Pacific oyster

What feed is given to farmed fish, where it comes from and how much is used is one of the most important aspects of fish farming. In this section we look at how sustainable the feed is and how much fish is included in the diet.

The environmental impacts of aquaculture depend on what fish is farmed, how and where. It could be habitat damage, chemical use, pollution, freshwater use or parasites. In this section we look at the environmental impacts of greatest concern for that species and production method. Some species, such as shellfish, have very little impact, whilst others may give us cause for concern.

Fish health and welfare is a concern for many consumers. High welfare standards are an indication of good farm management, we look to see if there are industry wide welfare standards in place, and if these include humane slaughter.

How aquaculture is regulated and how effective those regulations are is an important aspect of farmed fish production. We also look to see if aquaculture is included in broader environmental management plans. In this management section we also award scores for globally recognised certification standards, as certified seafood requires verification of environmental performance and traceability.