ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

INTRODUCTION:

In the Present world, the major problems faced by fishery industries are natural depletion of fishery
resources due to unsustainable fishing practices, large scale aquatic pollution due to commercial
exploitation of aquatic environment and destruction of the primary breeding environment of aquatic
animals such as mangrove forests & coral reefs in many parts of the world. To overcome this
problem, intensive aquaculture methods were carried out all over the world which in turn resulted in
high levels of antibiotics, PCBs, residues of pesticides and heavy metals causing a great damage to
environment especially natural water bodies and human health. Organic Aquaculture could possibly
be a solution to increase the fish production in a sustainable manner without disturbing the natural
ecosystem. However, in many countries the legal framework for aquaculture is quite under
developed and not sufficient to protect the environment against the impact from intense production
systems. Most aquatic products are highly perishable and therefore very demanding with respect to
quality assurance. To increase the customer trust in aquatic products, it is necessary to provide
reliable information on their origin, the method and quality of production. This can be done by
following an internationally accepted standard with easily recognizable labels. Credibility of
standards and labels has to be built up and maintained by a sound quality system. For Organic
Agriculture, USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) presented a definition in 1995:
“Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances
biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm
inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony". The
principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the
ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an
ecological whole. Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of
residues; however, methods are used to minimize pollution from air, soil and water. Organic food
handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic
agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and
productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people. Diminishing
fishery harvests, wild fish food-safety issues, environmental concerns, increased fish consumption,
and the increasing market share of organic foods have combined to focus attention on “organic
aquaculture.” Consumer demand may well drive the organic production of finfish, shellfish, and
other aquatic species into the mainstream during the next decade. A small number of “certified” and
non-certified organic fish and microalgae products have made it to the retail market place in the
developed countries. While the regulatory specifics still need to be addressed, this new organic
market niche has significant potential for growth in the future.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

2.1 CONVENTIONAL AQUACULTURE:

Aquaculture is defined as the production of aquatic animals and plants under controlled conditions
for all or part of their lifecycle. The combination of the environment, equipment, and techniques
selected for the farming of an aquatic species is referred to as the aquaculture production or cultural
system. Several different types of systems have been developed based on availability of
environmental resources and the type of species being raised. Environmental factors that can
influence aquacultural system and species selection include salinity of the water (marine, brackish
and fresh), seasonal climate, watershed drainage, and tides. The major aquaculture systems are pond
culture, cage culture, raceway, recirculating and integrated. Each of these systems has
characteristics that may lead to consideration for organic production.

2.2 CONVENTIONAL AQUACULTURE: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The outlook for aquaculture worldwide is growing. According to FAO statistics, aquaculture’s
contribution to global supplies of fish, crustaceans and molluscs continues to grow, increasing from
3.9 percent of total production by weight in 1970 to 27.3 percent in 2000. Aquaculture is growing
more rapidly than all other animal food producing sectors. Worldwide, the sector has increased at
an average compounded rate of 9.2 percent per year since 1970, compared with only 1.4 percent for
capture fisheries and 2.8 percent for terrestrial farmed meat production systems” (FAO, 2001a).
Aquacultural activities, like their terrestrial farming counterparts, affect surrounding ecosystems.
Despite numerous regulations aimed at ameliorating these effects, environmental impacts currently
associated with some operations and practices draw criticism of the industry. Concerns include
pollution from solid waste and effluent by-products, pesticide and
antibiotic residues, introductions of species to non-native environments, and transmission of
disease between individual organisms and to other species. These impacts have been documented
across several production systems and types of farmed species (Pillay, 1992). Developments in
research and policy are increasingly being focused on resolving these environmental problems.
Members of the aquaculture community believe that sustainable and ecologically based
management practices can lead to environmentally benign aquacultural operations. Costa-Pierce
(2002) envisaged a future where “ecological agriculture research is oriented to the design,
development, and monitoring of aquatic farming systems that preserve and enhance the form and
functions of the natural and social environments in which they are 3 suited. Aquaculture depends
upon inputs from various foods, processing, transportation and other industries, and can produce
valuable, uncontaminated wastewaters and fish processing wastes, all of which can be a vital part of

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

an ecological system that can be planned and organized for community-based aquatic foods
production – and natural ecosystem rehabilitation, reclamation and enhancement – not
degradation.” Additionally, aquaculture may provide some relief to over-fishing pressures for some
species by supplying rising consumer demand for these products. Thus, the opportunity exists to
create aquacultural systems that are models of environmental stewardship. The development and
implementation of organic production practices may lead the way in this effort.

2.3 ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN AQUACULTURE:

Defining “organic aquaculture” is very much a work-in-progress and, for many reasons, an
endeavor marked by controversy. Members of both the organic and the aquaculture communities
disagree on how, or even if, aquatic animal and plant production systems can qualify as “organic”
as the term is commonly used. Any potential definition must be a multi-faceted one. “Organic” in
the context of food production connotes standards and certification – a verifiable claim for the
production process and production practices – as well as more elusive characteristics such as
consumer expectation for food quality and safety and general environmental, social, and economic
benefits for farmers and for society. The variety of species produced in aquacultural systems and
vast differences in cultural requirements for finfish, shellfish, mollusks, and aquatic plants add to
the complexity of defining this sector. Some species and some production systems may prove quite
difficult to adapt to a traditional “organic” system. Traditional organic farming systems “rely on
ecologically based practices, such as cultural and biological pest management, and virtually exclude
the use of synthetic chemicals in crop production and prohibit the use of antibiotics and hormones
in livestock production.” Sustainability, environmental stewardship, and holistic, integrated
approaches to production are hallmarks of organic systems. Standards for organic cropping and
terrestrial livestock husbandry practices have existed for decades. In recent years, standards have
been incorporated into state and national organic rule making and certification requirements.
Interpreting practices and standards developed for terrestrial species into practices and standards
relevant to aquatic species, both animal and plant, remains a major challenge for organic
aquaculture. How can aquatic operations comply with the requirements for an organic system plan,
for obtaining acceptable stock, for implementing health care monitoring and management, for
maintaining prescribed “living conditions,” for development and acceptance of allowed and
prohibited substances lists, for organic feed requirements, for controlled postharvest processing, for
nutrient management, and for required animal identification and record-keeping? Many specialists
agree that the most immediate deterrent to production of organic animals are the issue of providing
organically produced feed, especially for species requiring significant proportions of animal-based

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

protein. Where will it come from? Can wild-caught fish and fish by-products are utilized as organic
feed stock for farmed species? Should emphasis is placed on farming low trophic species?

Other points:

• Criteria for evaluating the suitability of a production site for an organic aquaculture operation;
specifically, how standards will be developed for the site of production to address nutrient
concentration/effluent management and water testing parameters, chemical drift, the emergence and
transfer of disease, the escape of captive species to the wild, biodiversity, and detrimental impacts
on indigenous species
• Guidelines to control practices used in aquaculture operations that are consistent with organic
principles, especially with regard to chemicals administered to control diseases and parasites, and to
accommodating “natural behaviour” and animal welfare in closed systems
• Induction of triploidy in fish species
• Origin of livestock requirement for aquaculture operations that obtain stock or fry from wild
populations;
• Status of “wild caught” fish and related by-products;
• Conversion requirements for producers wishing to change over to an organic system;
• Recordkeeping/traceability elements, and inspection practices pertinent to aquatic species
• Harmonization of organic aquaculture standards between countries.
Today, organic aquaculture production takes place primarily in Europe, where certified organic
salmon, carp, and trout are grown and sold. Certified organic mussels, Tiger shrimp, white shrimp,
and tilapia also are cultured in such diverse places as Vietnam, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, New Zealand,
and Israel. Standards and certification procedures are set by just a few certification agencies.
Universal acceptance of any standards does not currently exist. To risk investment in this sector,
producers require formally recognized standards in order to communicate the advantages of organic
aquaculture products to consumers. The key to the continued growth and development of organic
aquaculture lies in resolving a number of issues that currently stand in the way of instituting
internationally accepted certification standards.

2.4 SCOPE OF ORGANIC AQUACULTURE IN INDIA:

In India there is an ample opportunity to boost organic crop, livestock and fish production to catch
the organic food market of the world. The north-eastern region can become a major organic farming
of the world. In N-E region of India, particularly the hill States, have already started moving

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

towards organic agriculture. In the eastern region, it is estimated that about 1.8 million ha already
existing as organic by default. It is obvious that large quantity of FYM, compost, vermi-compost,
feeds, bio pesticides and other organically produced inputs and biomass would be required to
compensate for the fertilizers and pesticides. For the sustainability of organic farm, it is important to
note that a certified organic farm(s) has to produce most of these inputs in-situ. But that is lacking
in the region. With increasing purchasing power and heightened ecological awareness, the demand
for organic aquaculture products by major importing countries such as the US and Europe have
been on the rise. For India, if the marine shrimp exporter can get 25 per cent of their products
labelled as organic, it will fetch an additional Rs 3,000 crore, virtually doubling the present export
realisation of Rs 4,800 crore from shrimp. Though aquaculture currently contributes to around
30 per cent of the total shrimp trade of the world, the real future development lies in shrimp
farming, especially produced the organic way. Taking the sale of organic salmon as a case in point,
its sales in Europe had shot up forty-fold between 1997 and 2000. Further facilitating the export
potential, many countries, including the European Union have formulated specific standards and
guidelines for organic fish products, distinct from organic farm products. The decision of the US
Congress to allow labelling of wild seafood as organic is another such initiative. In India, such
initiatives are still lacking. However, on the positive side, making a transition to organic systems,
especially in extensive system of shrimp farming would be easy. Also, the technology for
production of low-cost organic feeds is available e.g. the shrimp feed, Mahima, developed by
CMFRI. Large and comparatively clean and pollution-free water bodies are also available. The
natural seed availability for the organic programme is still not in peril. But the institutional support
system in the fisheries sector, for research and trade in general should be made capable to tackle the
transitional challenges. There is a surging global market waiting for such a product, valued at over
$20 billion. Over 90 per cent of this global organic market comes from India's traditional marine
export market of US and Europe, and demand for organic products from several of these countries
have been growing between 20 to 30 per cent. This represents an interesting combination of product
and market diversification, whose rationale is based upon the consumer perceiving value to be
added to the product through its differentiated, more natural but controlled production regime.
(The Hindu Bussiness Line, 2008).

2.5 ORGANIC AQUACULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

In marked contrast to the freshwater-dependent terrestrial agricultural production systems,

aquaculture (including organic aquaculture) can also be realised within marine and/or brackish

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

water environments. For example, over half (54.7 percent) of total global aquaculture production
currently originates from marine or brackish coastal waters (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Major aquaculture species groups by rearing environment in 2001

This includes aquatic plants and molluscs within marine waters (46.6 percent and 44.4 percent
total marine production in 1999) and crustaceans (shrimp, crabs) and finfish (mainly salmonids) in
brackish water (56.2 percent and 35.7 percent of total brackish water production in 1999 (FAO,
2001). In the case of the total reported certified organic aquaculture products produced in Europe (4
200 - 4 700 tonnes in 2000, 87-93 percent of these were produced in marine and brackish waters
(i.e. Atlantic salmon and blue mussels). The use of these hitherto largely untapped vast aquatic
resources (over two-thirds of our planet being covered by oceans) is particularly essential in view of
the urgent need to conserve our precious fresh water supplies for human consumption and
conventional agriculture, including livestock production .In addition to organic fish and mollusc
production, the seas hold particular promise for the production of organic aquatic plants for either
for direct human consumption or as much needed organic feed inputs for animal husbandry.
For the organic aquaculture sector to successfully co-exist with other food production sectors, it will
have to successfully source its own organic feed and nutrient resources. For example, a major
concern with the organic production of carnivorous fish species such as salmon and trout (over 73
percent of farmed finfish production within developed countries currently being carnivorous finfish
species) is the use or not of fish meal and fish oil within organic feeds for these species .In
particular, questions revolve around:
• Whether a product derived from wild caught animals can be certified.
• What the maximum level of fish meal or fish oil is that can be used within certified organic feeds.
• The transfer of essential protein and lipid sources from one part of the globe to the other
• Concerning the ethics and long term sustainability of producing organic carnivorous fish species.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

3.1 DRAFT IFOAM GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING ORGANIC

AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION (IFOAM, 2002):

Conversion to Organic Aquaculture

 Conversion to organic aquaculture is a process of developing farming practices that encourage

and maintain a viable and sustainable aquatic ecosystem. The time between the start of
organic management and certification of the production is known as the conversion period.
 Aquaculture production methods can vary widely according to biology of the organisms,
technology used, geographical conditions, ownership structure, time span,etc. These aspects
should be considered when the length of conversion is specified.
Basic Conditions
 Management techniques must be governed by the physiological and ethological needs of
the organisms in question. The organisms should be allowed to meet their basic behavioural
needs. Management techniques, especially when applied to influence production levels and
speed of growth must maintain and protect the good health and welfare of the organisms.
 When introducing non-native species, special care must be to avoid permanent disruption to
natural ecosystems.
Location of Production Units
 Location of organic production units maintains the health of the aquatic environment and
surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem.
Location of Collecting Areas
 Wild, sedentary/sessile organisms in open collecting areas may be certified as organic if
they are derived from an unpolluted, stable and sustainable environment.
Health and Welfare
Management practices achieve a high level of disease resistance and prevention of infections.
 All management techniques, especially when influencing production levels and speed of
Growth maintains the good health and welfare of the organisms. Living aquatic organisms
should be handled as little as possible.
 The well being of the organisms is paramount in the choice of treatment for disease or
injury.
Breeds and Breeding
 Breeding strategies and practices in organic aquaculture interfere as little as possible with
natural behaviour of the animals. Natural breeding methods are used.
Nutrition (Aquaculture)
 Organic aquaculture production provides a good quality diet balanced according to the

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

nutritional needs of the organism. Feed is only offered to the organisms in a way that allows
natural feeding behaviour, with minimum loss of feed to the environment.
 Feed compromises by-products from organic food processing and wild marine feed
resources not otherwise suited for human consumption.
Harvesting
 Harvesting certified organic aquatic organisms from enclosures or collecting areas creates
minimum stress to the organisms. The act of collection does not negatively affect natural
areas.
Transportation of Living Animals
 The transportation medium should be appropriate for the species with regards to water
quality, including salinity, temperature, oxygen, etc. Transportation distance, duration
and frequency should be minimised.
Slaughter
 Slaughter process minimises the stress and suffering of the organism.
 Slaughter management and techniques governed by careful consideration of the
physiology and ethology of the organisms in question and accepted ethical standards.

3.2 GENERAL PRINICIPLES OF ORGANIC AQUACULTURE (EU):

In addition to the established IFOAM principles for organic production, the following principles &
objectives formulated by the European Union also apply to organic aquaculture:

1. Integration of a healthy and sustainable aquatic farming system with the surrounding
environment.
2. Wise use and care of water and water resources
3. Preservation of wild aquatic flora and fauna

Environmental objectives

The production system must be managed in such a way that the environmental integrity of the
surrounding water and land areas and health of both wild and cultured organisms is preserved
through:

 Having the minimum possible effects on local biological processes

 Preventing escape and predation of cultured organisms
 Maintaining healthy water conditions

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

 Using locally derived, sustainable foodstuff.

 Managing the production so that infectious organisms, parasites, and input factors have
minimal impacts on wild organisms in the surrounding environment
 Providing for polyculture in the production system in order to close nutrient cycles where
possible.

Organic food production objectives

 The production of aquaculture products of prime quality, free from artificial ingredients and
with minimal contamination from the environment.
 Production methods that minimise the use of external resources.
 The prohibition of synthetic inputs such as antibiotics, pesticides, and other chemical
additives.

Animal welfare objectives

 Promotion of the health and welfare of the cultured organisms by minimising stress,
reducing the incidence of disease, and nurturing the vitality of the organisms through
meeting their physiological and behavioural needs.
 Stocking rates should be similar to that found in the wild.
 Health management must be of high standard.

Social objectives

 Encouragement of the use of local resources and services.

 A safe, healthy and sustainable working environment for employees.
 Acceptance and support of the neighbouring community.
 The promotion of organic aquaculture to meet consumer needs and to improve existing
practices in the aquaculture industry.

3.3 ORGANIC STANDARDS FOR FISH PRODUCTION:

India at present do not has a specific guideline for organic fish production and NPOP is formulating
a draft policy in this respect. However, the organic standards for aquaculture discussed herein are
that prescribed by the European Union.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

Setting up the production system

Documentation

1) There must be a management plan and production description available, detailing the entire
production system and how each of the requirements in the standards are complied with for the
production unit.

2) An operating record must always be kept documenting systematic overview of the production
system to the certifying body on request.

3) The following information must be recorded at intervals prescribed by the certifying body, as
applicable, for every production unit:

 Putting out and stocking of cultured organisms: The number of organisms, species, origin,
time when put out and average weight (live weight)
 Volume per production unit
 Stock density
 Removed quantity of dead/dying stock
 Info. about the quantity must be specified as the number of stock and total weight in Kgs.
 Production result (harvest weight): Information about the quantity must be specified as the
number of stock, volume, or total weight in kilograms
 Usage of cleaning agents and disinfectants (chemical type, product name, quantity and usage
period) as well as all major cleaning events
 All inputs, as they are purchased and used.

Environment/Water quality

 Water must come from a spring water supply, well, lake, river or marine area with minimal
risk of pollution. Water sources must have minimal or no contaminants such as heavy
metals, pesticides or hormone disrupting chemicals.
 The water quality of source water bodies must not become significantly deteriorated due to
the farming operation. This must be determined by yearly monitoring and evaluation of
macro-benthic diversity or measurements of single parameters (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite,
phosphate).
 If a stream, spring, or well is the water source then a minimum of 50% of the average low
water level must remain in the source.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

 Producers must maintain production systems, whether self-contained or located in open

water, such that sediment derived from the unit does not diminish the biodiversity of the
environment.
 Feed wastage or faeces, which are collected, must be used as fertiliser in organic agriculture
or in other appropriate applications.
 The cumulative impacts of all farms in the vicinity must be taken into consideration, rather
than treating the farm as an isolated unit. The certification body may, at its discretion,
require documentation of local carrying capacity or decline to certify farms in high-activity
areas.
 Construction materials and production equipment containing paints, basic materials, or
impregnating materials with toxic chemical agents are totally prohibited. This includes
copper anti-fouling agents and net-dips.

Conversion Period

 Two inspections are required before an enterprise receives a certificate. The duration of
time between inspections must be the greater of one year or the length of a growing cycle.
 Once the transition growing cycle has been completed on a single unit, subsequent growing
cycles (in the same or different units) may be developed as certified organic, provided an
application is made, all standards are adhered to, and records are kept for inspection.

Basic material and stock origin/breeding

 Producers must design breeding programs aimed at developing stock resistant to local
disease pathogens. Breeds must be chosen that are adapted to local conditions.
 Brought-in aquatic organisms must come from organic sources.
 Producers must be able to demonstrate that the breeding program ensures genetic diversity
in the production stock.
 Transgenic and genetically modified culture organisms.
 Artificially triploid or monosex stock.

Animal health and welfare

 There must be hygienic routines and routine examinations must be carried out to detect
nascent diseases and production disturbances. The cause and outbreaks of disease or
infection must be identified, and management practices implemented to prevent the
causative events and future outbreaks.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

 When treatment is necessary, the use of natural methods and medicines must be first choice.
Disease treatment must be carried out so that it minimises harmful effects on the
environment and the animals’ health.
 Conventional veterinary drugs and chemicals may only be used if no other justifiable
alternative is available, and/or if the use of such chemicals is required according to national
laws and standards.
 In any production system where use of antibiotics or other prohibited treatments may be
necessary, treated stock must be withdrawn from the certified organic production stream and
may only be marketed as conventional product.
 Emergency harvest must be considered as an alternative to drug treatment.
 Vaccinations are permitted if diseases which cannot be controlled by other management
techniques are known to exist in the region. Vaccinations are also permitted if mandatory
under applicable legislation.
 Routine prophylactic treatments with drugs or chemical agents are prohibited so are drugs
and additives in feed and water to artificially promote growth.
 For production of species where active health management is the norm, current, accurate
disease management record must be kept. The records must include:

o Identification of the infected and infecting organisms concerned

o Details of treatment and duration, including application rate, method of application,
frequency of repetition, concentration of organisms
o Brand name of drugs used and active ingredients.

Nutrition and feeding

 All feed ingredients must be derived from certified organic ingredients, sustainable wild
feed resources as detailed in species-specific standards, or other materials approved by the
Codex.
 Feed must only be offered in a way that allows natural feeding behaviour and minimizes
loss of feed to the environment.
 Coupling feed production with nutrient cycling through polyculture is strongly encouraged.
The certifying body may, at its discretion, impose a schedule according to which producers
must engage in commercial polyculture.

Transportation

 Transportation must not cause avoidable stress or injury to the animals.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

 Transportation equipment and/or shipping materials must be selected with respect to

environmental considerations and must not contaminate the product.
 Chemically synthesized tranquillisers or stimulants must not be given to the animals prior to
or during transport.

Harvest and processing

 Harvest processes must minimise stress and suffering of the organisms. The handling and
harvest of animals must be humane and directed at maximising the quality of the product
without synthetic additives.
 Any product sold as certified organic must be processed in a certified organic processing
facility.

Labelling

Product labels is mandatory or voluntary and may refer to different kinds of product characteristics
or attributes including the product’s composition or contents, product quality or form, as well as
environmental or social aspects of the product’s production process or method. The principal
objective of an ecolabelling is to create a market-based incentive for better management of fisheries
by creating consumer demand for seafood products from well-managed stocks. FAO has developed
specific guidelines for product certification and ecolabelling for fish and fishery products details of
which is given below.

3.4 ORGANIC INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION

Currently, many private and government bodies (including European Union and USDA NOP) are in
the process of developing standards for sustainable aquaculture methods. Naturland- Germany,
BioSuisse-Switzerland, and Soil Association-UK etc. are some of the internationally accepted
private labels for organic aquaculture.

The entire chain of custody i.e., from the farm to the plate has to be certified to get greater
acceptance in the international market. The certifiers work in co-operation with independent
inspection bodies experienced in quality assurance to guarantee the implementation and credibility
of their label.

INDOCERT and its role in aquaculture certification

INDOCERT started activities related to organic aquaculture certification from the year 2004
onwards. The organic market for Aquaculture products is not yet regulated in most of the countries.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

Hence INDOCERT offers inspection services for organic aquaculture production and processing
according to the standards of Naturland.e.V, a certification body based in Germany. INDOCERT
has a team of well experienced and committed professionals in aquaculture to offer inspection
services in India for the entire supply chain from the hatchery to the consumer.

Services provided by INDOCERT in organic aquaculture certification:

 INDOCERT offers inspection services for Naturland e.V for organic aquaculture
certification
 Inspections will be done for HATCHERY, INDIVIDUAL FARMS, FARMER GROUPS,
FEED MILLS AND PROCESSING PLANTS
 Inspections for Pilot projects (IOAP) according to Naturland standards for the development
of specific inspection systems for aquaculture operations (especially for pond culture of
Shrimp/Prawns).

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ISSUES AND DILEMMAS…

 Compatibility of fish farming with the eco-centric ethics inherent in Organic Farming,
considering the ecological risks involved in sea farming, the advantages of using natural
ecosystem services rather than farming, and the dubious task of domestication of new
species.
 Possibility to develop more robust aquaculture production systems to reduce the ecological
impact of fish farming.
 Organic standards on secure welfare of species, for which very little knowledge about their
physiological, behavioural and other welfare needs.
 Develop suitable fish feeds that take into account ethical, economic, and physiological
concerns.
 There are conflicting interests and dilemmas related to vaccination and treatment of
diseases and parasite infestations be handled.
 Solving of practical or technical problems, for example, those related to securing fish
welfare during transport and slaughtering of the fish, pigmentation in fish feeds, and
artificial light regimes applied in cages to prevent early sexual maturation of cod.

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RECENT ADVANCES…..

5.1 Farmers in Kerala State harvested the world’s first batch of organic
freshwater prawn
This farming of the organic black tiger and scampi was initiated in January 2007 in
the states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala by the Marine Products Export
Development Authority (MPEDA) and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic
Affairs (SECO), formerly SIPPO. Technical consultancy came from M/s
BLUEYOU. The aim is to capture the niche market for organic aquaculture products
in EU markets.
Organic scampi culture began in Kuttanad in Alappuzha District, Kerala. The area is
already well known for scampi farming because of the presence of extensive
padasekharams (rice fields) and ponds. In the 20ha of freshwater pond area operated
by the Kuttanad organic scampi farming group, MPEDA provided technical
information on pond preparation. Post larvae (PL 10) were supplied by Rosen
Fisheries Hatchery. Stocking density was 2PL/sq m, initially in nursery ponds and
then transferred to grow out ponds. In this project, Rosen supplied 34,000 post
larvae, stocked in March/April 2008 in 20 ha of ponds belonging to four farmers in
Kerala and 80,000 post larvae to 33ha of ponds belonging to two aquaculture
societies in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. Two other hatcheries, Queens and St
John Bosco, will also produce organic post larvae of the black tiger shrimp.
Shrimp were fed with organic feeds produced by Waterbase Pvt Ltd. The company
has a Naturland certification for organic starter, grow-out and finisher feeds for the
scampi and black tiger shrimp. Ingredients comprise rice bran, soyabean meal, wheat
bran, vitamins and minerals premix and guar gum as binder. The project also
identified Baby Marine International in Kochi and Jagdish Marine Export, Andhra
Pradesh for the processing of organic products.
Certification is mandatory for selling organic products in most markets of the world
and the certifying organization for products from this organic aquaculture project is
Naturland, Germany. The local inspection body for Naturland is Indocert of Kerala
in India which conducted training for all participating groups on the control systems,
technical know-how of organic farming and its other prerequisites in August.
(Source: Aquaculture Asia Pacific, January/February 2009)

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SCHEME FOR AVAILING SUBSIDYASSISTANCE FOR ORGANIC

AQUACULTURE, UNDER INDIA ORGANIC AQUACULTURE PROJECT (IOAP)

Suitable areas for undertaking Organic Shrimp/scampi culture have been selected in the states of
Kerala & Andhra Pradesh & Odisha. Also some more areas are being identified in these states as
well as in Tamil Nadu. To encourage the farmers for undertaking Organic Aquaculture, financial
assistance in the form of subsidy, is proposed to be provided by MPEDA, for the certification and
feed cost; as these are the major expenditures to be borne by the beneficiary.

The details on the subsidy to be provided per ha for a beneficiary are given below:

Subsidy components:

I. Amount to be paid for Inspection/Certification/Membership: Rs. 5,000.00

Fee per ha (approx)
II. Cost of Organic Shrimp/Scampi feed: Rs.60, 000.00
(1000Kgs/Ha.@(Rs.60/Kg for shrimp
Feed and 1500 kg/Ha @ Rs 40/Kg for
Scampi feed)
Total: Rs. 65,000.00
III. 50% of the certification cost and feed cost: Rs. 65,000.00 x 50%
= Rs.32, 500.00
IV. Subsidy amount per ha will be limited to Rs.25, 000/- (upper limit) or 50% of the total cost of
Certification and feed, whichever is less.
V. One beneficiary can avail subsidy for a maximum area of 6 ha and above, subject to the financial
ceiling of Rs.1.5 lakh to the max., per beneficiary, for undertaking organic aquaculture in 6 ha and
above. In the case of Groups/cluster/Society, the upper limit will be Rs.7.5 lakh for 30 ha or more.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

CONCLUSION:

Organic fish farming is a new concept and is still in the early stages of development and strives to
re-establish a proper balance in aquaculture systems, for the benefit of the fish, the environment and
the consumers. Organic fish farming systems and standards that define them are likely to witness
considerable evolution and refinement over the years. However, for the moment, three basic issues
have to be conformed to - for setting up standards. Nutrient cycling within closed systems,
following the law of return, is a central organic principle. Also, the use of pesticides dyes and
antibiotics, which are conventionally used in aquaculture are not to be permitted. Water, which is
both soil and air to the fish, is the critical issue, the quality of which plays an important role in the
quality of the product. Standards must be set up on the quality and purity of the incoming and
outgoing water in terms of environmental impact. The feed, consisting of fishmeal, fish oil, cereal-
based products, vitamins and minerals etc. should be organically produced. It is not an easy task to
bring down and remove the level of organo-chlorine pollutants in the marine fish that are used for
conversion into fishmeal. National standards would have to be set up which the farmers and
exporters who seek ecolabelling will have to abide by.

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ORGANIC AQUACULTURE- A new approach in fisheries development

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper - Product certification and ecolabelling for fisheries
sustainability, Cathy Roheim Wessells, Kevern Cochrane, Carolyn Deere & Paul Wallis.

2. Hindu Bussiness Line (2005). Organic aquaculture key to growth. Financial Daily from
THE HINDU group of publications, Kochi , May 17, 2005.

3. REFERENCE SITES

 IFOAM, 2002 from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y4137E/y4137e06.htm

 http://www.scribd.com/doc/7076342/Organic-Aquaculture-An-approch-for-safer-fisheries
 http://www.scribd.com/doc/7764312/European-Organic-Aquaculture-Certification
 http://www.scribd.com/doc/7919452/Standards-Needed-for-Organic-Aquaculture
 “Organic Production/Organic Food: Information Access Tools.” From
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml
 www.foodandwaterwatch.org

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