uaculture Dialogue has handed over the shrimp standard to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), following seven years of development. Now the standard is finalized, this marks a major milestone for the ASC and a step towards promoting more responsible shrimp aquaculture.“I have to applaud the individuals on the dialogue — around 400 people worked tirelessly, including NGOs, industry, scientists and others,” said Chris Ninnes, ASC CEO. “It’s no mean feat to bring such varied views and expertise together to create this important document. I’m anticipating early interest in ASC certification from shrimp farms and look forward to them entering the program and committing to significant improvement in the sustainability of their operations.”
The majority of shrimp aquaculture takes place in China, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Ecuador and Bangladesh. Many large- and small-scale shrimp farms in Central America, Southeast Asia and elsewhere are working towards producing shrimp responsibly.
“These standards are a breakthrough for sustainable shrimp production,” said Jason Clay, WWF’s senior VPof market transformation. “Shrimp is the most valuable traded marine product in the world today, with the farmed shrimp industry growing at a rate of 10 percent annually. These standards will help ensure this growth occurs sustainably and in a way that benefits producers, consumers and the environment. We’re now one big step closer to sustainable shrimp making its way to seafood counters around the world.”
Shrimp is the seventh standard to join ASC’s global program for responsible aquaculture. It follows standards for farmed tilapia, pangasius, bivalves (clams, mussels, oysters, scallops), abalone, freshwater trout and salmon.
