Global standards addressing the negative impacts of tilapia farming on the environment and society have been finalised. They are the first set of final standards produced through the Aquaculture Dialogues, a series of roundtables coordinated by WWF.
The standards are the final product of the Tilapia Aquaculture Dialogue, a network of more than 200 people – including producers, conservationists and scientists – created in 2005 to help transform the aquaculture industry. Many of the participants are from the world’s leading tilapia producing regions, including Central America and Asia.
The standards will allow the tilapia industry to grow while minimising its impacts, such as non-native tilapia being introduced and chemicals being released into the water.
WWF says the certification costs will be low compared to most certification programs because the standards focus on reducing a set number of key impacts instead of a long list of issues. The relatively low cost will make it easier for small- and large-scale producers to adopt the standards. Farmers who adopt the standards will be eligible for certification by early 2010.
