Developing Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture at the FAO

During its last session in 2019, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) recommended for FAO to develop new global Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA) development. In this process, the COFI Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA) has convened regional Expert Consultation meetings by region, first in Africa in November 2019, followed by Asia and Latin America regions in December 2020. 

The goal is to seek expert input on practical case studies and guidance that can support their drafting of the new GSA. The input is centered around a list of “thematic modules” specific to issues related to aquaculture development:

Chapter 1: Sustainable aquaculture and the 2030 Agenda

Chapter 2: Governing and planning aquaculture development

Chapter 3: Biodiversity and genetic resources

Chapter 4: Better management practices in aquaculture

Chapter 5: Sustainable feed

Chapter 6: Water management

Chapter 7: Biosecurity, aquatic animal health and animal well-being

Chapter 8: Specific farming systems

Chapter 9: Aquaculture value chains, consumers, markets and trade

Chapter 10: Aquaculture statistics and information

During the week of February 22, ALI had the honor of participating in the Expert Consultation meeting for the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands region. As the only non-governmental organization invited to contribute, we were very grateful for the opportunity. 

From our perspective, we would like to see sustainable aquaculture development include animal welfare as a key component in the FAO’s new guidelines because without it we cannot truly achieve sustainable aquaculture development. The humane and ethical treatment of farmed aquatic species, detailed in our welfare guide, is not only beneficial to the fishes themselves, but brings several cross-cutting benefits, including:

• Healthier wild fish populations: Directly related to Chapter 5: Sustainable Feed is the shocking truth that up to half of all wild-caught aquatic animals are currently being used as feed for farmed animals (ALI Blue Loss report). This exacerbates even more the current issues of declining fish populations from overfishing and other destructive fishing practices. The Caribbean region has the potential to annually farm over 34 million metric tons of cobia, a carnivorous fish that needs high protein levels in their feed, through offshore and open ocean aquaculture. This would account for nearly 50% of current aquaculture production and speaks to the importance of investing in local, animal-free fish feed sources. 

• Cleaner water: Appropriate feeding that is species-specific can prevent extra feed suspended in the water, reduce stress for fish, improve their immune system and therefore require less use of antimicrobials that are often leaked into the surrounding environment.  

• Improved ecosystem health: This is especially important for regions like the Carribean that may begin to heavily develop open ocean aquaculture. The main impacts of mariculture are habitat degradation, excess waste, depletion of natural seedstock, transmission of diseases, reduction of genetic variability, biodiversity effects of pollutants such as chemicals and drugs, and escapes of farmed aquatic animals who can impact the local ecosystem. Several factors that could improve mariculture operations include optimal feeding to reduce waste and avoid attracting wild fish and predatory animals; proper selection of location and equipment to prevent escapes from farms that would threaten local species by interbreeding, competing for resources, and transmitting diseases and parasites; and prioritizing the farming of herbivorous fish species (such as Nile tilapia) over carnivorous fish species.

• Food quality and control: Healthier aquatic animals provide higher quality food compared to those raised in low welfare conditions who often contain bacteria, viruses, biotoxins, and parasites. Reducing stress through effective stunning and slaughter methods also improves food quality for consumers.

• Disease prevention: Disease outbreaks due to factors such as poor welfare or system failure results in higher mortality rates and major losses for the farm producer. Incorporating higher welfare standards will also reduce the use of antibiotics, which if used uncontrolled can be transferred to consumers and lead to antimicrobial resistance. 

• Higher business productivity and efficiency: Improved animal welfare means less stress and aggression, reduced fin damage and mortalities, and improved growth rates, all of which help increase the producer’s profit margin. Appropriate transport and handling further reduce stress and mortality rates.

• Community resilience: Even among communities in developing countries that are focused first and foremost on enhancing food security, nutrition, and human welfare, having a holistic one health approach that includes aquatic animals is an investment that will reap benefits for decades to come. This includes providing jobs focused on effectively training local farmers on recognizing when animals are stressed and ill. Improving local knowledge on animal welfare will effectively prevent avoidable mortality and thereby help communities achieve food security and economic development.   

In our welfare guide, we provide five key welfare indicators that the FAO should incorporate into the animal welfare component of the new GSA. Coming from an effective altruism perspective, our first priority is environmental enrichment, which can be a very affordable and effective way to improve welfare. For example, research shows that providing blue lighting for Nile tilapia could reduce stress levels and therefore the aggressive interactions that are normally associated with Nile tilapia males striving for valuable resources for themselves. While this and the other welfare standards from the guide will continue to benefit from new species- and rearing system-specific research, they are approved and supported by welfare advocates across the world.

Regardless of which regions of the world we’re discussing, consideration for animal welfare has the potential to benefit the local economy, food security, the environment, and the lives of farmed aquatic animals. Currently, guidelines for sustainable aquaculture from the FAO and the international community at large mainly focus on disease prevention and biosecurity issues. ALI urges a shift in how we see animal welfare, from simply minimizing disease and pain to actively providing positive experiences for the farmed aquatic animals who spend their entire lives in confined environments. We urge the FAO to use our welfare guide as guiding principles in their animal welfare thematic module.