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WWF's work on aquaculture began in 1994, when the organization supported a research project comparing the impacts of shrimp aquaculture and shrimp trawling. The main recommendation from the study was that WWF identify strategies to reduce the major impacts from shrimp aquaculture and engage shrimp producers and governments in a productive dialogue. Several initiatives followed the study. WWF published a shrimp aquaculture position paper in 1997, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held a technical workshop on sustainable shrimp aquaculture in 1998, and WWF's Dr. Jason Clay and Claude Boyd published an article about shrimp farming in Scientific American in 1998 that highlighted the need for major changes in aquaculture production systems.
In 1999, WWF partnered with FAO, the World Bank and the Network of Aquaculture Centres of Asia-Pacific to create the Shrimp Aquaculture and the Environment Consortium. The United Nations Environmental Program has since joined the consortium. In 2006, after the completion of more than 140 meetings with more than 8,000 people and the publication of 40 case studies by 120 researchers, the consortium's International Principles for Responsible Shrimp Farming were adopted by the FAO's Committee on Fisheries.
Since then, five additional dialogue groups have been created, focusing on the species with the highest value and most demand in high-end consumer markets. In 2004, Dialogues were created for salmon and molluscs (clams, mussels, oysters and scallops). Work began on catfish and tilapia the following year and pangasius (mainly basa and tra) in 2007. WWF anticipates the start of the trout, abalone and seaweed Dialogues in 2008. Depending on the species, it can take one to four years to develop and finalize standards.
Highlights from each dialogue:
Shrimp: Principles adopted in 2006 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are being used to create standards for shrimp farms in Central America/Mexico, East Africa and Asia. These standards will then be harmonized into one global set of standards. By working in Asia, the Dialogue will ensure that the standards will address the needs of small-scale producers.
Salmon: People representing more than half of global salmon production and one-quarter of salmon retail sales are participating in the dialogue. Goals and objectives have been approved and key impacts have been identified and agreed upon. Technical reports on key impacts are being drafted as a basis for creating the standards.
Molluscs: Although started in 2004, the Mollusc Aquaculture Dialogue was on hold until 2007 because of funding delays. The second meeting was held in October 2007 in Oregon. In 2008, at least three additional dialogue meetings will be held in North America and several will be held overseas. WWF expects that generic standards will be finalized in 2008 for North American clams, oysters, scallops and mussels.
Tilapia: Draft standards for tilapia aquaculture are expected to be posted for public comment in the spring of 2008 and finalized by the end of this year.
Pangasius: Since the Dialogue began in September 2007, participants have identified the eight main issues and principles related to pangasius farming. Technical Working Groups will meet through the fall to develop criteria and indicators that will be presented to the full Dialogue for consideration by the end of 2008.
Catfish: The discussions have stalled in the United States. Producers from Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana are confused about the multiple certification programs being developed at this time, so they are developing their own standards. Alabama, which represents more than one-third of the U. S. production of catfish, would like to work with WWF. If this relationship can be nurtured, the standards can be created in nine months.
Trout: This Dialogue is expected to begin by mid-2008. The initial focus will be the European Union, which is the largest freshwater trout producing region in the world.
For more information, please contact us at Aquacultureinfo@wwfus.org.
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