August 30, 2005 – Organic fish from Quebec? No doubt we will soon find some on the market. The Conseil des appellations agroalimentaires du Québec (CAAQ) has standards for the organic certification of aquaculture products.1 since mid-May.
At present, there is no Quebec aquaculture product that is certified organic. But the certification process is underway for some aquaculture farms according to the CAAQ. However, organic fish can be found in the trade, particularly from Europe or Chile. Such products must display the logo of a certification body approved by the CAAQ2.
Since the entry into force of these new standards, the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture has intervened with a company that marketed fish fraudulently labeled organic. “It is with the aim of protecting consumers against such abuses that we have adopted these standards,” explains Denis-Paul Bouffard, Director General of the CAAQ.
Consumption of fish and seafood is growing steadily, particularly because of their richness in omega-3 fatty acids, substances whose benefits are universally recognized. This puts increased pressure on fish and seafood stocks3. Overfishing is a real threat.
Aquaculture farms can be an alternative to the problem of overfishing. However, more and more experts believe that they must meet certain standards in order to avoid polluting the surrounding land and water. They are also concerned with the feeding of fish and seafood raised on such farms.4 as well as hormones and drugs that can be used to promote their growth.
For aquaculture farms, organic certification bodies provide for strict rules to protect the environment (water recycling, disposal of waste, etc.). Species bred should be well adapted to the local climate and their diet should come from certified organic sources. Hormones, antibiotics and synthetic drugs are prohibited, as are artificial colors and genetically modified organisms.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Organic certification standards in aquaculture. Council of Quebec Agri-Food Appellations. Canada, 2005. www.caaq.org
2. Certifiers approved by the CAAQ, Canada, 2005. www.caaq.org
3. It is possible to consult online a list of seafood products that can be consumed without endangering the resource or without risking poisoning due to pollutants that accumulate in the organisms of certain species. It was established by the Seafood Watch of Monterey Bay Aquarium. www.mbayaq.org
4. Aquaculture, Is Fish Farming the Answer? Monterey Bay Aquarium, United States, 2005. www.mbayaq.org
