Dive Brief:
- The USDA has announced that it will propose standards for U.S. farm-raised organic fish and shellfish this year, which has been delayed for more than decade. This means the rules could be ready in as few as two years.
- The European Union and Canada have been exporting organic fish and shellfish to the U.S. in the meantime, but being able to farm organic fish and sell it for a premium could significantly help the U.S. farmed fish industry.
- However, staunch debate remains as farmers worry the rules will be too strict to be profitable, and some environmental groups believe the rules won't be strict enough to protect the local and ocean's ecosystems.
Dive Insight:
Arguments remain over various aspects of how organic farmed fish would be raised, including what they would eat and what environment they would live in.
Certain environmentalists argue that wild caught fish cannot be considered organic because they are too difficult to monitor. In these groups' opinion, only fish that eat 100% organic feed can be truly organic. This is a major concern for farmers, who feel that 100% organic feed could be cost-prohibitive.
These environmental groups also fear that if fish live in ocean pens, they may be able to escape and contaminate their environment. The new rules will ultimately stem from recommendations made by the National Organic Standards Board.