of a breeding programme that produces altered sterile seed for out-planting.

    • Verify that the site’s breeding programme is in coordination with existing restoration efforts in the geographic region.

Indicator 2.3.8

Requirement

Indicator applicability: all crustacean species The UoC shall only stock larvae that is hatchery-raised. An exception applies where the UoC can demonstrate the following for extensive crustacean production, in which case wild larvae are permitted to be stocked: a. the larvae are collected passively; and b. the production system is a non-fed, low-intensive pond production system; and c. inflow of larvae occurs through natural tidal flow into the ponds.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Hatchery permits and import licences which demonstrate the source of the larvae.

  • If applicable, documentation that confirms crustacean production is extensive.

    • Documentation demonstrating points a-c under the exception in Indicator 2.3.8 are met if wild larvae are sourced and stocked for extensive crustacean production.

    • If the UoC is not vertically integrated, larvae suppliers should provide documentation to the UoC to verify how wild larvae are collected.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Hatchery permits and import licences are presented which demonstrate wild larvae is hatchery-raised.

  • If crustacean production is extensive and wild larvae are stocked, documents are presented demonstrating the exception in Indicator 2.3.8 is met.

Indicator 2.3.7

Requirement

The UoC shall not use Threatened Species for wild broodstock.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Documentation (e.g. batch records) demonstrating the wild broodstock species is not listed as a Threatened Species.

  • The IUCN Red List can be used to check whether the wild broodstock species is listed as Threatened.

    • Traceability documentation can be used to demonstrate the origin of the wild broodstock species. Traceability should be back to the source fishery.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Evidence has been presented that wild broodstock is not a Threatened Species.

    • This may include verifying traceability documentation, which demonstrate traceability back to the source fishery.

Useful Resources

Indicator 2.3.6

Requirement

Indicator applicability: all fish species The UoC shall only stock fish that is hatchery-raised. An exception applies where the UoC can demonstrate the following for Seriola/Cobia, in which case wild caught fish are permitted to be stocked: a. the species is not listed as a Threatened Species; and b. the originating fishery is certified to an ASC-recognised fisheries certification scheme;2121Refer to the ASC website for details of ASC-recognised fisheries certification schemes. and c. traceability back to the originating fishery is provided.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Batch records or other documentations are maintained to demonstrate stocked fish are hatchery-raised.

  • For Seriola/Cobia, where wild caught fingerlings are stocked, documentation demonstrating the species is not listed as a Threatened Species and records demonstrating the traceability of the fish.

  • The IUCN Red List can be used to check whether the species is listed as Threatened.

    • Documentation demonstrating the fish was sourced from an ASC-recognised fisheries certification scheme can facilitate traceability back to the fishery if chain of custody documentation has been maintained.

  • Traceability documentation should include the species, catch method and area in which the fish was caught.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Batch records or other documentation are presented to demonstrate stocked fish are hatchery-raised.

  • For Seriola/Cobia stocked from a wild fishery, adequate documentation is presented to demonstrate traceability back to the fishery and the certification of the originating fishery (to an ASC-recognised fisheries certification scheme).

Useful Resources