Marine Affairs Program, Life Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada.
Marine Affairs Program, Life Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada.
J Environ Manage. 2023 Aug 1;339:117869. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117869. Epub 2023 Apr 11.
Aquaculture eco-certification schemes provide standards against which individual farms are assessed, and those farms that comply with eco-certification criteria receive certified status. These schemes aim to improve aquaculture sustainability, but the site-by-site approach of eco-certification can be a barrier to the inclusion of ecosystem perspectives in the evaluation of farm sustainability. However, the ecosystem approach to aquaculture demands a management approach that considers broader scale ecosystem impacts. This study explored how eco-certification schemes and processes account for potential ecosystem impacts of salmon farms. Interviews with eco-certification auditors, salmon producers, and eco-certification staff were conducted. The experience of participants and information from eco-certification scheme criteria and other eco-certification scheme documents were used to identify thematic challenges associated with the consideration of ecosystem impacts including: assessing far-field impacts, managing cumulative effects, and anticipating ecosystem risks. Results indicate that eco-certification schemes work within the limitations of farm-scale application of global eco-certification standards to address potential ecosystem impacts by: (1) including eco-certification scheme criteria that address ecosystem impacts, (2) relying on the experience, expertise, and judgement of eco-certification auditors, and (3) referencing and deferring to local regulations. Results indicate that eco-certification schemes can address ecosystem impacts to some degree, despite their site-by-site approach. The integration of additional tools while supporting the capacity of farms to apply those tools, as well as increasing transparency during compliance assessment could help eco-certification schemes shift from providing assurance of farm sustainability to providing assurance of ecosystem sustainability.
水产养殖生态认证计划提供了评估个别农场的标准，符合生态认证标准的农场将获得认证地位。这些计划旨在提高水产养殖的可持续性，但生态认证的逐个站点方法可能成为在评估农场可持续性时纳入生态系统观点的障碍。然而，水产养殖的生态系统方法需要一种管理方法，考虑更广泛的生态系统影响。本研究探讨了生态认证计划和流程如何考虑鲑鱼养殖场的潜在生态系统影响。对生态认证审核员、鲑鱼生产者和生态认证人员进行了访谈。参与者的经验以及生态认证计划标准和其他生态认证计划文件中的信息用于确定与考虑生态系统影响相关的主题挑战，包括：评估远距离影响、管理累积影响和预测生态系统风险。结果表明，生态认证计划在全球生态认证标准在农场规模上应用的局限性内运作，以通过以下方式解决潜在的生态系统影响：(1) 纳入解决生态系统影响的生态认证计划标准，(2) 依靠生态认证审核员的经验、专业知识和判断，以及 (3) 参考和遵从当地法规。结果表明，生态认证计划尽管采用逐个站点的方法，但在某种程度上可以解决生态系统影响。在支持农场应用这些工具的能力的同时整合其他工具，并在合规性评估过程中提高透明度，可以帮助生态认证计划从提供农场可持续性保证转变为提供生态系统可持续性保证。
