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The Tilapia Standard
Tilapia farmers face a number of issues in bringing their seafood to market. Through ASC certification, farmers evidence their contributions to responsible labour practices, disease management, and ecosystem conservation.
ASC sets the standards for environmentally and socially responsible tilapia farming.
Certified farms actively minimise their impact on the surrounding natural environment.
Certified farms operate in a socially responsible manner, caringfor their employees and working with the local community.
ASC certification gives farms clear guidelines to follow. The Tilapia Standard helps protect farms against these issues:
Biodiversity
ASC certified tilapia farms minimise impacts on the local ecosystem in a number of ways, such as developing and implementing an environmental impact assessment. They work towards protecting the receiving watershed from pollution, and no lethal incidents with endangered species are allowed. Fish escapes must be minimised and trapping devices are installed to recapture any fish that do escape. Farms cannot be built on sites that involved conversion of wetlands (since 1999).
Feed
ASC certification requires tilapia 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 responsibly managed source, preferably certified for wild fish.
Pollution
PollutionASC certified tilapia farms are required to measure various water parameters (for example nitrogen, phosphorus and oxygen levels) at regular intervals and maintain these parameters within set limits. This ensures the farm mitigates impacts on water quality in the area in which it is located.
Diseases
DiseasesASC certified tilapia farms must adhere to requirements to minimise disease outbreaks. A fish health management plan mitigates the risk of diseases. The plan must be developed under supervision of a veterinarian and implemented accordingly. In addition, the use of medicine before a disease is diagnosed (prophylactic use), is prohibited. A producer can only use approved medicines and all treatments must be disclosed. Mortalities need to be monitored carefully.
Human Rights
Human RightsASC 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. In addition, certified producers are required to liaise directly with communities to solve conflicts and complaints, and ensure that the local community has access to public land, freshwater and fishing grounds.