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The freshwater trout standard
Freshwater trout farmers face a number of issues in bringing their seafood to market. With ASC certification, farmers evidence their contributions to responsible labour practices, disease management, and ecosystem conservation.
ASC sets the standards for environmentally and socially responsible freshwater trout farming.
Certified farms actively minimise their impact on the surrounding natural environment.
Certified farms operate in a socially responsible manner, care for their employees and work with the local community.
ASC certification gives farms clear guidelines to follow. The Freshwater Trout Standard helps protect farms against these issues:
Biodiversity
ASC certified trout 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. Escapes need to be minimised and solid management plans need to be implemented to ensure this.
Feed
ASC certification requires trout farms to adhere to strict limits to minimise use of wild fish as an ingredient for feed. In addition, the standard requires farms to ensure full traceability back to a certified source, both for wild fish and soy.
Pollution
PollutionASC certified trout farms are required to measure various water parameters (phosphorus, oxygen levels, etc.) at regular intervals and remain within set limits. Responsible farming can only take place in healthy water bodies.
Diseases
DiseasesASC certified trout farms must adhere to rigorous requirements to minimise disease outbreaks. A Fish Health Management Plan must be developed under supervision of a veterinarian and implemented on the farm. This plan details steps for biosecurity management. In addition, chemical antimicrobial treatments before a disease is diagnosed (prophylactic use), is prohibited.
Social
SocialASC certification imposes strict requirements based on the core principles of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), these include prohibiting the use of child labour or any form of forced labour. All ASC certified farms are safe and equitable working environments where employees earn a decent wage and have regulated working hours.
Regular consultation with surrounding communities about potential social impacts from the farm and proper processing of complaints are also required by certified farms. Similar requirements apply for suppliers of small trouts which are supplied to the ASC certified trout farm.
Photography courtesy of Riverence.
Standard documents
Freshwater Trout – Standard documents
ASC Freshwater Trout Standard v1.2
Other documents