Abstract

Guidelines for responsible aquaculture development are now becoming commonplace. Such guidelines are being packaged as principles of Codes of Conduct. The Codes of Conduct are frameworks based on international and national legislation, ethical rules and developed through a process of consultation, negotiation, and agreement within a group of stakeholders all directly involved or affected by the topic. But in most cases a Code of Conduct only over-arches a sector, leaving the industries or subindustries to generate their own detailed Codes of Best Practice (CBP). CBP is more specific and can be defined as a collection of recommended practices at farm level. The framework for CBP is related to the environment in many respects. The aquatic ecosystem and aquaculture include many factors such as water management, the physical and chemical environment, biotic factors, regulation and monitoring of water. The authorities propose environmental quality standards (EQS) for every industry and farmers who intend to start new aquaculture ventures are obliged to make an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of their sites before licences are granted. The monitoring of discharged water from aquaculture facilities is stipulated by authorities. The farmer is forced to apply the latest progress in feed and feeding practices, considering the feed quality both with regard to the fabrication and the composition of the feed. Feeding regimes are as necessary as the quality of the feed and it is important to apply the new development with computer programs to optimize feeding in relation to fish behaviour. Reduction in bio-wastes is possible by using various technical devices to collect feed wastes, nutrients, organic material and dead fish from production units. Diseases must be combatted by using preventive measures including approved veterinary medicines, drugs and chemicals. But traditional antibiotics have now largely been replaced by vaccines, and even these will probably be replaced by probiotic feeds.
The food quality of aquaculture products compete in an open market and must therefore be of the highest possible quality and has a taste appealing to consumers and free of any health hazards. Therefore regulations and protocols for the use of chemical and antibiotics in the production of farm animals must be strictly followed. Post-harvest treatment must comply with regulations for proper and humane treatment of animals and processing must comply with accepted hygienic and safe practices for the handling of food for human consumption.