The organic sector is booming, with the largest ever wave of farm conversions under way. Negative environmental impacts, safety issues for aquaculture products, increased fish consumption and the increasing market share of organic foods have combined to focus attention on organic aquaculture. The objective of this paper is to give an overview of organic aquaculture throughout the world with regard to the differences between organic and conventional aquaculture, standards and certification programmes, along with development and prospects. The author also examines the key factors shaping organic aquaculture growth and offers recommendations for stimulating the success of organic aquaculture.
BergleiterS. (2001), ‘Organic shrimp production’, Ecology and Farming, May, pp 22–23.
2.
BoehmerS.GoldM.HauserS.ThomasB., and YoungA. (2005), Organic Aquaculture, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.
3.
BristerD. J., and KapuscinskiA. R. (2003), Organic Aquaculture: A New Wave of the Future, National Organic Aquaculture Workshop, available at Website: http://www.fw.umn.edu.
4.
DrinkwaterL. E.WagonerP., and SarrantonioM. (1998), ‘Legume-based cropping systems have reduced carbon and nitrogen losses’, Nature, Vol 396, pp 262–265.
5.
FAO (2003), Review of the State of World Aquaculture, Fisheries Circulars – C886, Rev 2, FAO, Rome.
6.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements – IFOAM (2000), Basic Standards for Organic Production and Processing, Fa Werbedruck, Germany.
7.
KRAV (2001), Standards, Idetryck Grafi sk Uppsala, Sweden, pp 60–69.
8.
MatsonP. A.PatronW. J.PowerA. G., and SwiftM. J. (1997), ‘Agricultural intensification and ecosystem properties’, Science, Vol 277, pp 504–509.
9.
NASAA – National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (2001), The Standards for Organic Agricultural Production, NASAA, Stirling, SA, pp 37–38.
10.
Naturland (2002), Naturland Standards for Organic Aquaculture, Naturland, Grafelfing, Germany.
11.
NaylorR. (1998), ‘Nature's subsidies to shrimp and salmon farming’, Science, Vol 282, pp 883–884.
12.
NaylorR. L. (2000), ‘Effect of aquaculture on world fish supplies’, Nature, Vol 405, pp 1017–1024.
13.
Organic Food Development Center of State Environmental Protection Administration – OFDC (2002), Organic Certification Standards, OFDC, Nanjing, pp 30–32.
14.
ReganoldJ. P.GloverJ. D.AndrewsP. K., and HinmanH. R. (2001), ‘Sustainability of three apple production systems’, Nature, Vol 410, pp 926–929.
15.
StolzeM.PiorrA.HäringA., and DabbertS. (2000), ‘The environmental impact of organic farming in Europe’, Organic Farming in Europe: Economics and Policy (University of Hohenheim), Vol 6, pp 1437–1512.
16.
SundrumA. (2001), ‘Organic livestock farming: A critical review’, Livestock Production Science, Vol 67, pp 207–215.
17.
TaconA. G. J., and BristerD. J. (2002), ‘Organic agriculture, environment and food security’, in ScialbbaN. E.-H., and HattamC., eds, Organic Aquaculture: Current Standards and Future Prospects, Environment and Natural Resources Series 4, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome.
18.
TillmanD. (1999), ‘Global environmental impacts of agricultural expansion: The need for sustainable and efficient practices’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the USA, Vol 96, pp 5995–6000.
19.
WillerH., and YussefiM., eds (2007), The World of Organic Agriculture Statistics and Emerging Trends 2007, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements – IFOAM, Bonn.
20.
ZhuY. (2000), ‘Genetic diversity and disease control in rice’, Nature, Vol 406, pp 718–722.
