The Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) will determine whether there are sensitive habitats within the vicinity of the site and the risk drivers that increase the likelihood of negative impacts on any sensitive habitats.

Appendix 3.3 outlines the risk factors that shall be considered as a minimum when conducting the ERA.

An ERA report has been completed, which assesses the risk of negative impacts on any relevant sensitive habitats.

The ERA report demonstrates whether the risk of negative impacts on sensitive habitats is ‘low’.

An ERA has been completed, which includes at a minimum the risk factors outlined in Appendix 3.3.

The ERA determined whether sensitive habitats are located within the vicinity of the site.

GIS portal: GIS portal – ASC International (asc-aqua.org)

In accordance with Indicator 2.2.2, the ERA report will identify whether critical habitats are located within the boundaries of the site.

The size and biodiversity characteristics of critical habitats should either remain the same since the ERA was conducted or have increased/improved.

The ERA report has identified the presence of critical habitats within the boundaries of the site.

Documented measures and outcomes, which demonstrate critical habitats have been preserved, and that their size and biodiversity has not decreased.

Whether critical habitats have been identified in the ERA report.

If critical habitats are present, evidence has been provided to demonstrate measures to preserve the documented critical habitats.

Outputs of preservation measures should also be available where appropriate.

GIS portal: GIS portal – ASC International (asc-aqua.org)

The Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) will determine whether there are critical habitats within the vicinity of the site and the risk drivers that increase the likelihood of negative impacts on any critical habitats.

An ERA report has been completed, which assesses the risk of negative impacts on any relevant critical habitats.

The ERA report demonstrates whether the risk of negative impacts on critical habitats is ‘low’.

In cases where the risk level is not ‘low’, the ERA report identifies the risk drivers.

In cases where the risk level is ‘medium’ or ‘high’, the site demonstrates the actions taken to reduce the risk level to ‘low’.

Whether there are critical habitats in the vicinity of the site. If so, evidence has been provided in the ERA that the risk of negative impacts on the critical habitats is minimal.

Conditional allowances to the siting in Protected Areas (PA) have been taken from the ASC species standards while work is ongoing to develop updated conditional allowances.

Whether the site is in a PA and if so, provide evidence that the PA meets the conditional allowances specified in Appendix 4. This includes the demonstration of the Protected Areas Management Plan.

Whether the site is in a PA. If so, evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the site meets the conditional allowances in Appendix 4 (4.2).

Protected Planet: World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA): Explore the World’s Protected Areas.

An independent person is required to conduct the ERA for larger, more complex sites. However, small-scale or extensive aquaculture sites are not expected to contract an independent person to conduct the ERA.

To demonstrate competence, personnel conducting the ERA for small-scale or extensive aquaculture sites should be able to:

Documents outlining the person conducting the ERA has experience and competences that are relevant to the size and complexity of the site.

For larger, more complex sites, documents outlining the qualifications and experience of the independent person conducting the ERA.

Evidence and documents have been presented to demonstrate the person conducting the ERA has the necessary experience, competencies and qualifications.

Auditor discretion is permitted to determine whether the experience, competences and qualifications are suitable for the size of the site.

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This requirement addresses situations where a product may conform to the Standard, however it cannot be sold or dispatched as ASC certified.

The UoC should:

Records:

UoC’s process to ensure that the product under 1.4.5(a) or (b) is not sold or dispatched as ASC certified.

The required disclosure is to the UoC’s buyers of ASC certified products.

A public disclosure is possible but not required.

The UoC shall ensure buyers are informed when a product’s feed contains or is produced from GMO.

Disclosure may be provided to buyers individually or collectively.

Records:

Evidence of disclosure to buyers.