Implementation of Global Certification (Aquaculture Stewardship Council—ASC) for rainbow trout and assessment of sustainable certification of new species (38809)

Aquaculture is globally the fastest growing food producing sector. However, to continue that trend requires efficient solutions to negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts that may be associated with aquaculture production.

This project aimed to support the process of global certification of rainbow trout, i.e. to develop global, measurable, performance-based, and transparent standards that minimize negative environmental and social impacts from farming of trout in fresh water and maintain economic sustainability of trout production. The basis was the current types of production and strategies for farming of rainbow trout in fresh water in Denmark from the embryonic stage to marketable size and broodstock fish.

Also included were the principles and the main national and EU regulations related to fish farming as well as issues related to feed, veterinary health conditions, and use of antibiotics and therapeutants.

Production facilities included the design and construction, of the various types of fish farms (i.e., traditional farms, model trout farms, and Fully Recirculation Aquaculture (FREA) systems).

Finally, farming of organic trout in Denmark and the related regulations affiliated with the organic label were included. The project was part of the Aquaculture Trout Dialogue facilitated by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to develop the certification standards in cooperation with the other partners. Once the certification standards were fixed the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) became responsible for the certification of the produces.

The project was coordinated by Danish Aquaculture Association, Denmark and funded by the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).

Research area: Aquaculture