Atlantic salmon

Salmon farming in open water net pens can have impacts on the environment. However, mitigation measures are in place within the ASC Salmon Standard to address many of those environmental impacts.Habitat alteration is minimal in the application of open water net pens and does not impact ecosystem functionality. Juveniles used in salmon aquaculture come from hatcheries, however, native wild-caught cleaner fish species are used to biologically control sea lice. Lumpfish and wrasse are used as cleaner fish but the stock status for both species is unknown, and currently fishery management measures are primarily voluntary. Therefore, the impact on the stocks of these species is unknown.ASC certified salmon farms avoid chemical use where possible. Although, farms do use medicines and products containing chemicals such as disinfectants, under limitation to ensure the health and welfare of the fish, and to maintain farm infrastructure, and equipment (e.g., pens and boats). Chemical and medical treatments are not promoted over best management practices and homeopathic treatments, but when application is necessary, they will be used. Chemicals and medical treatments are monitored, limited and must meet the mandatory regulatory framework of the production country.Biosecurity measures set out in the ASC Salmon Standard limit disease outbreaks and escapes. Nonetheless, parasitic and pathogenic burdens in farmed ASC salmon can occur, but best management practices lesson these burdens. Salmon farms are known to increase the number of salmon sea lice parasites in the surrounding environment which can impact on wild populations. Pathogenic disease outbreaks also occur but they are not thought to threaten regional level operations. Due to the nature of open net pens there is a risk of farmed salmon escaping with evidence of negative ecological effects on local wild populations, such as genetic introgression.The grey and common seal are the main documented predators of farmed salmon. Under the ASC Salmon Standard non-lethal predator control is preferential, however, lethal control is permitted but limited by a hierarchy of appropriate actions, number of incidents and species permitted to be imperiled. Subsequently, mortalities are unable to significantly impact predator populations or endangered marine mammal and bird populations.

ASC farmed salmon are well managed and management is thought to be fully effective.The independent ASC Salmon Standard addresses many issues of environmental concern and ensures compliance. There is no requirement for certified farms to be subject to any strategic environmental planning. However, production countries supplying the UK marketplace with ASC certified salmon incorporate strategic environmental planning at a country level. These countries include Norway, Ireland (Republic of) and Scotland.Aquaculture policy in the UK is a devolved matter, with the separate administrations of Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland responsible for its collective oversight. Aquaculture production in Scotland is covered in the 2015 National Marine Plan. This plan covers the management of both Scottish inshore waters (out to 12 nautical miles) and offshore waters (12 to 200 nautical miles). Scotland's River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) also sets out a range of actions to address water quality, physical condition, water flows and levels, the migration of wild fish and invasive nonnative species. The RBMP is produced every six years by SEPA on behalf of the Scottish Government.As an EU Member State, aquaculture production in Ireland is directed by the MSP Directive 2014/89/EU2 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning. Aquaculture production in Ireland is covered in the 2021 National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) for more sustainable, effective management of marine activities, to promote efficient use of marine resources. The Co-ordinated Local Aquaculture Management Systems (C.L.A.M.S.) is a nationwide initiative, managing the development of aquaculture in bays and inshore waters throughout Ireland at a local level, this includes Integrated Coastal Zone Management (I.C.Z.M.) plans.In Norway, management of marine areas is broken down into three areas: the Barents Sea, the Norwegian Sea, and the North Sea, that combined cover the entire Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Marine spatial plans have been developed for these three regions and these include the impact of aquaculture on the marine ecosystem. They also identify valuable and vulnerable areas that require special management measures.In Iceland, management of ocean and coastal areas is incorporated into local and national plans. In 2018 the Icelandic parliament accepted a new Act on Marine Spatial Planning. The National Planning Agency of Iceland oversee the MSP process, and the Westfjords and Eastfjords regions are the first areas where MSP is to be implemented.The ASC Salmon Standard addresses the environmental impacts of salmon aquaculture, which is further supported by country level regulations.The ASC standards cover the main environmental and social impacts of aquaculture, including fish health, feed and fair employment conditions, by setting metric based indicators. Farms are assessed annually by external auditors and results published. ASC products are traceable throughout the supply chain. ASC is the only ISEAL compliant aquaculture certification scheme.