Species Extension Project: Pike-perch

Currently, ASC manages separate farm standards covering 17 different species groups. They all provide industry-leading, robust environmental and social requirements. However, because they have been developed at different times, their requirements vary on some of the impacts that are common across aquaculture. For this reason, ASC is developing an aligned Farm Standard, which aims to provide greater consistency and harmonise requirements across all farmed seafood species currently targeted by ASC. This standard is expected to become effective in 2025.

The ASC portfolio is regularly updated. New species may be added to the ASC programme based on consumer demand, market development opportunity, or producer interest. By using a Species Selection Framework – Risk Matrix, a number of low-risk species were identified and approved by the ASC Board for addition to the ASC portfolio of certifiable species. The Risk Matrix allows scoring species against criteria related to those addressed by current species-specific standards (i.e., production system, environmental, social and feed) as well as criteria related to compatibility with those standards and market demand. By doing this, the ASC ensures that reputational risks are managed while market development opportunities are maximised.

 

Species Extension Project: Pike-perch

Among the selected species, pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) has been identified as a priority species for ASC and was chosen as pilot to trial the Species Scope Extension Procedure. The Species Extension Project: Pike-perch seeks to develop a supplementary module which will allow the expansion of the portfolio of species currently covered by ASC. This module is developed with existing indicators from some of the 12 Farm Standards.

The goal of the Pike-perch Module is to provide a means to measurably improve the environmental and social performance of aquaculture operations for this species. The module aims to establish best practices as a minimum and requires site-specific improvements where possible. Via this approach, a baseline level is set across those producers currently less advanced in addressing environmental and social impacts while ensuring that those already operating at high(er) levels continue to do so.

Learnings from the project will be assessed for incorporation into the Species Scope Extension Procedure for improvement. The process will therefore be formalised at the end of the development of the Pike-perch Module. The project runs concurrently with the ASC Farm Standard development. The module will be an interim measure to allow the certification of Sander luciperca, by bridging the gap between now and the release of the aligned ASC Farm Standard. Producers will eventually need to adapt to the aligned Farm Standard. The integration will occur at the time the Farm Standard is effective. This will take place with the inclusion of species-specific indicators in the Farm Standard Annex. Once launched, the process for adding new species to the Farm Standard will be clear and efficient.

Contact person: Fabiola Mustafaj

 

Timeline

More information

• Read the Terms of Reference (ToR) here.
• ASC launches Stakeholder Consultation on two major criteria of the ASC Farm Standard and Pike-perch Module

 

[Page last updated on 01.03.2023]