Atlantic salmon

Criteria on responsible feed are lacking in the GLOBALG.A.P. aquaculture standard with currently no requirements for responsible ingredient sourcing. However, the updated Feed Mill standard is expected to lead to improvements.The production of farmed Atlantic salmon relies on a variety of different feeds, including specialist formulation. Historically, the most important ingredients in salmon feed have been fishmeal and fish oil, which provide an almost optimal complete feed in a convenient and highly digestible product form. The primary fisheries supplying fishmeal and fish oil are found globally (Ireland, Denmark, Iceland, South Africa, Norway, Peru, USA) and have a range of species (including anchovy, blue marlin, capelin, menhaden, Norway pout, sand eel, sprat). Due to a need to reduce costs and secure the supply, cheaper alternative ingredients (such as soybean, palm oil, and rapeseed oil) have been progressively substituted in commercial feed formulas.The GLOBALG.A.P. aquaculture standard requires ingredients used in aquaculture feed to be traceable to species level. However, criteria for the sustainable content of feed are lacking and as a minor must, wild fish ingredients which originate from MarinTrust and MSC certified fisheries must only be declared as a minor must.The dependency of wild caught fish used in fishmeal and fish oil (known as the Feed Fish Dependency Ratio) for salmon currently indicates that more fish protein is required in the diet than these fish produce, making them a net consumer of fish rather than a fish producer.There is currently no requirement for soy products and palm oil to be sourced sustainably in the GLOBALG.A.P. standard. There is also no mention of the use of novel or alternative feed ingredients.

Salmon farming in marine open net pens has negative impacts on the marine environment. Mitigation measures are in place within the GLOBALG.A.P. farm standard that partially address these environmental impacts.Habitat alteration in salmon farming is small scale through the use of mooring grids only. The GLOBALG.A.P. standard requires farmers to prove compliance with any applicable environmental regulations for construction and operation of the farm. Discharges do occur from salmon farms and they have a measurable negative impact, however, within the GLOBALG.A.P. standard, these occur within a defined allowable zone of effect.Chemicals are used in salmon farming and while the GLOBALG.A.P. standard limits the frequency in which they can be used, there is a lack of specific criteria in place surrounding the use of pesticides and no restrictions on the amount of chemicals that can be used per production cycle.Disease outbreaks do occur globally but the impact of these is not thought to threaten regional level operations. There is also a problem with sea lice parasites globally and the GLOBALG.A.P. standard has a veterinary health plan in place to mitigate the impacts of parasites. This is not thought to be fully effective and it is not known if the veterinary health plan has had an impact on parasite transfer.The design of open net pen salmon farms means that there is the potential for fish to escape. However, the GLOBALG.A.P. standard requires a documented procedure for preventing escapes, and reporting to show mitigation measures in place to prevent further escapes.All juveniles used in salmon aquaculture are hatchery based. However, wild caught cleaner fish are used. The GLOBALG.A.P. standard does not have requirements for cleaner fish to come from sustainable populations. Wildlife interactions also occur in salmon farms, including birds and marine mammals. The GLOBALG.A.P. standard requires an effective predator control plan, however, lethal control is allowed if necessary.

GLOBALG.A.P. has criteria in place to ensure animal welfare and humane slaughter.The GLOBALG.A.P. standard outlines practices that are in place to ensure animal welfare and humane slaughter, including a welfare risk assessment.

GLOBALG.A.P. farmed salmon are well managed and management is thought to be fully effective.This assessment covers Atlantic salmon from Scotland, Norway and the Faroe Islands, farmed to the GLOBALG.A.P. certification. The certification criteria covers farm level environmental impact assessment, identification and protection of valuable habitats and species, use of land and water resources, use of chemicals, discharges, biosecurity, disease management and species introduction. The regulations are mostly effective, however, there are still high levels of parasitic transfer of sea lice occurring and it is not known if escapes are continuing to happen from certified farms.There is no requirement for certified farms to be subject to strategic environmental planning, as this is the responsibility of the production country. Each of the countries producing GLOBALG.A.P. certified salmon either have strategic environmental planning in place, or it is in development.The GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Standard incorporates aspects stipulated by the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture certification and the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code. It is recognized both by the GFSI for food safety and GSSI at primary production level, covering key sustainability aspects for animal production for human consumption. The score for this section reflects GLOBALG.A.P. certified producers that are in full compliance with the standard.