Organic Insights Magazine - Summer 2022

Organic Insights / Summer 2022 / 9

Tasmania Oyster Company

Further Information Find out why Ireland dominates organic aquaculture production. Proceedings of the Global conference on Aquaculture 2010, FAO 2019 Development Organic Aquaculture, Timo Stadtlander Certification, Verification or Fabrication? A SeaChoice Report

Josh Poke Executive GM – Operations at NASAA Certified Organic (NCO) Tasmania Oyster Company says that sustainability is a key strength of the business, and that certification is a response to consumer concerns and demands. In addition to Friends of the Sea certification, “organic certification adds to our consumer story and builds trust in the brand as a premium product,” he says. “It’s hard to quantify the premium contribution (in dollar terms), but it helps to build our brand, so that whatever product we are attaching our name to carries that sustainability assurance.”

CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR AQUACULTURE Organic management places an emphasis on establishing and maintaining a viable and sustainable aquatic ecosystem.

In addition to the general principles of organic land and livestock management, sections 7.28 through to 7.38 of the NASAA Organic Standard specifically cover farmed fish and crustaceans at all stages of growth, managed in both open and closed systems. Conversion to organic should address environmental issues and past use of the site with respect to waste, sediments, and water quality. The Standards outline principles and practices relating to animal welfare and freedom from artificial contamination: • Stocking density must not inhibit fish welfare – 100 sqm is the minimum cage size, with a minimum 9 metres depth in estuarine systems. The density must

not exceed 10kgs per cubic metre in any system. • Aquaculture feeds are 100% certified organic. • Conversion period is single lifecycle of an organism or one year. • Aquatic vertebrates must be unconscious when slaughtered. • Physical separation of conventional and organic production to ensure no potential contamination. • Provide for polyculture where possible. • All non-indigenous species must be kept contained. • Raised without hormones or antibiotics. • No chemicals, No GMOs.