July 28, 2010

EU releases farmed trout draft standards

The World Wildlife Fund on Tuesday (July 27) announced that the draft aquaculture standards for freshwater trout are now available for the first of two public-comment periods.

The standards, designed to help minimise the environmental and social impacts of trout farming, are the result of the Freshwater Trout Aquaculture Dialogue. The 200-person roundtable includes trout industry leaders, scientists, conservationists and others from the world's leading trout-producing countries, including Italy, Spain, Denmark, the UK and the US.

The public comment period runs through September 27, with the second beginning about two months later. The standards are expected to be finalised by year's end.

In addition to freshwater trout, five sets of draft standards-pangasius, abalone, bivalves and shrimp are the other four-are in the process of being reviewed or finalised.

Meanwhile, standards for tilapia were finalised in December 2009, and all of the standards are expected to be completed within approximately six months.