Talking 'organic' seafood and industrial aquaculture, deep in the heart of Texas

摘要

"Wild" has become synonymous with fine-quality fish, so to capture a share of the premium market, the aquaculture industry has been seeking "organic" certification of farmed seafoods. Sales of organic foods in the United States are increasing 10 to 14percent annually, exceeding $32 billion in 2012. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic seal is touted as the "Gold Standard Around the World."Petitions described as "essential" to the future of organic aquaculture were on the agenda of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) spring meeting, held April 29-May 2 in San Antonio, Texas.The decisions reached by the 15 NOSB members could have far-reaching ramifications. They were proceeding without determining how aquatic animals reared in cages could meet the strict criteria of the Organic Foods Production Act. Since I fished for nearly three decades (Copper River, Bristol Bay, and Puget Sound) and have been an advocate for wild fisheries and accurate labeling, I attended the meeting, taking along smoked salmon, bundles of information, and images of boats, fishing families, and the impacts of marine feedlots.