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

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

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

The documentation that identifies:

Records:

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

The documentation identifies:

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

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.

Global Ghost Gear Initiative (2021) Best Practice Framework for the Management of Aquaculture Gear. Prepared by Huntington, T. of Poseidon Aquatic Resources Management Ltd. for GGGI. 81 pp. plus appendices: GGGI_Best_Practice_Framework_for_the_Management_of_Aquaculture_Gear.pdf

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.

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.

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

Records that the schedule has been adhered to.

An appropriate effluent treatment should be able to eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels the discharge of (amongst others):

An effluent monitoring plan appropriate for the type and amount of processing effluent discharged.

Including the parameters, frequency of monitoring and acceptable limits.

Analysis results of the parameters included in the effluent monitoring plan.

Corrective actions when analysis results exceed acceptable levels.

Effluent monitoring plan has been developed and implemented.

This includes monitoring analysis results.

Corrective actions taken when analysis results exceed acceptable levels.

V. Venugopal, A. Sasidharan (2021). Seafood industry effluents: Environmental hazards, treatment and resource recovery. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.

Sites should identify and classify waste based on where it will be disposed of. This includes the following types of waste:

Based on the classification, sites should determine the facilities to use for waste disposal, for example:

Identification and classification of waste.

Records confirming that waste is disposed of in appropriate facilities according to its classification and the legality of those facilities.

The site:

‘Reducing’ refers to using fewer materials, like fewer plastic bottles or buying materials, like products or equipment, with less packaging.

This will cut down on waste from the start.

‘Reusing’ refers to using materials again instead of disposing of them.

‘Recycling’ refers to collecting and processing materials to be turned into new materials.

As a means of giving materials a new use instead of disposing of them as waste in landfills.

Sites should identify the materials used and assess whether it is reasonably practical to prioritise reduction, reuse and recycling over disposal.

The assessment should consider, for example, the availability of recycling facilities in the area.

If applicable, the outcome of the assessment should be turned into policies or procedures.

Identification of materials used and an assessment of the feasibility of reducing, reusing and recycling.

Policies and procedures outlining the steps to handle materials deemed feasible for reduction, reuse and recycling.

Employees should be aware of these policies or procedures.

The site identified the material used and assessed the feasibility of reducing, reusing and recycling.

Materials identified as feasible to reduce, reuse or recycle are effectively and appropriately reduced, reused or recycled.

Employees’ awareness of the policies and procedures that outline the steps to handle materials deemed feasible for reduction, reuse and recycling.

In the case of marine salmonids, grow-out sites that supply fish to subsequent grow-out sites are required to be certified under the ASC Farm Standard.

This necessitates that they calculate and report GHG emissions as per Indicator 2.10.2.

This facilitates the sharing of data with subsequent grow-out sites to ensure that GHG calculations at the point of harvest include relevant inputs from the prior site.

Specific data on the energy inputs and feeds used from the prior site are not required. Only the GHG profile, reflecting the format of the ASC Farm Standard GHG Data Submission Template, is needed.

GHG profiles from hatcheries are not required, as explained above for Indicator 2.10.2.

Subsequent grow-out sites are provided a GHG profile reflecting the format of the ASC Farm Standard GHG Data Submission Template either as part of regular process or upon request.

Public disclosure of energy use and GHG data are not required by the ASC Farm Standard. Instead, reporting to ASC is required.

This ensures that energy use and GHG performance of ASC certified production can be tracked and communicated in an aggregated form and also supports assessment of the requirements and identification of common issues, errors or need for improved guidance.

Data submitted to ASC is used in accordance with ASC’s data use policies.

There are two data submission templates: one for energy use and one for GHG emissions.

Data submitted to ASC should reflect the same calculation results as demonstrated during the audit in compliance with Indicators 2.10.1 and 2.10.2.

Data submission for both energy use and GHG emissions is on an annual basis. However, in some cases, sites may not have new data to submit in a given year.

If the site is calculating values relative to a production cycle and a new production cycle has not completed since the prior year’s data submission. In this case, data submission is still required but may reflect the same submission as the prior year.

If calculating values for three consecutive years of production and previous records are not available, data submissions in the first and second years may reflect one or two years of production, respectively.

Demonstration of successful data submission on an annual basis.

Successful annual data submissions using the ASC Farm Standard Energy Use Data Submission Template and the ASC Farm Standard GHG Data Submission Template.

Data reported in data submissions reflect results shown in audit for Indicators 2.10.1 and 2.10.2.