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The Tropical Marine Finfish Standard
The farming of tropical marine finfish includes Grouper, snapper, pompano, barramundi, and croaker. Tropical marine finfish farmers face a number of issues in bringing their seafood to market. Throguh ASC certification, farmers evidence their contributions to responsible labour practices, disease management, and ecosystem conservation.
ASC sets the standards for environmentally and socially responsible tropical marine finfish 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 Tropical Marine Finfish Standard helps protect farms against these issues:
Biodiversity
ASC certified tropical marine finfish farms minimise impacts on the local ecosystem in a number of ways, such as the development and implementation of a biodiversity-focused impact assessment ensuring farms are not sited in critical habitats. Certified farms are not allowed to establish themselves in mangrove ecosystems, and farms built in mangrove areas prior to May 1999 are required to partially restore lost mangrove forest. Producers must greatly minimise any fish escapes. All lethal incidents with wildlife must be reported to the ASC.
Feed
ASC certification requires tropical marine finfish farms to adhere to strict limits to minimise the 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, both for wild fish and non-marine ingredients . 80% of soy and palm oil must be certified against an ISEAL Member certification scheme by June 2024.
Pollution
PollutionASC certified tropical marine finfish farms are required to measure various water parameters (for example phosphorus and oxygen levels) at regular intervals and remain within set limits. Potential copper release into the water must be minimised and monitored.
Diseases
DiseasesASC certified abalone farms must adhere to rigorous requirements to minimise disease outbreaks. A Fish Health Management Plan 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. Farmers are required to engage with local communities (including Indigenous communities), have a community stakeholder complaints process in place, and inform local communities about potential health and safety risks or changes in access to resources.
Standard documents
Other documents
Tropical marine finfish – Other documents
ASC Audit Preparation Checklist Tropical Marine Finfish v1.0