Comparison of organic fish production in China and Croatia
Competition title: Ugovor o znanstvenoj i tehnološkoj suradnji između Vlade Republike Hrvatske i Vlade Narodne Republike Kine
Funding: MZO
AFZ role: coordinator
Total value: HRK 60,000.00
Start date: 2012/01/01
End date: 2013/12/31
Abstract
Purpose of the project: Aquaculture is the production of fish and other water organisms under controlled conditions. Organic aquaculture is an attempt to mitigate some of problems with industrial aquaculture. Organic aquaculture practices would entail raising aquaculture products in a humane manner that is sustainable and does not pollute the environment. Organic Aquaculture certification follows strict requirements and standards. These rules may vary between different countries or certification bodies. The aquaculture industries in general are still figuring out how to be sustainable, what best practices are and what ecological considerations is can or should be implemented. Current standards are often quite strict and some people argue they are sustainable. A number of countries have created national standards and certifying bodies as China and Croatia. The number of certified organic aquaculture operations in the world (including the production of micro algae) amounts to 240 in 29 different countries in 2009 but most of the operations are located in Europe. In China, 72 operations have received organic certification under the national Chinese regulation (freshwater and saltwater) in 2009. Most common in China is carp production in polyculture, i.e. in combination with crabs, shrimps or other local species; but there are also certified operations producing turtles or sea cucumbers. Some of the China’s problems is that fish products labeled organic are not readily visible in stores, and market data are not available. In Croatia there are no certified organic producers in freshwater aquaculture production, only in mariculture. There are regulations for organic production of carp species as well as trout. Also, the aquaculture products in Croatia are poorly represented in the stores and not visible.
Leaders
Prof. Marina Piria, PhD
University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
Associates
Prof. Tea Tomljanović, PhD
University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
Prof. Nikica Šprem, PhD
University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
Prof. Tomislav Treer, PhD, Professor Emeritus
University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture