Sustainable Fisheries Partnership is launching two new projects to help address sustainability issues in land-based aquaculture.
With funding from the Walmart Foundation, SFP hopes to foster greater market demand for sustainable feed and, working with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, improve farmed shrimp practices in India.
“Retailers and major buyers of seafood are looking for actionable solutions to have a positive impact,” said Braddock Spear, global policy director at SFP.
“The time is now to link improved aquaculture production and sourcing to broader goals and positive impact on climate change, biodiversity and strengthening communities.”
Feed is typically the largest single contributor to aquaculture’s carbon footprint with the use of ingredients such as fishmeal, soy and grain exacerbating overfishing and deforestation.
“This project will allow us to engage industry to better understand, measure and reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture feeds,” added Dave Martine, programme director at SFP.
Farmed shrimp concerns
Currently less than a quarter of farmed shrimp from India is certified, with certification out of reach for most small farmers.
SFP will work with the ASC and shrimp supply chains to increase the use of sustainable practices, helping farms, processors and other stakeholders within Andhra Pradesh to make verifiable progress.
“Our partnership with ASC allows us to provide comprehensive sustainability solutions to Indian shrimp production,” continued Spear. “With the motivated seafood buyers in SFP’s partnerships and our Asian farmed shrimp supply chain roundtable, we will seek to harness market leverage and buying power to support on-the-ground improvements.”
In April 2023, SFP and ASC signed a memorandum of understanding to promote responsible aquaculture production, spearheaded by the Improver Programme which helps farmers reach ASC standards.
