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The Abalone Standard
Abalone farmers face a number of issues in bringing their seafood to market. Through ASC certification, abalone farmers evidence their contributions to responsible labour practices, disease management, and ecosystem conservation.
ASC sets the standards for environmentally and socially responsible abalone farming.
Certified farms actively minimise their impact on the surrounding natural environment.
Certified farms operate in a socially responsible manner, caring for their employees and working with the local community.
ASC certification gives farms clear guidelines to follow. The Abalone Standard helps protect farms against these issues:
Biodiversity
ASC certified abalone farms minimise impacts on the local ecosystem in a number of ways, such as ensuring that farms are not sited in areas with key biological or ecological functions. No harm to threatened or endangered species or the habitat on which they depend is allowed. Detailed management plans also need to be implemented to minimise escapes.
Feed
ASC certification requires abalone farms to adhere to strict limits to minimise use of wild fish as an ingredient for feed.
Pollution
PollutionASC certified abalone farms are required to measure various parameters (nitrogen, sulphide, etc.) at regular intervals and remain within set limits.
Diseases
DiseasesASC certified abalone farms must adhere to rigorous requirements to minimise disease outbreaks. A disease management protocol must be developed for health surveillance and disease response. In addition, the use of medicines before a disease is diagnosed (prophylactic use), is prohibited.
Human Rights
ASC certification includes robust requirements based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. These include prohibiting the use of child labour or any form of forced labour and requiring the right of freedom of association and collective bargaining. All ASC certified farms are safe and equitable working environments where employees earn a decent wage and have regulated working hours.