Seafood Results

Summary

Source: All farm stock are produced in hatcheries from captive broodstock. As such, the industry is completely independent from wild stocks for broodstock and juvenile sourcing and there is no subsequent impact on wild populations.

Effluent: Wastes are discharged into settling ponds or treated using a variety of treatment mechanisms. There are a range of effluent impacts at the farm level, but on average there is low concern from discharged nutrients.

Feed: Arctic char have a high dietary protein requirement, and their culture is reliant upon the supply of external feed. Food conversions ratios for the species are moderate, with net protein losses of ~50%.

Disease: To date, char aquaculture has not had significant issues with disease. While char are known to be vulnerable to a number of diseases, aquaculture production is closely managed to prevent outbreaks. Though aquaculture facilities are connected to the surrounding environment through wastewater outflow, reported disease problems on farms are low, temporary, and/or infrequent.

Learn more about harvest methods

• Raceways

Summary

Source: All farm stock are produced in hatcheries from captive broodstock. As such, the industry is completely independent from wild stocks for broodstock and juvenile sourcing and there is no subsequent impact on wild populations.

Effluent: Farms discharge into coastal waters, however high currents prevent the accumulation or concentration of wastes minimizing their potential impact on the surrounding environment.

Feed: Arctic char have a high dietary protein requirement, and their culture is reliant upon the supply of external feed. Food conversions ratios for the species are moderate, with net protein losses of ~50%.

Disease: To date, char aquaculture has not had significant issues with disease. While char are known to be vulnerable to a number of diseases, aquaculture production is closely managed to prevent outbreaks. Though aquaculture facilities are connected to the surrounding environment through wastewater outflow, reported disease problems on farms are low, temporary, and/or infrequent.

Learn more about harvest methods

• Raceways

Summary

Learn more about harvest methods

• Traps (Barriers, Fences, or Weirs)

Summary

Learn more about harvest methods

• Gillnets (Set / Anchored)

Summary

Source: All farm stock are produced in hatcheries from captive broodstock. As such, the industry is completely independent from wild stocks for broodstock and juvenile sourcing and there is no subsequent impact on wild populations.

Effluent: Wastes are discharged into settling ponds or treated using a variety of treatment mechanisms. There are a range of effluent impacts at the farm level, but on average there is low concern from discharged nutrients.

Feed: Arctic char have a high dietary protein requirement, and their culture is reliant upon the supply of external feed. Food conversions ratios for the species are moderate, with net protein losses of ~50%.

Disease: To date, char aquaculture has not had significant issues with disease. While char are known to be vulnerable to a number of diseases, aquaculture production is closely managed to prevent outbreaks. Though aquaculture facilities are connected to the surrounding environment through wastewater outflow, reported disease problems on farms are low, temporary, and/or infrequent.

Learn more about harvest methods

• Raceways

Summary

The Ocean Wise recommendation for this seafood variety comes from a global assessment of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) across species. This global report was possible because many aspects of RAS (i.e. the fundamental characteristics of the aquaculture method) are similar regardless of the species cultured. Should a species specific assessment exists for this aquaculture method, this report will take precedent for an Ocean Wise recommendation.

Note: All Ocean Wise recommendations for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) apply only to seafood products grown exclusively in RAS facilities through harvest at the end of grow out. It does not apply to seafood products that were raised in RAS hatcheries and transitioned to other production systems for the grow out period.

Escapes: RAS is a land based aquaculture method where production occurs in buildings and tanks. In addition, tank-based RAS utilize multiple screens and secondary capture devises. In combination, this setup ensures physical separation of the culture area from the natural environment minimizing the risk of escapes.

Disease: Disease transmission to the wild is low. RAS discharge limited volumes of water and have the ability to control and treat all discharges. Many facilities utilize ozonation and UV irradiation to disinfect water and maintain water quality.

Feed: Feed use and subsequent environmental impacts are highly species-specific, with some species requiring high levels of fishmeal and fish oil in their diets, which is often sourced from wild capture fisheries, while others can be grown commercially on a feed containing no animal ingredients. There are ongoing advancements in aquaculture feeds (particularly reductions in the use of fishmeal and fish oil) and their efficiency of use (i.e., the feed conversion ratio, FCR), making this an area of continued improvement for RAS operations.

Learn more about harvest methods

• Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (Indoor Tanks With Wastewater Treatment)

Summary

The Ocean Wise recommendation for this seafood variety comes from a global assessment of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) across species. This global report was possible because many aspects of RAS (i.e. the fundamental characteristics of the aquaculture method) are similar regardless of the species cultured. Should a species specific assessment exists for this aquaculture method, this report will take precedent for an Ocean Wise recommendation.

Note: All Ocean Wise recommendations for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) apply only to seafood products grown exclusively in RAS facilities through harvest at the end of grow out. It does not apply to seafood products that were raised in RAS hatcheries and transitioned to other production systems for the grow out period.

Escapes: RAS is a land based aquaculture method where production occurs in buildings and tanks. In addition, tank-based RAS utilize multiple screens and secondary capture devises. In combination, this setup ensures physical separation of the culture area from the natural environment minimizing the risk of escapes.

Disease: Disease transmission to the wild is low. RAS discharge limited volumes of water and have the ability to control and treat all discharges. Many facilities utilize ozonation and UV irradiation to disinfect water and maintain water quality.

Feed: Feed use and subsequent environmental impacts are highly species-specific, with some species requiring high levels of fishmeal and fish oil in their diets, which is often sourced from wild capture fisheries, while others can be grown commercially on a feed containing no animal ingredients. There are ongoing advancements in aquaculture feeds (particularly reductions in the use of fishmeal and fish oil) and their efficiency of use (i.e., the feed conversion ratio, FCR), making this an area of continued improvement for RAS operations.

Learn more about harvest methods

• Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (Indoor Tanks Without Wastewater Treatment)

Summary

Rationale: Ocean Wise recommends some, but not all Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Certified Aquaculture. Click to learn more about how ASC Standards for Aquaculture were benchmarked to Ocean Wise.

Note: Ocean Wise does recommend Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified arctic char which are farmed for the full production cycle (i.e. seafood products grown exclusively in RAS facilities through harvest at the end of grow out) in recirculating aquaculture systems. It does not apply to seafood products that were raised in RAS hatcheries and transitioned to other production systems for the grow out period.

Learn more about harvest methods

• All Production Methods