The World Wildlife Fund on Monday posted global shrimp and abalone aquaculture draft standards for the first of two public-comment periods.
The standards are the result of the Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue and the Abalone Aquaculture Dialogue, respectively, and are designed to minimize the potentially negative impact that shrimp and abalone aquaculture can have on the environment, farm workers and communities near aquaculture farms.
“We are committed to hearing from and listening to as many people as possible before this process ends,” said Dominique Gautier of Aqua Star and a member of the shrimp dialogue’s steering committee. “Their input will help guarantee that the final standards offer a progressive definition of responsible shrimp farming.”
In addition to the shrimp and abalone standards, dialogues for mollusks, tilapia, kampachi, cobia, pangasius and salmon are also underway.
All of the dialogue standards will be amended periodically to reflect changes in science and technology, as well as to encourage innovation and continuous improvement. These revisions will be coordinated by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, which will be fully operational in 2011.
