Aquculture practice 1. Sourcing eggs or
juveniles from the wild
Scientific name Common Country Region Production system Relies on restocking with
name eggs or juveniles from the
wild AND broodstock
fishery graded red.
Oreochromis spp. Tilapia Vietnam World Bank, 2006: World Bank, 2006: NO. Tilapia are raised in
Tilapia is the main Intensive pond-based hatcheries.
cultured species in culture. Gupta and
the Northern part of Acosta, 2004: Pond
Vietnam. based polyculture.
World Bank, 2006: In
2004, 20,000 tons of
tilapia were produced
and used within
Vietnam and for
export.
Oreochromis spp. Tilapia Thailand Gupta and Acosta, NO. Tilapia are raised in
2004: Cage culture in hatcheries.
rivers, irrigation
channels,
lakes/reservoirs using
semi-intensive and
intensive methods.
Pond-based culture
systems using semi-
intensive and intensive
systems. Fresh-water
pond-based culture
with other species i.e.
polyculture.
Oreochromis spp. Tilapia Indonesia Gupta and Acosta, NO. FAO, Gupta and
2004: Cage culture in Acoasta. 2004: Tilapia are
rivers, irrigation raised in hatcheries.
channels,
lakes/reservoirs using
semi-intensive and
intensive methods.
Fresh-water pond-
based culture with
other species i.e.
polyculture.
Oreochromis spp. Tilapia Zimbabwe Gupta and Acoasta, NO. Tilapia are raised in
2004: Cage culture in hatcheries.
Northern Zimbabwe.
2. Introducing alien species 3: Transferring diseases to
the wild
Produces genetically- Escapes of high numbers of non-native species, or domestic Increased levels of disease in
engineered organisms. breeds that are, or likely to be, having a negative impact on wild wild species in the vicinity of
species. the farms.
NO. Gupta and Acoasta. YES. Canonico et al., 2005: Non-native invasive fish species NOT DONE
2004: Note that the are widely considered to be a leading cause of species
development of Genetically endangerment and extinction in freshwater systems. Tilapias
Improved Tilapia (GIFT) clearly demonstrate the characteristics shared by many other
technology is based on successful invasive species. They have become feral in every
traditional selective nation where they have been cultured or introduced, including in
breeding, not genetic natural environments and artifical environments such as
engineering. reservoirs. In some countries, negative impacts of tilapia on
native biodiversity have been reported. FAO, 2004, De Silva et
al., 2006: For Asia in general, it has been reported that tilapias
have had no major negative impact on biodiversity, either
directly and/or indirectly. However, Canonico et al., 2005: notes
that significantly more research into the environmental impacts
of tilapia introductions in Asia is needed. FAO, 2004: notes that
in some instances in Asia, it may be too early to judge whether
there have been negative impacts. Given that tilapia have
caused serious impacts on biodiversity in many countries where
NO. Gupta and Acoasta. YES. Canonico et al., 2005: Non-native invasive fish species NOT DONE
2004: Note that the are widely considered to be a leading cause of species
development of Genetically endangerment and extinction in freshwater systems. Tilapias
Improved Tilapia (GIFT) clearly demonstrate the characteristics shared by many other
technology is based on successful invasive species. They have become feral in every
traditional selective nation where they have been cultured or introduced, including in
breeding, not genetic natural environments and artifical environments such as
engineering. reservoirs. In some countries, negative impacts of tilapia on
native biodiversity have been reported. FAO, 2004, De Silva et
al., 2006: For Asia in general, it has been reported that tilapias
have had no major negative impact on biodiversity, either
directly and/or indirectly. However, Canonico et al., 2005: notes
that significantly more research into the environmental impacts
of tilapia introductions in Asia is needed. FAO, 2004: notes that
in some instances in Asia, it may be too early to judge whether
there have been negative impacts. Given that tilapia have
caused serious impacts on biodiversity in many countries where
they have been introduced, it is highly likely that escaped fish
from ponds to natural waterways and escaped fish from cage
culture in lakes is having (or soon will have) a negative impact
on biodiversity in Vietnam. FAO, 2004: suggest a stategy is
needed to prevent the spread of tilapia to environmentally
NO. Gupta and Acoasta. YES. Canonico et al., 2005: Non-native invasive fish species NOT DONE
2004: Note that the are widely considered to be a leading cause of species
development of Genetically endangerment and extinction in freshwater systems. Tilapias
Improved Tilapia (GIFT) clearly demonstrate the characteristics shared by many other
technology is based on successful invasive species. They have become feral in every
traditional selective nation where they have been cultured or introduced, including in
breeding, not genetic natural environments and artifical environments such as
engineering. reservoirs. In some countries, negative impacts of tilapia on
native biodiversity have been reported. FAO, 2004, De Silva et
al., 2006: For Asia in general, it has been reported that tilapias
have had no major negative impact on biodiversity, either
directly and/or indirectly. However, Canonico et al., 2005: notes
that significantly more research into the environmental impacts
of tilapia introductions in Asia is needed. FAO, 2004: notes that
in some instances in Asia, it may be too early to judge whether
NO. Gupta and Acoasta. YES. van der Waal, 2008: In Zimbabwe, Nile tilapia is NOT DONE
2004: Note that the cultivated (O. niloticus ), but the native tilapia species is
development of Genetically Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus ). Due to escapes from
Improved Tilapia (GIFT) aquaculture of the non-native O. niloticus, and introductions by
technology is based on anglers, the native O mossabicus is now vulnerable in its own
traditional selective habitat and may become a threatened species. As a result of
breeding, not genetic fish farming, O. niloticus is now common in certain areas of
engineering. lake Kariba and it is just a question of time before it may
hybridise with local species there or out compete them.
Canonico et al., 2005, van der Waal, 2008: Due to distribution
of O. niloticus into dams around Bulawayo by fish farmers and
anglers, this non-native species has reached tributaries of the
Limpopo river where they are hybridizing with indigenous
Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus). The primary concern in
this river is the replacement of the native populations with
hybrids and the subsequent loss of genetic integrity. Canonico
4: Locating aquaculture 5: Using wild fish to feed farmed fish 6: Contributing to human rights abuses
facilities in ecologically
sensitive areas
Large-scale land or Feed requires >3 kg of wild fish, caught Well-documented third-party evidence of human rights
seabed alterations in specifically to make fish meal & oil, per 1 abuses &/or poor workers rights within the last 5 years.
areas of high ecological kg of aquacultured fish produced.
sensitivity.
NO NO. Tacon, 2005:, the FCE for Tilapia is NO DATA FOUND Personal Communication with
0.23-0.28. Tetreault, 2006: suggested that Aaron McNevin of WWF US, August 2008: tilapia
the ratio of fish input to fish output is nearly farming often employs a large number of workers on
always less than 1:1, indicating that tilapia farms and in processing plants, potentially raising
is a net producer of protein. However, issues around labor practices and workers’ rights.
intensification of practices in Asia in However, it is not possible to generalise - the labor
general, because of the huge volume of issues mentioned are specific to specific plants and
tilapia that is produced, could create farms, rather than countries so it is hard to tell which
significant increases in fishmeal and fish ones will have issues unless there is knowledge for the
oil content of feed, in turn putting more specific site. No other human rights abuses were found
pressure on pelagic fisheries. on internet searches.
NO NO. Tacon, 2005:, the FCE for Tilapia is NO DATA FOUND Personal Communication with
0.23-0.28. Tetreault, 2006: suggested that Aaron McNevin of WWF US, August 2008: tilapia
the ratio of fish input to fish output is nearly farming often employs a large number of workers on
always less than 1:1, indicating that tilapia farms and in processing plants, potentially raising
is a net producer of protein. However, issues around labor practices and workers’ rights.
intensification of practices in Asia in However, it is not possible to generalise - the labor
general, because of the huge volume of issues mentioned are specific to specific plants and
tilapia that is produced, could create farms, rather than countries so it is hard to tell which
significant increases in fishmeal and fish ones will have issues unless there is knowledge for the
oil content of feed, in turn putting more specific site. No other human rights abuses were found
pressure on pelagic fisheries. on internet searches.
NO NO. Tacon, 2005:, the FCE for Tilapia is NO DATA FOUND Personal Communication with
0.23-0.28. Tetreault, 2006: suggested that Aaron McNevin of WWF US, August 2008: tilapia
the ratio of fish input to fish output is nearly farming often employs a large number of workers on
always less than 1:1, indicating that tilapia farms and in processing plants, potentially raising
is a net producer of protein. However, issues around labor practices and workers’ rights.
intensification of practices in Asia in However, it is not possible to generalise - the labor
general, because of the huge volume of issues mentioned are specific to specific plants and
tilapia that is produced, could create farms, rather than countries so it is hard to tell which
significant increases in fishmeal and fish ones will have issues unless there is knowledge for the
oil content of feed, in turn putting more specific site. No other human rights abuses were found
pressure on pelagic fisheries. on internet searches.
NO NO. Tacon, 2005: the FCE for Tilapia is NO DATA FOUND Personal Communication with
0.23-0.28. Tetreault, 2006: suggested that Aaron McNevin of WWF US, August 2008: tilapia
the ratio of fish input to fish output is nearly farming often employs a large number of workers on
always less than 1:1, indicating that tilapia farms and in processing plants, potentially raising
is a net producer of protein. issues around labor practices and workers’ rights.
However, it is not possible to generalise - the labor
issues mentioned are specific to specific plants and
farms, rather than countries so it is hard to tell which
ones will have issues unless there is knowledge for the
specific site. No other human rights abuses associated
with the Zimbabwean industry were found on internet
searches. However, some newspapers, e.g. Evening
Standard, 2008: reported that human rights activists
were appalled because the supermarket Waitrose in the
UK were selling tilapia from Zimbabwe - the problem
highlighted was that many are starving under Mugabe's
7: Other general impacts 8: Unsustainable components used in feed Grade
on biodiversity
Adverse impacts on Plant components sourced Fish components Any problems highlighted?
populations of species in from genetically modified sourced from red- Grades on other lists?
the area. crops, &/or crops graded fisheries.
associated forest
destruction.
NOT DONE NOT DONE NOT DONE Aquaculture of Oreochromis
sp. RED (based on escaped
fish being a non-native
invasive species and having
likely impacts on
biodiversity).
NOT DONE NOT DONE NOT DONE Aquaculture of Oreochromis
sp. RED (based on escaped
fish being a non-native
invasive species and having
likely impacts on
biodiversity).
NOT DONE NOT DONE NOT DONE Aquaculture of Oreochromis
sp. RED (based on escaped
fish being a non-native
invasive species and having
likely impacts on
biodiversity).
NOT DONE NOT DONE NOT DONE Aquaculture of Oreochromis
sp. (O. niloticus is farmed
here) in Zimbabwe is RED
(based on escapes and
threats to native tilapia).
References Assessor
name &
date
Canonico, G.C., Arthington, A., Mccrary, J.K. and Thieme, M.L. (2005). The effects of introduced tilapias Michelle
on native biodiversity. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15: 463-483. Allsopp,
28th August
De Silva, S.S., Nguyen, T.T.T., Abery, N.W. and Amarasinghe, U.S. (2006). An evaluation of the role and 2008
impacts of alien finfish in Asian inland aquaculture. Aquaculture Research 37: 1-17.
FAO (2004). Tilapias as alien aquatics in Asia and the Pacific . FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 453.
Accessed July 2008 at:
Gupta, M.V and Acosta, B.O. (2004). A review of global tilapia farming practices . Accessed July 2004 at:
http://www.enaca.org/modules/news/index.php?start=680&storytopic=0
Tacon, A.G.J (2005). State of information on salmon aquaculture feed and the environment . Report
prepared for the WWF US initiated salmon aquaculture dialogue. 80 pp
Tetreault, I. (2006). Seafood Watch, Seafood Report: Farmed Tilapia . Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey,
CA, USA. 38 pp.
Canonico, G.C., Arthington, A., Mccrary, J.K. and Thieme, M.L. (2005). The effects of introduced tilapias Michelle
on native biodiversity. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15: 463-483. Allsopp,
28th August
De Silva, S.S., Nguyen, T.T.T., Abery, N.W. and Amarasinghe, U.S. (2006). An evaluation of the role and 2008
impacts of alien finfish in Asian inland aquaculture. Aquaculture Research 37: 1-17.
FAO (2004). Tilapias as alien aquatics in Asia and the Pacific . FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 453.
Accessed July 2008 at:
Gupta, M.V and Acosta B.O. (2004). A review of global tilapia farming practices . Accessed July 2004 at:
http://www.enaca.org/modules/news/index.php?start=680&storytopic=0
Tacon, A.G.J (2005). State of information on salmon aquaculture feed and the environment . Report
prepared for the WWF US initiated salmon aquaculture dialogue. 80 pp
Tetreault, I. (2006). Seafood Watch, Seafood Report: Farmed Tilapia. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey,
CA, USA. 38 pp.
Canonico, G.C., Arthington, A., Mccrary, J.K. and Thieme, M.L. (2005). The effects of introduced tilapias Michelle
on native biodiversity. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15: 463-483. Allsopp,
28th August
De Silva, S.S., Nguyen, T.T.T., Abery, N.W. and Amarasinghe, U.S. (2006). An evaluation of the role and 2008
impacts of alien finfish in Asian inland aquaculture. Aquaculture Research 37: 1-17.
FAO (2004). Tilapias as alien aquatics in Asia and the Pacific . FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 453.
Accessed July 2008 at:
Gupta, M.V and Acosta B.O. (2004). A review of global tilapia farming practices . Accessed July 2004 at:
http://www.enaca.org/modules/news/index.php?start=680&storytopic=0
Tacon, A.G.J (2005). State of information on salmon aquaculture feed and the environment . Report
prepared for the WWF US initiated salmon aquaculture dialogue. 80 pp
Canonico, G.C., Arthington, A., Mccrary, J.K. and Thieme, M.L. (2005). The effects of introduced tilapias Michelle
on native biodiversity. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15: 463-483. Allsopp,
28th August
De Silva, S.S., Nguyen, T.T.T., Abery, N.W. and Amarasinghe, U.S. (2006). An evaluation of the role and 2008
impacts of alien finfish in Asian inland aquaculture. Aquaculture Research 37: 1-17.
FAO (2004). Tilapias as alien aquatics in Asia and the Pacific . FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 453.
Accessed July 2008 at:
Gupta, M.V and Acosta B.O. (2004). A review of global tilapia farming practices . Accessed July 2004 at:
http://www.enaca.org/modules/news/index.php?start=680&storytopic=0
Tacon, A.G.J (2005). State of information on salmon aquaculture feed and the environment . Report
prepared for the WWF US initiated salmon aquaculture dialogue. 80 pp
Tetreault, I. (2006). Seafood Watch, Seafood Report: Farmed Tilapia . Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey,
Fishery 1. Targeting highly
vulnerable species
Scientific Common FAO Region Stock Method Targets Species listed on fishbase
name name as 'very low resilience'
AND/OR 'high to very high'
or 'very high' vulnerability
2. Fishing in deep-water 3. Impacts of destructive 4. Disregarding scientific 5. Overfishing
habitats fishing gear advice
Targets species in Explosives or poisons, Management disregarded A. Current adult stock level
sensitive deep-water demersal (otter) trawl, scientific advice for zero so low that there is a risk
habitats (hydrothermal beam trawl, or dredge. catch or areas closures that the population may
vents, cold seeps, struggle to maintain itself.
coldwater coral reefs,
seamounts, canyons).
ng 6. Indiscriminate fishing practices 7. Bycatch of threatened or
protected species
B. High risk that the current A. Fishery uses an B. Fishery uses an Adverse impacts on
fishing rate will cause/is indiscriminate fishing indiscriminate fishing populations of non-target
causing a decline in the practice that results in 25% practice that results in 25% species classified on domestic
stock in the short to or greater by weight of the or greater by weight of the or international conservation
medium term AND catch of fish and catch that is landed being lists as threatened,
management failed to cephalopods being thrown composed of juveniles or endangered, critically
address this according to away dead or dying. unmarketable species. endangered or protected
scientific advice in the species OR listed as a
latest quotas. moratorium species.
8. Ecosystem alteration 9: IUU Fishing Grade
Responsible or partly One or more statements apply to the Any problems highlighted?
responsible for ecosystem supplier of fish from this fishery: Grades on other lists?
alteration though cascade -Fish cannot be traced fish back to the
effects. fishing vessel
-Vessel and/or operators are blacklisted
-Transshipments at sea occur without
100% independent observer coverage.
References Assessor
name &
date
www.fishbase for all