Aquaculture Certification the WWF Approach

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Aquaculture Certification the WWF Approach

• Jose R. Villalon, WWF-US
• November 2009

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Fastest growth is in developing countries
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MT x 106
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But aquaculture has impacts
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• Habitat conversion Escape of
  exotics
• Antibiotic chemical use Social labor
  
• Benthic biodiversity Feed
  management

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Solution
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• Standards for certifying aquaculture products

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WWF has expertise to create standards
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• Rainforest Marketing 1980s
• Forest Stewardship Council 1990s
• Marine Stewardship Council 1990s
• Marine Aquarium Council 1990s
• Protected Harvest 2000
• Climate Savers - 2000s
• New Program for IT Industry 2007
• Aquaculture Dialogues 2000s

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Process
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• Global initiative
• Multi-stakeholder
• Open and inclusive
• Transparent
• Based on sound science
• Measurable standards
• Consensus-based
• ISEAL compliant

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Objectives of the Dialogues
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• Develop environmental and social
  performance-based standards
• Measurably reduce the critical impacts of
  aquaculture
• Help strengthen the economic viability of
  aquaculture

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Aquaculture Dialogue Standards - Timeline
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• Tilapia . Fall 2009
• Pangasius .. February 2009
• Oysters Q2 2010
• Clams .. Q2 2010
• Mussels .. Q2 2010
• Scallops ... Q2 2010
• Abalone Q2 2010
• Shrimp . Q3 2010
• Salmon . Q3 2010
• Freshwater trout .. Q3 2010

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Aquaculture Stewardship Council
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• The ASC will offer farm level annual
  certification
• By accrediting third-party Certification Bodies
  (CB) that are ISO 65 compliant
• The ASC will initially offer certification for
  10-12 aquaculture commodity species, which are
  salmon, shrimp, Pangasius, tilapia, freshwater
  pan trout, cobia, Seriola, oysters, mussels,
  clams, scallops, and abalone.
• The ASC standards will focus on Environmental /
  Social / Chain of Custody
• To offer value to retailers, reduce cost to
  producers, and reduce confusion to consumers the
  ASC will partner with GFSI members that offer
  Food Safety standards. Thus offering
  one-stop-shopping for certification.

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Aquaculture Stewardship Council
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• Environmental
• Social
• Chain of custody

Global Food Safety Initiative - GFSI
BRC
SQF
GlobalGAP
Others . .
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Further expectations on standard
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• No duplications one CoC cert one farm stop
  auditing, etc
• Inclusion of recognized food safety and good
  agricultural practice stds, (GG, SQF, and
  others). Common platform (GFSI?)
• Alignment with MSC (CoC, governance and
  legitimacy, logo)
• Fast introduction, much is ready for use food
  safety standards, CoC (MSC model), Aquaculture
  dialogues
• Assure inclusion of social criteria in ASC
  standard
• Managing risk of exclusion of smallholders (group
  certification, producer org and tech support,
  etc)
• Producer Support programmes to support and
  guarantee supply

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Aquaculture Stewardship Council
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Aquaculture Stewardship Council
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• May take 24- months to develop the independent
  ASC
• WWF has hired staff Summer 2009 to create the
  ASC WWF is currently seeking funding partners
  for this Director position totaling 500,000
  Euros for two year office.
• This Director is tasked with 1) Sourcing
  potential partners from the private sector 2)
  Source potential funding for start-up costs 3)
  Update business plan and projections 4) Create
  the administrative and institutionalization of
  the ASC (governance, by-laws, etc) and 5) ASC
  set up office, web-site, staff, etc.

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Aquaculture Stewardship Council
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• Director will report to WWF-US Aquaculture
  Managing Director (Jose Villalon) and the 4-5
  member Steering Group.
• With support of temporary Steering Group of four
  to five individuals .
• An Advisory Group of multi stakeholder sector
  from seafood retailers, global producers, feed
  manufactures, and NGOs. It is expected of 20-35
  representatives.
• Steering Group and Advisory Group could form the
  future Board of Directors for the independent ASC
  but not necessarily.
• WWF has partnered with IDH to help develop the
  independent Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
  Other potential partners being sought.
• 
  

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Proposed Developmental Stage Advisory Group
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Get involved
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• www.worldwildlife.org/aquadialoguesaquacultureinf
  o_at_wwfus.org

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