{"id":1000362,"date":"2014-08-07T18:52:39","date_gmt":"2014-08-07T18:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/?post_type=news&p=362&source_id=362&target_id=1000362"},"modified":"2024-10-16T10:17:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T08:17:49","slug":"realising-the-opportunities-for-asc-certified-shrimp","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/news\/realising-the-opportunities-for-asc-certified-shrimp\/","title":{"rendered":"Realising the opportunities for ASC certified shrimp"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Today at Vietfish the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC); WWF, the international conservation organisation; and IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative, in partnership with Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) brought together buyers and shrimp producers seeking ASC certification to discuss the market\u2019s needs and the requirements of ASC\u2019s Shrimp Standard.<\/b><\/p>\n

Vietnam is the third biggest exporter of farmed shrimp globally; around 90 per cent of its total volume is exported.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many shrimp farms along Vietnam\u2019s Mekong Delta, especially since Vietnam\u2019s shrimp farming rapidly grew in the eighties,\u201d said Ngo Tien Chuong, Aquaculture Programme Coordinator, WWF-Vietnam. \u201cThis event was an opportunity for shrimp farmers to come together with buyers where they could both discuss how ASC certification works and, in particular, get more detail about the requirements in the ASC Shrimp Standard and learn how organisations such as WWF and IDH can provide support in improving responsible production at the farm level.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVinaclean Food and Stapimex, two companies which are already in the programme, were able to explain the work that they are doing and how they\u2019ve gone about it. And, for buyers, it was a chance to meet producers and discuss their own requirements and those of the consumer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When the shrimp farms have met the ASC standards they will be able to prove that they have measurably reduced any adverse impacts on the environment and local communities and they will be recognised for that through ASC certification.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBringing together current and potential business partners means that buyers can increase their understanding of the real implications of ASC certification, particularly in terms of the changes made at farm level,\u201d said Esther Luiten, ASC\u2019s Commercial Marketing Manager.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAround 70 per cent of the shrimp production in Vietnam comes from small scale producers. It can be difficult for them individually to meet the ASC requirements, however, with support available from WWF and IDH they are better equipped to do so,\u201d explained Luiten. \u201cWith ASC certification the farms can gain access to the international market and, in particular, the European countries that demand responsibly produced and certified products.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So far, 15 shrimp farms, from Vietnam and Ecuador, have entered the programme. ASC certified shrimp products are expected on the market later this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

ASC Shrimp Standard<\/b><\/p>\n

Shrimp farms have been able to enter ASC assessment since the shrimp standard and audit manual were finalised in March 2014. Certifiers were trained on the standard in December last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through ASC certification, shrimp farms aim to measurably reduce adverse impacts on the environment and local communities by preserving wetlands and mangroves; addressing the transfer of viruses and reducing disease; bringing cleaner water and ensuring the sustainable use of water; ensuring the responsible use of feed; and addressing biodiversity issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Support<\/b><\/p>\n

WWF helps farmers and producers to meet ASC\u2019s standards through its aquaculture improvement projects, by helping them to improve their operations and capacity. When farms have met the ASC standards WWF links them to companies in the market that value ASC certification.<\/span><\/p>\n

IDH established the Farmers in Transition (FIT) fund, a co-funding programme aimed at upscaling the production of responsibly farmed shrimp, tilapia and pangasius. The programme partners with retail, food service and supply chain companies to support producers in improving their farming practice and actively engages governments, industry and other stakeholders in the countries of production.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shrimp farmers who would like to achieve ASC certification can apply for FIT co-funding from IDH.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information about IDH\u2019s FIT fund and how to apply for co-funding, please contact Flavio Corsin <\/span>corsin@idhsustainabletrade.com<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","tags":[],"class_list":["post-1000362","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/1000362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1000362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asc-aqua.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1000362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}