Sustainable Aquaculture
Friend of the Sea certification programme for Sustainable fish farming provides a tool for the aquaculture industry to develop in respect of the marine environment.
Why Certify Sustainable Aquaculture?
Aquaculture currently supplies over half of the fish consumed by humans (FAO 2016). By 2050, with the global population projected to reach 9.1 billion, food production must increase by 70% to meet demand. As natural fisheries decline in productivity, aquaculture is expected to play a larger role in meeting this demand.
However, the rapid growth of aquaculture presents Sustainability challenges, including habitat destruction, pollution, and disease transmission. Establishing clear standards and rigorous certification processes is crucial for the advancement and sustainability of aquaculture.
How reliable is Sustainable aquaculture certification?
Certification schemes focus on achieving Sustainability of the aquaculture sector.
Aquaculture standards and certification schemes provide practical and functional Sustainability benchmarks thus giving consumers more accurate information on Sustainable production methods of their seafood choices.
About Our Sustainable Aquaculture Standards
Friend of the Sea has developed a series of Sustainable standards of certification for aquaculture that minimises the negative effects of aquaculture operations, therefore providing a tool for the fish farming industry to develop whilst respecting the marine environment and preserving our valuable natural resources for the future.
Friend of the Sea’s Sustainable Aquaculture Certification criteria require:
- No impact on critical habitat (e.g. mangroves, wetlands, etc.);
- Compliance with water quality parameters;
- Reduction of escapes to negligible levels;
- No use of harmful antifouling nor growth hormones;
- Compliance with social accountability;
- Reduction of carbon footprint.
Technical Documents
Friend of the Sea has two active versions of the Wild standard (version 3.1 and version 4) and for this reason even two versions of the Audit Guidance. For more info on the transition from one version to the other, please consult the “Guideline transition from FOS Wild v.3.1 to FOS Wild v.4” document or write to quality@friendofthesea.org
Apply
Would you like to receive a quotation for Friend of the Sea audit and royalties to use our Friend of the Sea logo?
Please fill out the online Preliminary Information Form (PIF) on Sustainable Aquaculture Certification:
- All the information will be kept strictly confidential and implies NO commitment from your company.
- The Friend of the Sea certification is voluntary and NOT mandatory to gain access to markets.
- The application process is NOT discriminatory on size, scale, management, minimum number of operators and number of vessels involved. Nonetheless, enhanced fisheries and enhancement activities, regarding wild catches, cannot apply for certification.
- Friend of the Sea is a NGO and it strives to make participation in the audits affordable for all companies.
- Please, contact us for more information on Government funding which might be available in your Country for sustainability certifications: info@friendofthesea.org
- Find here out pricelist
