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The current definition of aquaculture
in the 2.002 IFOAM Basic Standards states that;
Aquaculture includes the farming of many different
species using diverse forms of production in fresh, brackish
and saltwater. These standards cover carnivorous, omnivorous
and herbivorous organisms of all types and at all stages of
growth, grown in any form of enclosure such as earthen ponds,
tanks and cages (open and closed systems).
According Deborah Brister (Research Fellow
and Sustainable Aquaculture Program manager. (ISEES) University
of Minnesota.) this mean that; DOES NOT EXCLUDE ANY SPECIES
OR SYSTEM.
Extensive, Intensive, semi-intensive or super-intensive,
Out-door or In-door system, can be certified as Organic.
An example is certifier BCS- OKO Garantie
that already set standards for super-intensive indoor system.
This also means that Thailand intensive farms
could be also certified as Organic.
Basically I agree that everybody, everywhere,
should have the opportunity to work under organic standards,
and believe that IFOAM and the aquaculture group, will set
appropriate standards for the aquaculture sustainability.
An example of differences in culture practices are Ecuador
and Thailand.
Farms:
According last Ecuadorian
Agriculture census (2.000), Ecuador has;
2,500 farms for a total of 132,000 hectares of ponds.
According National
food institute (Thailand) Department of fisheries statistics
(1.998), Thailand has:
35,000 farms for a total of 80,000 hectares of ponds.
80% of farms are smaller of 1.5 hectares, 18% between 1.5
and 2.5 hectares, 2 % larger than 10 hectares.
Thailand shrimp aquaculture practice is INTENSIVE,
with production of more than 6,000 kg/ha/year (around 3 cycles/year),
Ecuador is EXTENSIVE, with production around 1,200 kg/ha/year.
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by: Enrique F. Bolona
ebolona@southtropical.com
February 2004
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