Organic Aquaculture EU Regulations (EC) 834/2007, (EC) 889/2008, (EC)710/2009

1. Organic AquacultureEU Regulations (EC) 834/2007, (EC) 889/2008, (EC)710/2009 Background, assessment, interpretation Stefan Bergleiter (IFOAM EUAquacultureExperts Group) s.bergleiter@naturland.de

2. General objectives for the future revision process of organic aquaculture regulation • To build on and to make use of experiences from existing organic aquaculture projects, mainly gathered by private certification programs under IFOAM umbrella • To enhance and to focus ongoing technical developments in the field of organic aquaculture • To strengthen organic aquaculture as a powerful concept in the global sustainability debate

3. Editors: Andrzej Szeremeta, Louisa Winkler (IFOAM EU Group), Francis Blake (Soil Association), Pino Lembo (COISPA; ICEA) Brussels, 2010 Download electronic version and find further information at: www.ifoam-eu.org/positions/publications/aquaculture/

4. Global organic aquaculture production and marketsStefan Bergleiter (Naturland e.V.) and Udo Censkowsky (Organic Services) • ca. 230 m € at retail level (2009), ca. 500 m predicted for 2011 • lion‘s share of growth in a limited number of countries (France, Germany, Switzerland, UK, US) and products (salmon, shrimp).

5. Labelling of organic fish products Alexander Beck (AoeL—The Association of Organic Food Producers)

6. The carp pond system Marc Mossmer (ARGE Biofisch) • Regulation requirements regarding biodiversity, stocking density, reproduction and aeration in carp ponds are easy to fullfill. • Crucial point may be timing of conversion (e.g. in the presence of non-organic stock)

7. Salmonidae Jan-Widar Finden (Debio) • Organic juvenile supply very limited (2015 deadline) • Definition of pond bottom „as close as possible to natural conditions“ • Definition of permissible fishmeal/oil defined in the 2002 regulation on fisheries (Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002) as “the exploitation of a stock in such a way that the future exploitation of the stock will not be prejudiced and that it does not have a negative impact on the marine eco-systems.” • Cleaner Fish as a natural alternative for Sea Lice control • Distances to conventional farms to be defined by Member State Authorities • Copper permitted as anti-foulant (until 2015)

8. Tropical fish species Omri Lev (Geva Organic aquaculture) and Hagai Raban (freelance consultant on organic production) • Prohibition of fishmeal/-oil in tilapia diets as a technical obstacle • Separate densities to be defined for pond and cage culture • Carp pond provisions as a possible guidance for tilapia pond culture standards

9. Penaeid shrimp and freshwater prawns Stefan Bergleiter (Naturland— Association for Organic Farming e.V.) • Little details regarding mangrove protection • Conventional treatments (e.g. antibiotics) permitted • Stocking density limits on the high side • Conventional processing aids (Metabisulfite) permitted

10. Molluscs Tor Kristian Stevik (Norwegian University of Life Sciences) • Waterqualityofcultureareas (e.g. „Status A“ only) • All known production methods (long-lines, rafts, • bottomculture, netbags, cages, trays, lanternnets, • bouchot poles and other containment systems) permitted for organic production. More – e.g. environmental – specification needed. • Restrictionsofseedcollection reg. environmental impact • Specificationofculturedensityneeded

11. Seaweed Erwan Jestin (Tonnerre de Brest) and Michael Böhm (Inter Bio Bretagne) • Difficulties with definition of water quality; cross references and national laws • Control mechanisms and scientific proof for „sustainable management“

12. Inspection and certification systems for aquaculture products under the new rules Jörn Steffen Gieseler (IMO—Institute for Marketecology) • Specific requirements for audit personnel • Companies certified before 8th August 2009 remaining under national or private standards • Non-EU producers under many different „equivalent“ standards and inspection methodologies

13. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !