The role that Codes of Conduct can play in professional Aquaculture
by Courtney Hough. Federation of European Aquaculture Producers, 54 rue Nicolas Fossoul, 4100 Boncelles, Belgium.

Abstract

Aquaculture should give the best, most healthy and nutritious product possible, with the lowest impact on the environment possible, using procedures that are economically viable. Setting such broad goals forms one of the elements of a Code of Conduct, serving to increase the understanding and trust that should exist between aquaculture and the public.

The prime goal for the development of a Code of Conduct is to establish a common base for sectoral responsibility within society, by means of effective self-regulation. The Code also has to demonstrate clearly the attitudes of the producters towards the fish they rear, towards the environment and the consumer. As a result, the first points that have to be established concern what should be contained within a Code of Conduct, and how such a Code can be made to work.

All Codes of Conduct should involve the processes of consultation, negotiation and agreement within a group of stakeholders who are either directly involved or affected by the subject.

Quality and Certification Schemes must also be mentioned in this context. These schemes guarantee the provision of a product that has been made and prepared to defined and measurable standards. This product specificity differentiates such protocols from those used in Codes and Guidelines. To be a member of such a Scheme, adherence to certain standards is mandatory and controlled (by the Scheme itself as well as State); penalties, generally imposed by the Quality Scheme organisation, can be severe if the standards defined are not respected.

Issues related to labelling and certification are becoming increasingly important, particularly with the development of ÔorganicÕ and ÔbioÕ products. The certification and control of genuine schemes, as opposed to marketing tools, is a clear requirement for approval (e.g. by Government or Government-approved authorities).

The following categories of stakeholders are of importance to aquaculture.

1. Governmental authorities/officials, policy-makers, planners and regulators
2. Producers, farm operators/workers; "aquaculture experts"
3. Manufacturers and suppliers of inputs for aquaculture
4. Processors and traders of aquaculture products
5. Consumers
6. Banks and other financial institutions, investors, insurance companies
7. Special interest and advocacy groups (professional associations, NGOs and others)
8. Researchers, social and natural scientists
9. International organisations (regional, global)
10. The mass media

The FEAP Code of Conduct arose directly from the conept that the aquaculture production sector is itself responsible for assuring the sustainability of production, while acknowledging its dependence on inputs that it cannot control directly.
Additional responsibilities of the producers include:

• interactions of aquaculture with the environment
• the welfare of the livestock
• the product that is supplied to the consumer
• the people that work in the sector

These points can be summarised as being the production of the healthiest possible product, having the lowest possible impact on the environment, in an economically viable way.

The primary goals of the FEAPÕs Code of Conduct therefore are to promote the responsible development and the responsible management of a viable European aquaculture sector, and to assure a high standard of quality food production for the consumer where the prime goal is the promotion of correct sectoral development that is largely self-regulated.