Shrimp standard handed over to the ASC

The Dialogue members have created a standard that sets out a series of robust requirements to address the key impacts of the industry. Over the years ahead, as farms meet these requirements they will be reducing these impacts helping to move the sector towards sustainability.

The majority of shrimp aquaculture takes place in China, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Ecuador and Bangladesh. Many large and small scale shrimp farms in Central America, Southeast Asia and elsewhere are working towards producing shrimp responsibly.

“These standards are a breakthrough for sustainable shrimp production,” said Jason Clay, WWF’s senior vice president of market transformation. “Shrimp is the most valuable traded marine product in the world today, with the farmed shrimp industry growing at a rate of 10 per cent annually. These standards will help ensure this growth occurs sustainably and in a way that benefits producers, consumers and the environment. We’re now one big step closer to sustainable shrimp making its way to seafood counters around the world.”

Shrimp is the seventh standard to join ASC’s global programme for responsible aquaculture. It follows the successful introduction of standards for farmed tilapia, pangasius, bivalves (clams, mussels, oysters, scallops), abalone, freshwater trout and salmon.