Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to have unacceptable impacts on ETP species. ETP species that may interact with the fishery include marine mammals, sea turtles and Atlantic sturgeon, but recorded interactions are low.
• This fishery does not pose a risk of serious harm to bycatch species. Major bycatch species include dogfish and skate, of which, thorny skate is overfished. There is a partial strategy in place to ensure the fishery does not hinder the recovery of thorny skate.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed. However, management measures are in place.

General Notes

Reference

SAI Global, 2016, MSC Assessment Final Report and Determination for US Acadian Redfish, Pollock and Haddock Otter Trawl Fishery.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed, but occasional impacts may occur.

General Notes

• This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Shellfish aquaculture is considered a highly sustainable practice because the overall environmental impacts of farming plankton-filtering species are minimal.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Farmed molluscan shellfish such as oysters and clams are not required to have GSSI certification as the environmental impact of their operations are generally positive.

References

Seafood Watch, Oyster, Farmed, Bottom culture

Environmental Notes

• The largest risk to ETP species posed by this fishery is to the critically endangered Right whale. The Gulf of Maine Lobster fishery's MSC certification was withdrawn due to this issue.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

References

Marine Stewardship Council, Gulf of Maine lobster fishery

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species.
• This fishery is unlikely to have significant impacts on bycatch species.
• Dredges will directly impact the sea bed, but the fishery is considered highly unlikely to reduce habitat structure and function to a point where there would be serious or irreversible harm.

General Notes

References

Marine Stewardship Council, US Atlantic sea scallop

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• Farmed scallops are not provided external feed.
• The risk of escape is considered to be low. Relatively few diseases have been reported in scallops. The majority of the source of stock for farmed scallops comes from natural or passive settlement. Due to the lack of data on source stocks, the percentage of production from hatchery-raised broodstock or natural (passive) settlement is difficult to quantify; however, the removal of wild scallops for broodstock is not expected to have any negative impacts on the wild stock.
• Little to no chemicals are used in the culture of scallops. Improved husbandry and cleaning methods rather than use of antibiotics are employed to prevent bacterial infections. No chemicals are used during the grow-out phase of scallop culture. Cleaning solutions (i.e., bleach) used during the hatchery phase are not discharged to the marine environment.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

References

Seafood Watch, Scallops, Worldwide, Farmed, Off-bottom culture

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to seabirds and marine mammals with this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.
• There is bycatch for this fishery but non-target species are retained. Management measures are in place to reduce impacts on retained species.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed. MSC conditions and recommendations are in place to strengthen understanding of fishery interactions with sensitive habitat.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• There are potential risks to ETP species with this fishery, but mitigation actions are underway.
• There is significant bycatch in this fishery but non-target species are retained.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to have direct impacts on ETP species.
• There is bycatch for this fishery but non-target species are retained. Management measures are in place to reduce impacts on retained species.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• Interactions with Protected marine mammals, birds, and turtles are rare but do sometimes occur.
• Bycatch is low for this fishery.
• Longlines have low habitat impact overall but can impact some deep water coral communities.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Low bycatch rates of marine mammals is usual in trawl fisheries, and little of no bycatch of sea birds is observed. Turtles can be a concern in this fishery. Because of that, as well as interactions with protected fish species, management measures including at-sea observation, gear modifications, closed areas and seasons, are in place to mitigate ETP species interactions
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

References

Fishery Progress, Canada Atlantic cod (3Ps) - longline/trawl/gillnet/hook & line

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to marine mammals from entanglement with trawl gear with this fishery.
• Atlantic mackerel is also caught in the herring fishery but is mostly landed. Catch of river herring is a concern in the U.S. midwater trawl fishery targeting Atlantic herring. Precautionary strategies are used to minimise impacts to bycatch species.
• Midwater trawl only occasionally interacts with the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

References

Seafood Watch, February 2024, Atlantic mackerel and Atlantic herring, U.S. & Canada: Northwest Atlantic, Bottom trawls, Midwater trawls, Purse seines

Environmental Notes

• The available data on the impacts of fishing on the ETP species in Iceland is scarce. There are management measures in place for whales and seals.
• Bycatch in this fishery is considered low. There are management measures in place to prevent bycatch of juvenile herring and other species.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.

References

Marine Stewardship Council, Norway North Sea herring

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Salmon rely on wild capture fisheries for feed. Marine ingredients (herring, menhaden, anchovy) are sourced from fisheries that currently have no serious conservation concerns.
• There is an ongoing risk of impact that fish escaping from Canadian-sited farms may have on their wild counterparts (as evidenced by the higher numbers of escapees in Canadian rivers).
• The use of antibiotics was markedly high. The limited availability of registered pesticide therapeutants for the control of sea lice has resulted, at least twice, in the development of resistance to the few products permitted. There is potential for larger-scale, cumulative ecological impacts from effluents.

General Notes

References

Seafood Watch, Atlantic Salmon, Farmed, Canada

Environmental Notes

• Salmon rely on wild capture fisheries for feed. At least 50% of the feed used in certified production is required to be responsibly or sustainably sourced.
• There are concerns about the impact of farmed salmon escapes and disease outbreaks on wild salmonids. Overall, the Chilean industry continues to struggle with the control of bacterial diseases and sea lice parasites as indicated by the very high levels of treatment.
• Direct impacts on water quality at the site are unlikely, but there is potential for cumulative impacts in densely farmed areas. The use of antibiotic and pesticides in Chile is high; studies on impact are limited.

General Notes

• A zonal management approach has been adopted based on licenses (concessions); groups of licenses - Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs); emergency disease zones - Macro Zones; and Areas Autorizadas para el ejercicio de la Acuicultura - Appropriate Areas for Aquaculture (AAA).

References

FishSource, Salmon - Chile

Good Fish Guide, Atlantic salmon, Chile

Seafood Watch, Farmed Atlantic Salmon, Chile

Environmental Notes

• Salmon production relies on wild capture fisheries for feed. The sustainability of fisheries supplying fishmeal and fish oil varies.
• There are concerns about the impact of farmed salmon escapes and disease outbreaks on wild salmonids. Escapes are a critical conservation concern in Production Areas 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11. In addition, concerns have been expressed about the impact on wild wrasse populations used as cleaner fish to control sea lice.
• Impacts on water quality are localized, but there is potential for cumulative impacts in densely farmed areas. Chemical inputs of pesticides used to control sea lice are of particular concern for farmed Norwegian salmon. The use of chemical pesticides has been reduced but varies by Production Areas.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.
• The Norwegian salmon industry has adopted a zonal approach to aquaculture management for licensing and disease management through the use of 13 Production Areas nationwide.

References

FishSource - Salmon, Norway

Good Fish Guide - Atlantic Salmon, Europe: Scotland, Norway and Faroe Islands, Open net pen, marine, GLOBALG.A.P.

Environmental Notes

• Salmon rely on wild capture fisheries for feed. Marine ingredients are sourced from fisheries that currently have no serious conservation concerns.
• There are concerns about the impact of farmed salmon escapes and disease outbreaks on wild salmonids. In addition, concerns have been expressed about the impact on wild wrasse populations used as cleaner fish to control sea lice.
• Impacts on water quality are localized, but there is potential for cumulative impacts in densely farmed areas. Chemical inputs of pesticides used to control sea lice are of particular concern for farmed Scottish salmon. The use of chemical pesticides has declined over the last decade but varies by region.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.
• The industry follows a zonal approach to aquaculture management with respect to planning, siting, licensing, and operation.

References

FishSource - salmon, United Kingdom

Good Fish Guide - Atlantic salmon, Europe: Scotland, Norway, Faroe Islands, Open net pen, marine, GLOBALG.A.P.

Environmental Notes

• There is a risk to ETP species with this fishery.
• Bycatch is a risk for this fishery, but there is insufficient data available to assess significance.
• Habitat impacts in this fishery are not well understood.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

References

Seafood Watch, Atlantic surfclam, United States, Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Boat dredges, Marine Stewardship Council Certified

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Blue catfish is caught in a mix of fisheries using a variety of gears that have low impacts on the Chesapeake Bay’s bottom habitat.
• Other species of concern are reportedly caught with blue catch fish.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

References

Seafood Watch, Blue catfish, United States, Chesapeake Bay, Set gillnets

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• No feed inputs are used to support farmed mussels.
• The larval phase of mussels may be transported away from farm sites. The spread of non-native musels and unintentionally introduced species beyond their natural range may be a cause for concern.
• There is no concern regarding pollution from nutrients or organic matter. No feed or nutrient fertilization inputs are used to support farmed mussels, and water quality has been shown to improve at farmed mussel sites.

General Notes

References

Seafood Watch, Farmed Mussels, Worldwide, Best Aquaculture Practices Certified BAP Mussel Standard

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• Mussel farming has a benign ecological footprint, with little disturbance of sediments or aquatic vegetation during grow-out. Some mussel harvesting methods involve dredging, but long-term effects on the environment are rare.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
  

Environmental Notes

• There is limited information regarding the impacts on ETP species.
• Collapsible traps are considered the most size-selective gear for BSC; however, selectivity against bycatch species in practice is not consistently high. Survival of non-retained species is higher in the trap fishery than the gillnet fishery, as bycatch is discarded on site.
• Serious impacts to benthic habitat are considered unlikely; however, there is some fishing effort reported in areas of mangroves, where impacts are not well documented.

General Notes

References

Fishery Progress, Indonesian blue swimming crab - gillnet/trap

Environmental Notes

• The amount of effluent that’s discharged into the environment is a critical concern, and there’s a high risk of farmed catfish escaping and spreading diseases to wild fish.
• Chemical use is another critical concern. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to refuse imports of channel catfish from China because of unsafe levels of authorized and unauthorized antibiotics, and there’s documented evidence of the ongoing use of banned chemicals.
• Furthermore, the industry is impacting important habitats like freshwater wetlands and lakes.

General Notes

References

Seafood Watch, Channel Catfish, Farmed, China

Environmental Notes

• No feed inputs are used to support farmed mussels.
• The larval phase of mussels may be transported away from farm sites. The spread of non-native mussels and unintentionally introduced species beyond their natural range may be a cause for concern.
• There is no concern regarding pollution from nutrients or organic matter. No feed or nutrient fertilization inputs are used to support farmed mussels, and water quality has been shown to improve at farmed mussel sites.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.

References

Seafood Watch, Chilean Mussel, Best Aquaculture Practices Certified BAP Mussel Standard

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Management measures are in place to minimise bycatch of non-target salmon stocks.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

References
Intertek Moody Marine, 2013, Alaska Salmon Fishery MSC Public Certification Report

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Fishmeal and fish oil in Chilean salmon feeds continue to be replaced by high levels of crop protein or oil ingredients, and also with by-products from land-animal processing. Data provided by major feed companies supplying Chilean farms and by Intesal show the feed conversion ratio (dry weight of feed to wet weight of fish) is 1.2 for coho salmon. From first principles, 1.56 MT of wild fish would need to be caught to produce 1 metric ton of farmed coho salmon.
• Large escape events continue to occur in Chile, although at a reducing frequency. Coho salmon show greater evidence of reproduction and establishment in Chile, and escaped fish have been shown to predate on wild fish. The open nature of net pen production systems leaves fish inherently vulnerable to infection. Overall, the Chilean industry continues to struggle with the control of bacterial diseases and sea lice parasites as indicated by the very high levels of treatment. Frequent treatment with antibiotics that are highly important for human medicine (and critically important to veterinary medicine) is not prudent, judicious, or justified when the risks are considered.
• Academic studies of soluble nutrients across all salmon farming regions indicate direct impacts at the site are unlikely, but the potential for cumulative impacts remains a moderate concern.

General Notes

References

Seafood Watch, Farmed Coho Salmon, Chile

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• The Barents Sea hosts various ETP species, including marine mammals, fish, and seabirds. Key species such as the golden redfish and harbour porpoise face significant threats due to bycatch and fishing gear interactions.
• Bycatch is considered low for this fishery.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed. An MSC condition is in place to better understand fishery interactions with sensitive habitats.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery can have a bycatch of endangered seabird species, but the impacts of this are not fully understood.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

References

Good Fish Guide, Haddock, Northeast Arctic (Barents and Norwegian Sea), Hook & line (longline), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species, although there is a risk of seabird entanglement.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• External feed is not provided to farmed clams.
• There is little evidence available to support negative effects of escaped clams on ecosystems or wild populations.
• Effluent may be released from the hatchery or nursery phases, but this is not considered to have any negative effects on the environment, and filter-feeding of clams during grow-out is often cited as improving water quality and/or nutrient cycling in the vicinity near farms. No chemicals are known to be used during the grow-out phase of clam culture in North America.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

References

Seafood Watch, Clams, Farmed

Environmental Notes

• There's very little data on what's caught, but it's likely to include other at-risk species of squid as well as corals, forage fish, turtles and sharks.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

• Squid plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.

References

Fishery Progress, India Kerala shrimp and cephalopods - trawl

Seafood Watch, Indian squid, India, Eastern Indian Ocean, Western Indian Ocean, Bottom trawls

Environmental Notes

• There is no information on the impact of this fishery on ETP species.
• Information on bycatch is not available for this fishery.
• The midwater trawl fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed, however, the combined impacts from the multi-gear fishery are unknown.

General Notes

• Information on Chinese fisheries targeting Japanese flying squid is very limited.
• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
• This fishery was in the Jonah Crab FIP from 2014-2017.

References

Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Jonah Crab Fishery Improvement Project

Environmental Notes

• Bycatch is minimal, but includes lake trout which could be of concern.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
  
• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to marine mammals, sharks, and rays with this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.
• There is some risk of bycatch by bottom trawl gear.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to have direct impacts on ETP species.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to turtles and seabirds with this fishery, but mitigation measures are in place.
• Bycatch for this fishery includes sharks, rays, sunfish, opah, swordfish, and yellowfin tuna.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

References

Fishery Progress, Peru mahi-mahi - longline (WWF)

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch in this fishery is considered low.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to seabirds and marine mammals with this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed. However, management measures are in place.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.
• Profile is not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• The amount of effluent that’s discharged into the environment is a critical concern, and there’s a high risk of farmed catfish escaping and spreading diseases to wild fish.
• Chemical use is another critical concern. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to refuse imports of channel catfish from China because of unsafe levels of authorized and unauthorized antibiotics, and there’s documented evidence of the ongoing use of banned chemicals.
• Furthermore, the industry is impacting important habitats like freshwater wetlands and lakes.

General Notes

References

Seafood Watch, Channel Catfish, Farmed, China

Environmental Notes

• While encounters with marine mammals and birds have been documented in this fishery, the impact on ETP species is not thought to be significant.
• There is no risk of bycatch for this fishery. Catches of other salmon species are accounted for in the pink salmon management.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the benthic habitat.

General Notes

References

Intertek Moody Marine, 2013, MSC Public Certification Report for Alaska Salmon Fishery

Environmental Notes

• ETP species potentially impacted by this fishery include several species of wolfish, leatherback turtles, and most urgently, endangered North Atlantic right whales.

• The snow crab fishery is considered to be low impact with regard to bycatch of other species; however, availability of published quantitative bycatch statistics is limited.

• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

References

Fishery Progress, Canada Gulf of St. Lawrence snow crab - pot/trap

Marine Stewardship Council, MSC certificate suspended for Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence snow crab fishery

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• There is a lack of information on bycatch in this fishery.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Data on the feed ingredients and sources are limited. Typical feed conversion ratios (FCR) of 1.35 for trout in raceways and 1.50 for net pens are used. Average fishmeal and fish oil inclusion levels in trout feeds are estimated to be 20.0% and 6.3% respectively. Information regarding the sustainability of the fishery sources of marine ingredients is very limited.
• The risk of escapes from raceway systems in Colombia is considered low and net pen is considered moderate. Regulations in Colombia regarding interactions with wildlife at aquaculture facilities are minimal, and there is no clear enforcement. There is limited disease reporting in Colombia; raceways and net pens are open systems that have an inherent risk of disease transmission and amplification.
• There is a lack of data on water quality, use of chemicals and effluent monitoring. While chemical use appears to be low, the legal system doesn’t adequately manage its use. Due to the openness of the net pens, there is a greater risk of affecting non‐target organisms.

General Notes

References

Seafood Watch, Farmed Rainbow Trout, Colombia

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
  

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• The red swamp crawfish was introduced to Egypt in the 1980s and is considered an invasive species.
• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the benthic habitat.

General Notes

References

Intertek Moody Marine, 2013, MSC Public Certification Report for the Alaska Salmon Fishery

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch is a risk for this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes.

Environmental Notes

• Tilapia require relatively low inputs of fishmeal and fishoil from marine feed sources in their diet. However, there are significant concerns about the sustainability of feed inputs from domestic sources, which are produced from fisheries that are fully exploited overexploited, or depleted.
• There is little infomation available regarding impacts of Chinese tilapia production on wild species, includings impacts from escapes, disease outbreaks, and interactions with predators and other wildlife. Nile tilapia are considered highly invasive and there are documented examples of tilapia populations outcompeting local fish species for resources in Chinese waterways. Despite this, there is no information on tilapia escapes at a farm level. In addition, there is little information about on-farm diseases in Chinese tilapia production and disease outbreaks pose a risk to wild fish populations. There is no information regarding interactions with wildlife which may include migrating birds.
• Pollution from nutrients and organic matter, as well as chemical inputs, may affect local water quality. There is limited information regarding on-farm chemical use and the impact of effluent released by tilapia pond‐based farms in China. But there is evidence of the use of illegal chemicals and of antibiotics important to human health in Chinese tilapia production.

General Notes

• Area-based approaches to aquaculture are included in the national and provincial legislation, but it is unclear whether zonal approaches to siting and production are used.
• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.

References

FishSource - Tilapia, China

Seafood Watch, Tilapia, Global Aquaculture Alliance Certified BAP 2, 3, 4-star

Environmental Notes

• All fishmeal and fish oil is sourced from by-products.
• Although the possibility for escape is considered high, the invasiveness factor is considered low given the prior establishment of the species. There is no current data or evidence indicating that tilapia cultured by Regal Springs, Honduras at their floating cage culture sites in Lake Yojoa and Lake Cajon are causing population declines in wild fish through the amplification and retransmission of pathogens or parasites. There is evidence that tilapia cage culture operations in Lake Yojoa and Lake Cajon attract or interact with predators or other wildlife, but the concern for wildlife and predator mortalities due to these operations is low.
• There are moderate impacts from effluents beyond the farm boundaries. The government management system addresses the effluent water quality; however, there have been records of eutrophication and harmful phytoplankton blooms, which indicate that monitoring measures are not effective.

General Notes

• Area-based approaches to aquaculture are included in the national and provincial legislation, but it is unclear whether zonal approaches to siting and production are used.
• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.

References

Seafood Watch, Tilapia, Global Aquaculture Alliance Certified BAP 2, 3, 4-star

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to ETP species with this fishery, but there is insufficient data available to assess significance.
• There is a lack of information on bycatch in this fishery.
• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• No additional notes

Environmental Notes

• Profile not yet complete.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Fishmeal and fish oil from marine feed sources are used. Certification criteria encourage the use of responsibly sourced marine products in feed.
• Disease transfer between farmed and wild prawns is a concern but infrequent water exchange on whiteleg shrimp farms moderates the risk. Information on escapes is limited. Shrimp farmed in Ecuador are raised from hatchery-raised native broodstock, therefore lowering the risk to wild shrimp populations if interbreeding does occur, however, interbreeding may still result in reduced genetic fitness.
• Pollution from nutrients and organic matter, as well as chemical inputs, may affect local water quality. Impacts on water quality vary depending on farm practices including the frequency of waste discharge from ponds.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.
• The government has adopted a farm-based approach to aquaculture regulations and licensing.

References

FishSource - Shrimp, Ecuador

Good Fish Guide - King prawn, Global, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification

Seafood Watch Recommended Eco-Certifications for Whiteleg shrimp

Seafood Watch report for farmed shrimp, Ecuador

Environmental Notes

• Fishmeal and fish oil from marine feed sources are used. At least 50% of the feed used in certified production is required to be responsibly or sustainably sourced.
• Disease transfer between farmed and wild prawns is a concern but infrequent water exchange on whiteleg shrimp farms moderates the risk. Whiteleg shrimp are not native to India and there is potential for ecological impacts from escapes.
• Pollution from nutrients and organic matter, as well as chemical inputs, may affect local water quality. Waste discharge from whiteleg shrimp ponds is typically limited to once per production cycle.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.
• The aquaculture industry is currently managed under a farm-based approach.

References

FishSource - Shrimp, India

Good Fish Guide - Prawn, King (whiteleg), prawns, Global, GAA BAP certification (4*)

Good Fish Guide - Prawn, King (whiteleg), prawns, Global, GAA BAP certification (2 and 3*)

Seafood Watch, Farmed Whiteleg Shrimp, Global Aquaculture Alliance Certified, BAP Standard: Finfish and Crustacean Farms (2, 3, 4-star)

Environmental Notes

• Fishmeal and fish oil from marine feed sources are used. Certification criteria encourage the use of responsibly sourced marine products in feed.
• Disease transfer between farmed and wild prawns is a concern. Whiteleg shrimp are not native to Indonesia and there is potential for ecological impacts from escapes.
• Pollution from nutrients and organic matter, as well as chemical inputs, may affect local water quality and cumulative impacts across a region may occur.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.
• Legislation on zonal planning that is relevant to aquaculture does exist. A zonal approach to aquaculture is being introduced via an Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP) in Muncar, Banyuwangi district, East Java.

References

Good Fish Guide - Prawn, King (whiteleg), prawns, Global, GAA BAP 4*

Good Fish Guide - Prawn, King (whiteleg), prawns, Global, GAA BAP 2 and 3*

Seafood Watch, Whiteleg shrimp, Farmed, Global Aquaculture Alliance Certified BAP Standard: Finfish and Crustacean Farms (2, 3, 4-star)

Environmental Notes

• Fishmeal and fish oil from marine feed sources are used. At least 50% of the feed used in certified production is required to be responsibly or sustainably sourced.
• Disease transfer between farmed and wild prawns is a concern but infrequent water exchange on whiteleg shrimp farms moderates the risk. Whiteleg shrimp are not native to Thailand and there is potential for ecological impacts from escapes.
• Pollution from nutrients and organic matter, as well as chemical inputs, may affect local water quality. Impacts on water quality vary depending on the frequency of waste discharge from ponds.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.
• Public information on zonal approaches to planning and production of shrimp farming in Thailand is limited.

References

FishSource - Shrimp, Thailand

Good Fish Guide - Prawn, King (whiteleg), prawns, Global, GAA BAP 4*

Seafood Watch, Whiteleg shrimp, Global Aquaculture Alliance Certified BAP 2, 3, 4-star

Environmental Notes

• Fishmeal and fishoil from marine feed sources are used. Certification criteria encourage the use of responsibly sourced marine products in feed.
• Disease transfer between farmed and wild prawns is a concern but infrequent water exchange on whiteleg shrimp farms moderates this risk. Whiteleg shrimp are not native to Vietnam and there is potential for ecological impacts from escapes.
• Pollution from nutrients and organic matter, as well as chemical inputs, may affect local water quality. Waste discharge from whiteleg shrimp ponds is typically limited to once per production cycle, moderating the impact of effluents on water quality. There is a lack of data on the quantity of chemical inputs, but evidence suggests that illegal antibiotics are sometimes used on Vietnamese shrimp farms.

General Notes

• The environmental impacts described are addressed to some degree by certification.
• The aquaculture industry is currently managed under a farm-based approach

References

Good Fish Guide - Prawn, King (whiteleg), prawns, Global, GAA BAP (4*)

FishSource - Shrimp, Vietnam

Environmental Notes

• This fishery is unlikely to impact ETP species.
• Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

References

MRAG Americas, 2015, MSC Public Certification Report for Bering Sea-Aleutian Islands Alaska Flatfish Fishery

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals with this fishery.
• Bycatch is a risk for this fishery but there are mitigation measures in place.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• There are risks to seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals with this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.
• Bycatch is a risk for this fishery.
• This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.

General Notes

• This fishery was withdrawn on 6 March 2023 due to certificate expiration.

• This fishery is assessed as low risk by our nonprofit science partner, Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Environmental Notes

• Effects of this fishery on ETP species have not been reported. A number of sharks, rays and skates are classified as at risk on the IUCN Red List for the Northwest Atlantic. Some management measures for sharks are in place.
• Bycatch for this fishery includes cod and American plaice.
• Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed.

General Notes

• No additional notes