AUDIT MANUAL - ASC ABALONE STANDARD Version 1.1 March … · Monitoring via video or seabed imaging transects shall be conducted every five years (Proceed to 2.3.1) A. Verify from

AuditManual-ASCAbaloneStandard-version1.1March2019Copyright©2013AquacultureStewardshipCouncil.AllrightsreservedbyAquacultureStewardshipCouncil Page 1 of 40

AUDIT MANUAL - ASC ABALONE STANDARD

Version 1.1 March 2019

ComplianceCriteria(RequiredClientActions): AuditorEvaluation(RequiredCBActions):

a.Obtaincopiesofapplicablelandandwateruselaws. A.Verifycompliancewithapplicablelandandwateruselaws.

b.Obtainoriginalleaseagreements,orcopies,oflandtitlesonfile. B.Confirmclientholdsoriginalleaseagreementsorlandtitles.

c.Keeprecordsofinspectionsforcompliancewithnationalandlocallawsandregulations(onlyifsuchinspectionsarelegallyrequiredinthecountryofoperation).

C.Verifythatinspectionrecordscomplywithnationalandlocallawsandregulations(asapplicable).

Indicator:Presenceofdocumentsprovingcompliancewithlocalandnationalauthoritiesonlandandwateruse(E.g.,permits,evidenceoflease,concessionsandrightstolandand/orwateruse)

Requirement:Yes

Applicability: All

1.1.1.

Scope: The ASC Abalone Standard applies globally to all locations and scales of abalone aquaculture production systems, whether land based or sea-based. Abalone aquaculture is defined by this Standard as active husbandry of abalone from seed to harvest (or any part thereof) within a defined area and with defined ownership of the abalone being cultured.

INSTRUCTION TO FARMS/AUDITORS: This audit manual was developed to accompany version 1.1 of the ASC Bivalve Standard.

PRINCIPLE1.OBEYTHELAWANDCOMPLYWITHALLAPPLICABLELEGALREQUIREMENTSANDREGULATIONSWHEREFARMINGOPERATIONISLOCATED1.1.Criteria:Allapplicablelegalrequirementsandregulationswherefarmingoperationislocated


d.Obtainallnecessarypermitsrelatingtolandandwateruseasrequiredbylocalandnationalauthorities.

D.Verifythefarmhasvalidpermitsrelatingtolandandwateruse.

e.Provideadetailedmapofthefarmwithatleast4GPScoordinatestoshowthatfarmlocationdoesnotconflictwithnationalpreservationareas.

E.VerifythatthefarmisrepresentedaccuracyusingGPScoordinates.Ifpossible,verifyspatialinformationusingGoogleMap,satelliteimagesorsimilarmeans.


a.Performaboveanalysis.RecordallIUCNredlistspeciesandfarm-relatedthreats.A.Repeatanalysistoverifythatclientobtainedanaccurateresult.Verifythroughadditionaldatabasesandgovernmentreportstocross-checkwhetherendangeredspeciesexistintheimmediatevicinityofthefarm.

b.ProvideGeographicalInformationSystem(GIS)filesaccordingtoASCguidelines(seenoteabove)showingtheboundariesofthefarmrelativetonearbythreatened/endangeredspecieshabitiat.

B.ReviewGISfilesandcross-checkagainstindependentinformationsources(e.g.ASCGISapp)todetermineifthefarmissitednearbythreatened/endangeredspecieshabitiat.

NOTE:TheguidelinesoncollectingspatialdataforASCcanbefoundonhttps://www.asc-aqua.org/resources/for-farms/gis-portal/

Indicator:Presenceofdocumentsprovingcompliancewithlocalandnationalauthoritiesonlandandwateruse(E.g.,permits,evidenceoflease,concessionsandrightstolandand/orwateruse)

Requirement:Yes

Applicability: All

1.1.1.

PRINCIPLE2.AVOID,REMEDYORMITIGATESIGNIFICANTADVERSEEFFECTSONHABITATS,BIODIVERSITY,ANDECOLOGICALPROCESSES2.1.Criteria:Criticalhabitatandspeciesinteractions

Indicator:Wherenototherwisemandatedbylocallaworcoveredbyrecognizedenvironmentalimpactassessmentpermittingthefarmingactivity,evidenceprovingnosignificantadverseeffectsonthreatenedorendangeredspecies[1]orthehabitatonwhichtheydepend.

Requirement:Yes

Applicability: All

InstructiontoClientsforIndicator2.1.1-PresenceofSpeciesListedasThreatenedorEndangeredontheIUCNRedListDeterminewhetherIUCNredlistspeciesarepresentintheregionasfollows:-gotohttp://www.iucnredlist.org/-followto"othersearchoptions"-select"Taxonomy"andselect"Animalia"and"Plantae"-indicateappropriate"Location","Systems","Habitat",-clickon"runsearch"andrecordspecieslistedandwhethertheyarethreatenedbythefarmingactivity.Note:TheIUCNRedListusesninecategoriesforrankingspeciesaccordingtothreat,andsearchresultsmayincludespeciesthatarenotcurrentlythreatened.Forthepurposesofdeterminingwhetherafarmcomplieswithindicator2.1.1,speciesinthefollowingIUCNcategoriesmaybeexcludedfromfurtheranalyses:"Notevaluated","DataDeficient",and"LeastConcern".

2.1.1.


c.IfanIUCNRedListspeciesisidentifiedinregionofthefarm(includingreceivingandsourcewaters),documenthowthefarmtakesappropriateprecautions.IfnoIUCNRedListspeciesispresentthisisN/A.

C.Verifythatclienttakesappropriateprecautionsasrequired.

Footnote


a.Ifthefarmsiteisanon-depositionalareaofhardsubstrates:Monitoringviavideoorseabedimagingtransectsshallbeconductedeveryfiveyears(Proceedto2.3.1)

A.Verifyfromvideoorseabedimagingevidencethattheaquaculturesiteisnon-depositional.

[1]AsdefinedbynationallaworasfoundintheIUCNRedListofThreatenedSpecies.

2.2.Criteria:Benthicimpactsofsea-basedfarmingondepositionalsubstrate

ClassificationofSeabedType(applicabletoCriteria2.2.and2.3.):Sea-basedfarmsarerequiredtoperforma"tieredassessment"(seeAppendix1,Section2)toassessbenthicimpactsofthecultureactivity.Thefirststepistoclassifyeachfarmaccordingtothetypeofseafloorthatoccursbeneathit.Seafloors,andthusfarms,mustbeclassifiedintooneoftwomaintypes:Depositional,orNon-Depositional.Inordertomakethisclassification,allsea-basedfarmsshallconductaninitialvisualsurvey,usingvideoorseabedimaging.

Depositional/SoftSubstrateCriterion2.2appliesonlytosea-basedfarmsondepositionalsubstrate(i.e.sedimentbottomsofsandorsilt).Indicators2.2.1.,2.2.2.,2.2.3.,and2.2.4.areevaluatedwhileIndicator2.3.1.isnotevaluated.Farmsmustmeasuresulphide(S)concentrationsinthesedimenttodeterminecomplianceandsubsequentmonitoringfrequency(see2.2.1.,2.2.2.).DirectmeasurementofSconcentrationmaybereplacedbyananalysisofbenthiccommunitystructure(see2.2.3.).Farmsmustdetermineareascontainingbiogenicstructuresofimportancetothefunctioningoftheecosystem(2.2.4.)

Non-Depositional/HardSubstrateCriterion2.3appliesonlytosea-basedfarmsonnon-depositionalsubstrate(i.e.hardorrockybottoms).Indicator2.3.1isevaluatedwhileIndicators2.2.1,2.2.2,2.2.3,and2.2.4arenot.Theinitialvisualsurveymustallowforthecomparisonofcontrolvs.impactedsitesintermsofdetritalaccumulationandsurfaceorganisms.

Note:Theinitialassessmentshallbeconductedwithina6monthperiodpriortothefirstaudit.Sedimentsamplesfortheassessmentoftotal"free"sulphidesmustbecollectedandanalysedbyaStateorNationallyapprovedlaboratory.Methodsforthemeasurementof"free"sulphidesinmarinesedimentsisoutlinedinAppendix2.

Indicator:Wherenototherwisemandatedbylocallaworcoveredbyrecognizedenvironmentalimpactassessmentpermittingthefarmingactivity,evidenceprovingnosignificantadverseeffectsonthreatenedorendangeredspecies[1]orthehabitatonwhichtheydepend.

Requirement:Yes

Applicability: All

2.2.1

Indicator:Acceptablelevelsoftotal‘free’sulphidesinsurficialsediment(0-2centimetresfromthesurface)measuredbeneathsea-basedfarm

Requirement:≤1500µM,monitoringeveryfiveyearsisrequired[2].

≥1500µMand≤3000µM,monitoringeveryyearisrequired[2].

Applicability:Sea-basedFarmsonDepositionalSubstrate

2.1.1.


b. Ifthefarmsiteisadepositionalareaofsoftsubstrate:AninitialassessmentofSconcentrationinsedimentsshallbeconductedaccordingtoAppendix1&2.DirectmeasurementofSconcentrationmaybereplacedbyananalysisofbenthiccommunitystructureinareaswherethisbioticapproachispreferredbytheclientorisalreadymandatedbyaregulatorybody[3](see2.2.3.).

TheclientshallpresentinformationdetailingthesamplingdesignusedandresultsoftheSassessment:-IfSconcentrationis≤1500µM,monitoringshallbeconductedeveryfiveyears(Proceedto2.3.1).-IfSconcentrationis≥1500µMand<3000µM,monitoringshallbeconductedeveryyear(Proceedto2.3.1).-IfSconcentrationis≥3000µM(Proceedto2.2.2.).

B.VerifydocumentationoftheinitialassessmentofSconcentrationasmeasuredbyeitherdirectmeasurementoranalysisofbenthiccommunitystructure.VerifythatsampleswerecollectedandanalysedaccordingtoprotocolsapprovedbyaStateorNationallyapprovedlaboratory

Footnote

a.IfinitialassessmentofSconcentrationis≥3000µM,thefarmisnotcertifiableunlessnaturalbackgroundSlevelsexceed3000µM.ManagementresponseisrequiredtoreduceSlevels.

Naturalbackgroundlevelsarederivedfromreferencesitesoutsidethefarm(seeAppendicesI&2forthecomparisontocontrolsites).IfSconcentrationsbeneaththefarmstructuresarenotsignificantlyhigher(p<0.05)thanreferencesites,monitoringshallbeconductedeveryyear.(Proceedto2.3.1).

A.VerifydocumentationofinitialassessmentofSconcentrationbyeitherdirectmeasurementoranalysisofbenthiccommunitystructure.Verifycomparisontonaturalbackgroundlevelsifpresented.

a.DirectmeasurementofSconcentrationmaybereplacedbyananalysisofbenthiccommunitystructureinareaswherethisbioticapproachispreferredbytheclientorisalreadymandatedbyaregulatorybody[3].IfSequivalencyis<3000µM,proceedto2.2.1.IfSequivalencyis≥3000µM,proceedto2.2.2..

A.Recordwhetherthefarmreplacedthesulphideanalysiswithadirectanalysisofbenthiccommunitystructure.Ifyes,confirmthatthefarm’sbenthiccommunityanalysiscomplieswithrequirements[3].

Footnote

a.Prepareresultsfromvideoorseabedimagingsurveyofthefarm.A.Verifythatvideoorimagerydemonstratesthatthefarmisnotlocatedoverareasthatprovidesignificantbiologicalorecologicalfunctionwithinthebroaderecosystem.

Forsea-basedfarmsondepositionalsubstratethatchoosetoreplacedirectmeasurementofSconcentrationwithananalysisofbenthiccommunitystructure

[2]Ifafarmincreasesstandingbiomassbymorethan100percentfromthedateoflastassessment,thesulphidemeasurementmustbetakenandserveasthenewbaseline.

Indicator:Unacceptablelevelsoftotal‘free’sulphidesinsurficialsedimentmeasuredbeneathsea-basedfarms

Requirement: ≥3000µM


2.2.1

Forsea-basedfarmsondepositionalsubstrateandnotcompliantwith2.2.1.

Indicator:Acceptablelevelsoftotal‘free’sulphidesinsurficialsediment(0-2centimetresfromthesurface)measuredbeneathsea-basedfarm

Requirement:≤1500µM,monitoringeveryfiveyearsisrequired[2].

≥1500µMand≤3000µM,monitoringeveryyearisrequired[2].


[3]Bioticindicatordecisionthresholdsneedtobeassessedtoensureequivalencywiththethresholdsidentifiedfortotal‘free’sulphidesgiveninRequirement2.2.1.Thereareseveralpapersthathavebeenpublishedlinkingspecificbenthicsulphidelevelstoindicesforbenthicbiodiversity.Pleaserefertothereferencesectionforexamples(e.g.,Hargraveet.al.2008)

Indicator:Allowanceforsea-basedabaloneaquacultureoverareasthatprovideaparticularlysignificantoressentialbiologicalorecologicalfunctionwithinthebroaderecosystem[4]

Requirement:None


2.2.4

2.2.3.

2.2.2.

Indicator:Sulphideanalysismaybereplacedbydirectanalysisofbenthiccommunitystructure(i.e.,infaunalsurveys)inareaswherethisbioticapproachispreferredbytheapplicantorisalreadymandatedbyaregulatorybody[3].

Requirement:Yes


Forallsea-basedfarmsondepositionalsubstrate


b.Summarizeinformationaboutsensitivehabitatsinproximitytofarmingoperations(e.g.usingamapofhabitatdistribution)notinganyareaswherebiogenicstructuresarelocated[4].

B.Verifyfarmerknowledgeofsensitivehabitatinproximitytofarmingoperations.

Footnote


a.Theclientshallprovidevideoorseabedimagingtotheauditor.A"CI"(Control-Impacted)typeofsamplingdesignisrequiredfortheassessmentofdetritalaccumulationandimpactonsurfaceorganismsinhabitingtherockysubstratebetweencontrolandimpactedsites.

A.Verificationofvideoorphotographicevidenceshowsabsenceofdetrimentalsedimentaccumulationonrockyseafloorbeneaththefarm.Detrimentaleffectwouldincludethereductionoreliminationofthesurfaceorganismsinhabitingtherockysubstratebeneaththefarm,relativetocontrolsites.


a.Conductatleast4quarterlymeasurementsoftotalammonianitrogenbeforefirstauditanddocumentresults.SamplesshallbecollectedandanalysedbyaStateorNationallyapprovedlaboratory.Annualmedianconcentrationwillbeassessedagainstthestandardof<0.6mg/L.

A.VerifythatdocumentedevidenceofannualmedianconcentrationoftotalammonianitrogenintheeffluentorreceivingwaterdoesnotexceedthethresholdlevelandthatwatersampleswerecollectedandanalysedbyaStateorNationallyapprovedlaboratory.

b.Obtaindocumentationregardingtheprocedures,calibrationtechniques,andinstrument/reagentspecificationsusedbythelaboratory.TheseshallbeincompliancewithTableBoftheCaliforniaOceanPlanandshallconformtotherequirementsofUSAfederalregulations(40CFRPART136)orequivalentnationalregulations.

B.Verifythatallprocedures,calibrationtechniques,andinstrument/reagentspecificationsusedareincompliance.

[4]Areascontainingbiogenicstructuresthatarenotparticularlyadaptedtosedimentationororganicenrichment(e.g.,tubewormmounds,bryozoanmounds,bivalvebedsandreefsorspongegardensthatformastructureforotherepifauna).

2.3.Criteria:Benthicimpactsofsea-basedfarmingonhardorrockysubstrate

InstructiontoClientsforIndicator2.4.1and2.4.2-MonitoringReleaseofTotalAmmoniaNitrogenandTotalSuspendedSolidsClientsarerequiredtoprovidequarterlymeasurementsoftotalammonianitrogenandtotalsuspendedsolidsineffluentsfor≥1yearbeforethe1staudit.Forguidelinesregardingprocedures,calibrationtechniques,andinstrument/reagentspecificationsused,refertoAppendices3and4fortotalammonianitrogenandtotalsuspendedsolids,respectively.Indicator:Annualmedianconcentration[5]oftotalammonia

nitrogenineffluentorreceivingwaterbeyondmixingzone[6]

Requirement:<0.6mg/L

Applicability:Land-basedFarms

2.4.Criteria:Effluentsfromland-basedfarming

Indicator:Allowanceforsea-basedabaloneaquacultureoverareasthatprovideaparticularlysignificantoressentialbiologicalorecologicalfunctionwithinthebroaderecosystem[4]

Requirement:None


2.2.4

InstructiontoClientsforIndicator2.3.1-AccumulationofSedimentBeneathFarmForsea-basedfarmsonnon-depositionalsubstrate(i.e.hardorrockybottoms)

Allsea-basedfarmsonnon-depositionalsubstrate(i.e.hardorrockybottoms)willatleastconductaninitialvisualsurvey,usingvideoorseabedimaging(outlinedinthebox"ClassificationofSeabedTypeCriteria",Criteria2.2.).Iftheinitialvisualsurveyindicatesahardorrockysubstratumbeneaththefarm,thentheclientshallalsoincludecontrolareasinthevisualsurveyforthecomparisonofdetritalaccumulation(seeAppendixIforthedesignofa"CI"(Control-Impacted)typeofsampling)

Note:Theinitialassessmentshallbeconductedbytheclientwithina6monthperiodpriortothefirstaudit.Iftheclientisunabletoconducttheinitialassessmentthemselves,thenanindependentpartyshouldbecontractedbytheclient.

2.3.1.

2.4.1.

Indicator:Observabledetrimentalaccumulationofsedimentunderneaththefarmcomparedtoacontrolsite,basedonbottomvideo

Requirement:None

Applicability:Sea-basedFarmsonHardorRockySubstrate


Footnote

Footnote

a.Conductatleast4quarterlymeasurementsoftotalsuspendedsolidsbeforefirstaudit.SamplesshallbecollectedbyaStateorNationallyapprovedlaboratory.Annualmedianconcentrationwillbeassessedagainstthestandardof<5mg/L.

A.VerifydocumentedevidencethatannualmedianconcentrationoftotalsuspendedsolidsintheeffluentdoesnotexceedthethresholdlevelandthatwatersampleswerecollectedandanalysedaccordingtoprotocolsapprovedbyaStateorNationallyapprovedlaboratory.(SeealsoAppendix4)

b.Documenttheprocedures,calibrationtechniques,andinstrument/reagentspecificationsusedbythelaboratory.Theseshallbeincompliancewithnationalregulations,orifnoneavailable,therequirementsofCCME(CanadianCouncilofMinistersoftheEnvironment,2002).CanadianWaterQualityGuidelinesfortheProtectionofAquaticLife:TotalParticulateMatter1999.Updated2002,orequivalentnationalregulations.

B.Verifythatallprocedures,calibrationtechniques,andinstrument/reagentspecificationscomplywithnationalguidelines,orifnoneavailable,therequirementsofCCME(CanadianCouncilofMinistersoftheEnvironment).(2002).CanadianWaterQualityGuidelinesfortheProtectionofAquaticLife:TotalParticulateMatter1999.Updated2002,orequivalentnationalregulations.

2.4.3

Indicator:Evidencethatallchemicalsusedonthefarmthataredischargedtoeffluentarerecordedandquantified

Requirement:Yes


a.Maintainrecordsofallchemicalsusedonthefarmthataredischargedtoeffluent.Recordsincludeinvoices,historyofapplication(datesapplied,quantitiesused,reasonforuse).

A.Verifythatclientmaintainsdocumentationshowingtherecordingandquantifyingofallchemicalsusedonthefarmthataredischargedtoeffluent.


a.Prepareapreventionandresponseplandescribinghowthefarmdealswithpotentialspillsofchemicalandhydrocarbonwaste.

A.Verifythatthefarmhassufficientlydocumentedpreventionandresponseplansfordealingwithpotentialspillsofchemicalandhydrocarbonwaste.

b.Maintaindocumentationregardingthetraininghistoryofappropriateemployeesintheproperdisposalofwasteandinthepreventionandmanagementofchemicalandhydrocarbonspillsasdescribedintheaboveplan(2.5.1.a).

B.Verifythatthefarmhassufficientlydocumentedthetrainingofallemployeesincurrentpreventionandresponseplanstomanagechemicalandhydrocarbonspills.

c.Maintaindocumentationofequipmentorstructuresthathavecomeintocontactwithspilledchemicalsandhavebeensubsequentlycleaned.

C.Verifythatthefarmhassufficientlydocumentedequipmentorstructuresthathavecomeintocontactwithspilledchemicalsandtheactionstakentocleantheaffectedareas.


a.Prepareaplanthatdetailshowthefarmensuresproperdisposalofallbiologicalwaste. A.Verifythatthefarmhasaplanfortheproperdisposalofbiologicalwaste.

b.Maintainrecordstoshowhowthefarmdisposesofdeadabaloneandotherformsofbiologicalwaste.

B.Verifyfromfarmrecordsthatdisposalsfollowthefarm'splan.

2.5Criteria:Chemicalandhydrocarbonwaste

2.6.Criteria:Biologicalwaste(E.g.,shells,deadanimalsandsludge)

[5]Basedonquarterlysamples.

Indicator:Evidenceofproperdisposalofchemicalandhydrocarbonwaste

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

Indicator:Annualmedianconcentration[5]oftotalsuspendedsolidsineffluentcomparedtoinfluentmeasuredintheoutfloworinthereceivingwaterbeyondzoneofinitialdilution[6]

Requirement:<5mg/L


2.4.2

SeeinstructionsforIndicator2.4.1.

2.5.1.

Indicator:Evidenceofproperdisposalofbiologicalwaste

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

2.6.1.

[6]Themixingzoneasdefinedbythelocalregulatoryauthority,orifthatdoesnotexist,thenthezoneofinitialdilutionasdefinedintheCaliforniaOceanPlan(SWRCB,2009).TheCaliforniaOceanPlandefinesinitialdilutionastheprocessthatresultsintherapidandirreversibleturbulentmixingofwastewaterwithoceanwateraroundthepointofdischarge.Iftheconcentrationsofammoniaandsuspendedsolidsintheeffluentcomplywiththerecommendedstandard,effluentsamplingisallthatisrequired.Otherwise,adilutionstudyisnecessarytoestimateconcentrationsattheedgeofamixingzone,underconditionsofminimaldilution.Adilutionfactorshouldthenbeappliedtotheeffluentconcentrationtoestimateconcentrationattheedgeofthemixingzone.Whereamixingzonehasbeendefinedbyalocalauthority,thedefinedmixingzonewillapply.OtherwisethemixingzoneshouldbethezoneofinitialdilutionasdefinedintheCaliforniaOceanPlan(SWRCB,2009).


-C.Duringtheon-siteinspection,confirmthefarm'splaniseffectivelyimplemented.Evidencewillincludeinterviewswithfarmworkerswhoconfirmthatdisposalsfollowedtheplan.


a.Preparewrittenprotocolsthatdescribehowthefarmwillfollowbestmanagementpracticestominimizeescapes.

A.Verifythatthefarm'sprotocolsaresufficienttominimizeescapesbasedonrisk.

PRINCIPLE3.AVOIDANDMITIGATEDETRIMENTALEFFECTSONTHEHEALTHANDGENETICDIVERSITYOFWILDPOPULATIONS3.1.Criteria:Escapes

Indicator:Documentedprotocolandevidenceofbestmanagementpracticestominimizeescapes

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

Indicator:Evidenceofproperdisposalofbiologicalwaste

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

2.6.1.

3.1.1.


b.Maintainarecordofallescapesoutsideofthemainculturearea.Foreachescapeincident,identifythedateandlocation,probablecause,andactionstakenbythefarmtopreventsimilarescapesinthefuture.

B.Verifythatthefarmmaintainsarecordofescapes.

c.Forescapeincidents,recordactionstakenbythefarmtorecoverordestroytheescapedindividuals.

C.Verifythatfarmdocumentsconfirmthatanyescapeeswererecoveredordestroyed.

d.Ensurethatallcontainmentstructures(e.g.meshatoutlets)areproperlymaintained.D.Duringon-siteaudit,inspectcontainmentmeasures(e.g.meshatoutlets)toverifythatstructuresareinplaceandwellmaintained.

-E.Duringtheauditverifythereisnoevidenceofsignificantescapesinchannels,drainsorsettlementponds.


a.Maintaindocumentationshowingtheoriginofculturestockwithnames,addresses,contactperson(s)anddeliverydatesofeachpurchase.

A.Ifculturestockispurchased,verifythatfarmdocumentsshowtheoriginofculturestockwithnames,addressesandcontactperson(s)ofsuppliers.

-B.Ifthewildpopulationisthreatenedorendangered,reviewfarmdocumentstoconfirmthatallseedenteringasea-basedfarmoriginatesfromnativewildbroodstock(notfromselectively-bredanimals).

3.2.Criteria:Geneticmanagement

InstructiontoClientsforCriteria3.3-TranslocatedBroodstockandSeedQuarantine:Aprinciplerequirementforallacquiredbroodstockandseed(farmtofarm,3.3.1.;wildtofarm,3.3.2)isthattheyundergoaperiodofquarantinefollowingtranslocation,foratleast8weeks,inordertoensurethattheyarefreeofdiseaseandparasitespriortobeingmixedwithotherfarmanimals.Forwildtofarmtranslocations(3.3.2.)thereisanadditionalrequirementofcohabitationwithfarmed"sentinel"abaloneduringquarantinetopreventtheintroductionofdiseasetothefarmedstock.

Monitoringandidentificationofdisease:Appendix5outlinestherequiredprotocolforidentification,surveillanceandresponsetodiseasesandmortalityevents.Allfarmsarerequiredtomonitorthehealthofculturedabalonethroughregularinspection(Appendix5.Section3.)inordertoidentifyandreacttodiseaseormortalityevents(Appendix5.Section5.).Allfarmsmustbeabletoidentifythekeyinfectiousdiseasesofconcernfortheabaloneintheirarea.ThisrequiresboththetrainingofstaffintheidentificationofvisiblesymptomsandtheuseoflabsthatareStateorNationallyapprovedandhavediagnosticproceduresfordetectingthepresenceorabsenceofthesediseases(4.1.1.,Appendix5.Section2.).

Maintenanceofrecords:Inadditiontomaintainingrecordsastotheoriginofthebroodstock(3.2.1.),clientsmustmaintaindetailedrecordsofalltranslocationstothefarmandwithinthefarmtoensurethattherequirementsofquarantinehavebeenmet.Inaddition,allhealthinspectiondetailsshallberecorded.Documentationshallinclude:1)Originofculturestockwithnames,addresses,contactperson(s)anddeliverydatesofeachpurchase.2)Alltranslocationswithintheculturefacilityincludingdatesofintroductionandtimespentinquarantine(minimum8weeks).3)Recordofstafftrainingintherecognitionandresponsetodiseaseevents.4)Recordofallmortalityeventsandactionstaken.

3.2.1.

InstructiontoClientsforIndicator3.2.1-GeneticmanagementClientsmustdemonstratethat,inareaswherethewildpopulationisthreatenedorendangered(seeIndicator2.1.1),allseedmustoriginatefromnativewildbroodstockandnotfromselectively-bredanimals.Clientsarerequiredtodocumentthesourcesofallculturestock.

Note:Wherewildpopulationsarenotthreatenedandthereishealthylocalrecruitment,geneticriskposedbyselectively-bredanimalsisminimalandRequirement3.2.1.neednotberigorouslyapplied.

Indicator:Documentedprotocolandevidenceofbestmanagementpracticestominimizeescapes

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

3.1.1.

Indicator:Sea-basedfarmseedoriginatesfromnativewildbroodstock(notselectivelybredanimals)insituationswherethewildpopulationisthreatenedorendangered

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:Sea-basedFarms



a.Maintainrecordsfororiginofbroodstock(see3.2.1.a). A.Verifythatfarmkeepsrecords/permitsindicatingtheoriginofculturedstock.

b.Maintaindocumentationofalltranslocations.B.Verifyindocumentationthatacquiredstockshavebeenkeptinisolation(quarantine)foratleast8weekspriortomixingwithotherfarmanimals.

3.3.Criteria:Translocatedbroodstockandseed

Indicator:Forfarm-to-farmtranslocations:batchcertificationusingdiagnostictestscapableofdetectingalldiseasesandparasites/pestsofconcern[7]followedbyminimumeightweekisolation(notmixedwithotheranimalsonthefarm).[8]

Requirement:Required

Applicability:All

3.3.1.


c.Maintainseparatequarantinefacilitiesinoperablecondition. C.Inspectquarantinefacilitiesduringon-siteaudittoverifytheyareinoperablecondition.

d.Maintaindocumentationofstockinspectionsandanyactionstakenregardingmortalityevents.

D.VerifycorrecttreatmentofmortalityeventsinquarantinedstocksaccordingtotheprotocolinAppendix5.[8]

Indicator:Forfarm-to-farmtranslocations:batchcertificationusingdiagnostictestscapableofdetectingalldiseasesandparasites/pestsofconcern[7]followedbyminimumeightweekisolation(notmixedwithotheranimalsonthefarm).[8]


Applicability:All

3.3.1.


Footnote

Footnote

a.Maintaindocumentationofalltranslocationsincludingtheadditionsofsentinels

A.Verifyindocumentationthatacquiredstockshavebeenkeptinisolation(quarantine)foratleast8weekspriortomixingwithotherfarmanimals.VerifythatfarmstockhasbeenaddedtoquarantinedwildstockgrowoutunitsassentinelsfordiseaseandthatmethodsandresponsesdetailedinAppendix5havebeenfollowed.

b.Maintainseparatequarantinefacilitiesinoperablecondition. B.Inspectquarantinefacilitiesduringon-siteaudittoverifytheyareinoperablecondition.

c.Maintaindocumentationofstockinspectionsandanyactionstakenregardingmortalityevents.

C.VerifycorrecttreatmentofmortalityeventsinquarantinedstocksaccordingtotheprotocolinAppendix5.

Footnote


3.4.1.

Indicator:Evidenceofresponsible[10]introductionofnon-nativeabalonespecies


Applicability:All

a.Ifthefarmworkswiththecultureofnon-nativeabalonespecies,permitsmustbeobtainedverifyingcompliancewithICEScodes[10].

A.Verifyaccuracyandvalidityofdocuments

Footnote


a.Obtaindocumentationfromthesupplierconfirmingthatculturestockisnottransgenic(see3.2.1a).

A.Ifthefarmpurchasesculturestockverifythatfarmrecordsforculturedstock(see3.2.1A)clearlyindicatethatthestockisnottransgenic.

b.Prepareadeclarationstatingthatthefarmdoesnotculturetransgenicabalone. B.Verifythatfarmmakesdeclaration.

[8]Ifamortalityeventoccursinthetranslocatedstockduringtheeight-weekperiod,thentheproceduresprescribedinAppendix5shallbefollowed.Thestockwillremaininisolationforaminimumofafurthereightweeksfollowingthecessationofthemortalityevent,unlessthereisanobviousnon-infectiouscause.

3.3.2.

Indicator:Forwildtofarmtranslocations:aneightweekminimumbiosecurequarantine(treatedeffluent)withcohabitationanddiseasesurveillance[9]


Applicability:All

3.5Criteria:Transgenicabalone

Indicator:Allowanceforfarmingoftransgenic[11]abalone

Requirement:None

Applicability:All3.5.1

[7]Notifiablediseasespresentinthecountryoforigin,plusdiseasesthathavebeentheprimarycauseofabalonemortalityinthecountryoforigin,plusorganismsthatmaybetransferredwiththeabaloneandareregardedaspests.

InstructiontoClientsforIndicators3.3.2-WildtoFarmTranslocationofBroodstockandSeedSeegeneral"InstructionforCriteria3.3."above.Inadditiontothegeneralrequirementofquarantineforalltranslocations,translocatedwildabalonemustgothroughcohabitationwithfarmed"sentinel"abaloneduringquarantine.Farmsmustensurethatsentinelabaloneareclearlydistinguishablefromwildabalone(e.g.throughmarking)duringthecohabitation.

3.4.Criteria:Exotics

[9]Farmedstockaddedtothequarantinedwildstockgrowoutunitsassentinelsfordisease.MethodstobefollowedandresponsesrequiredaredetailedinSection7ofAppendix5.

[10]Ataminimum,includespermitsbasedonacredibleriskorenvironmentalassessmentprocedureandenvironmentalmanagementplan(e.g.,ICESCodeofPracticeontheIntroductionsandTransfersofMarineOrganisms)andcertificationtoICESrequirementsregardingparasitesandpathogens.


-

C.Ifthereissuspicionoftransgenicabalonebeingcultured,geneticvalidationisrequired.Auditorsshalltakesamplesfrom≥3individualsfromsuspectedstockandshiptheseforgeneticmappingbyanISO17025certifiedlaboratorytodeterminegenesequenceandunknownsequences.

Footnote


a.Maintaindocumentationofstockinspectionsandanyactionstakenregardingmortalityevents.

A.Verifythatthefarm’sdocumentation,practicesandfacilitiestodeterminecompliancewithahealthprotocolmeetingtherequirementslaidoutinAppendix5.

b.Maintaindocumentationofstafftrainingintheidentificationofvisiblesymptomsofdiseaseandappropriateactionstobetaken.

B.Verifythatthefarmmaintainsarecordofstafftrainingintheidentificationofdisease.Conductinterviewswithrelevantstafftoconfirmabilitiestoidentifyabalonediseasesfromvisiblesymptoms.

a.Prepareprocedureondisinfectionofallequipmentandclothingbroughttothefarmfromotherabalonefarmsorseafoodprocessors.

A.Verifythattheproceduresusedtodisinfectequipment/clothingfromotherabalonefarms/seafoodprocessorsareappropriate.

PRINCIPLE4.MANAGEDISEASEANDPESTSINANENVIRONMENTALLYRESPONSIBLEMANNER

Indicator:Allowanceforfarmingoftransgenic[11]abalone

Requirement:None

Applicability:All3.5.1

4.1.1.

4.1.Criteria:Diseaseandpestmanagementpractices

4.1.2.

[11]Introducedgenesfromotherspecies.

InstructiontoClientsforIndicator4.1.1-EvidenceofcompliancewithadocumentedprotocolforhealthsurveillanceanddiseaseresponseAppendix5outlinestheprotocolsrequiredforidentification,surveillanceandresponsetodiseasesandmortalityevents.Asdetailedinthe"InstructiontoClientsforCriteria3.3.",Clientsarerequiredtomaintaindocumentationofinspectionsandactionstakenfollowingmortalityevents.Farmsmustalsodemonstratethatstaffhavebeentrainedintheidentificationofvisiblesymptomsandsubsequentactionsrequired.

Stockinspection(fromAppendix5,Sections3&5):1.Everygrowoutunitisinspectedatleastonceevery10daystohelpensurethatanymortalityeventorabnormalbehaviouroftheabaloneisquicklyinvestigated.Thefrequencyofstockinspectiononanabalonefarmvarieswithfeedtype,growoutunitdesign,weatherandmanagementstrategies.2.Inthecaseofamortalityevent(asdefinedinAppendix5Section5),orifabnormalbehaviourisobserved,thenthedetailsmustberecorded(seelogdetailsbelow)andtheproceduresoutlinedinAppendix5Section5mustbefollowed.3.Alogshallbekeptwheredetailsofeachinspectionarerecoded.Informationincludes:-dateofinspection-growoutunitnumber-abnormalbehaviour-mortality(numberofmoribundabalone,causeofevent,actiontaken,andconclusion)4.Eachfarmwillcompileovertimerecordsofgrowoutabalonemortalityratesbyyearclassandseason.ThesewillbeusedasareferencepointinAppendix5Section7andwillhelpthefarmidentifytrendsthatcouldrelatetodiseases.

Indicator:Evidenceofcompliancewithadocumentedprotocolforhealthsurveillanceanddiseaseresponse(minimumrequirementsarefoundinAppendix5).

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

Indicator:Evidencethatallequipmentandclothingfromotherabalonefarmsorseafoodprocessorsaredisinfectedbeforebeingboughtontoafarm

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All


b.Maintainrecordofalldisinfectionsofequipmentandclothingbroughttothefarmfromotherabalonefarmsorseafoodprocessors.

B.Verifythatthefarmmaintainsrecordsofdisinfectionandconfirmthatproceduresareeffective.

4.1.3.

Indicator:Evidencethataccesstofarmedabalonebybirdsandotheranimalvectorsisminimized(E.g.,indoorgrowoutunits,fencing,nettinganddeterrents)

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

a.Farmsmustshowhowtheyminimizeaccessofbirdsandotheranimalvectorsofdisease(E.g.,indoorgrowoutunits,fencing,nettinganddeterrents).Maintainalistofallexclusionmeasuresimplementedonthefarm.

A.Duringtheonsiteaudit,Inspectthefarm'sexclusionmeasurestoverifyeffectiveimplementation.

a.Maintainrecordsforallpurchasesofantibiotics(invoices).A.Verifyfrompurchaserecordsthecalculatedtotalamountofantibioticsprocuredbyclient.Inspectstorageareatoverifyquantitiesonsite.

b.Maintainalogofallhealthrelatedevents.Foreachevent,recordthetypeoftreatmentandduration.

B.Verifyfromthelogthatthefarm'sapplicationofantibioticcorrespondstohealth-relatedevents.

c.Maintainaregisterallchemicalandantibioticstreatmentsintheprior12-monthperiod.C.Verifythatthefarmaccuratelyrecordsthetotalamountofantibioticsused.Confirmthattherecordsdonotsuggestprophylacticuse.

a.Maintainrecordsoftheoriginofallseaweedusedforabalonefeedwithnames,addresses,andcontactperson(s)ofeachpurchase.

A.Verifythatfarmmaintainsadequaterecordsforallpurchasesofseaweedusedforabalonefeed.

- B.Verifyfromrecordsthatfreshseaweedbroughtontothefarmislocallysourced.

PRINCIPLE5.USERESOURCESEFFICIENTLY5.1.Criteria:Useofwildseaweedandkelp

Indicator:Wherefarmsusefreshseaweed,itmustbelocallysourced.

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

4.1.2.

4.1.4.

4.1.5.

Indicator:Allowancefortheprophylacticuseofantibiotics

Requirement:None

Applicability:All

Indicator:Evidencethatallequipmentandclothingfromotherabalonefarmsorseafoodprocessorsaredisinfectedbeforebeingboughtontoafarm

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All



5.1.1.

Indicator:Wildseaweedusedforabalonefeedisobtainedfromaregulatedorrecognized,well-managedresource

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

a.Ifwildseaweedisusedforabalonefeed,obtainadeclarationfromthesupplierstatingthattheseaweedisfromaregulatedorrecognizedwell-managedresource.

A.Verifycompliance(ifapplicable).Cross-checksupplierdeclarationsagainstpurchaserecords(see4.1.5a)


a.Providerecordsofthetotalquantityofabaloneproduced(kgormtwetweight)duringthelast≥12monthspriortotheaudit.

A.VerifyfromdocumentedevidencethatthecalculatedFFERis<1accordingtothemethodologyinAppendix6.

b.Providerecordsofthequantityandtypeoffeedsusedduringthelast≥12monthspriortotheaudit.

-

c.Providerecordsfromfeedsuppliersstatingtheforagefishcontent(fishoilormeal,asapercentage)ineachtypeoffeedused.Iffarmproducestheirownfeedrecordsmustbekeptonforagefishcontent.

-

Footnote

a.Maintainreceiptsforallfeedpurchasesfromthelast≥12monthspriortoaudit. A.Verifythatallthefarm'sfeedsuppliers(in5.2.2a)havemadedeclarations(5.2.2b)

InstructiontoClientsforIndicator5.2.1.-CalculationofForageFishEquivalencyRatio(FFER)InordertocalculatetheForageFishEquivalencyratio(FFER),followthemethodinAppendix6.

1.CalculatetheEconomicFeedConversionRatio(eFCR):thequantityoffeedusedtoproducethequantityoffishharvested.eFCR=Feed,kgormt/Netaquacultureproductionexclusiveofmortalities,kgormt(wetweight)2.CalculatetheFFERforbothfishmeal(FFERm)andfishoil(FFERo)FFERm=(%fishmealinfeedfromforagefisheries)x(eFCR)/22.2FFERo=(%fishoilinfeedfromforagefisheries)x(eFCR)/5.03.TakethehighervaluebetweenFFERmandFFERoFFER=maximum(FFERm,FFERo)

Notes:-FishmealandfishoilthatareproducedfromtrimmingscanbeexcludedfromthecalculationaslongastheoriginofthetrimmingsdonotcomefromanyspeciesthatareclassifiedasCriticallyEndangeredorEndangeredintheIUCNRedList(TheInternationalUnionfortheConservationofNatureandNaturalResources,referencecanbefoundathttp://www.iucnredlist.org/static/introduction).-ThestandardforFFERwillbereducedto0.8effectiveOctober15,2013.

Indicator:ForageFishEquivalencyRatio(FFER)forabalonefedmanufacturedfeed

Requirement:<1[12]

Applicability:All

Criteria5.2:Manufacturedfeed

InstructiontoClientsforIndicator5.2.2-PercentageofCertifiedFishMealandFishOilinFeedInordertoensurethatthefishmealandfishoilcomponentsinfeedoriginalfromsustainablefisheries,certifiedfeedmanufacturersshouldprovideanauthoritativesignatureoftheISEALcompliantcertificationschemeontheirletterhead.Clientsshallmaintaintheseandanyotherdocumentationprovidedbythefeedmanufacturerinorderfortheauditortoassesscompliance.Note:RegardingthelanguageoftheStandardthatfarmsmustbecompliant"withinfiveyearsofcommercialavailabilityinthefarmingregion"-meansbeingcommerciallyavailableintheregion(UNregions)byatleasttwoindependentsuppliersandindicatedingreyliterature(dateofbecomingavailable).

Indicator:>95%offishmealandfishoilcomponentinfeedoriginatesfromfisheriesdeemedsustainablebyanISEALcompliantcertificationschemeforsustainableforagefisheries

Requirement:Yes,withinfiveyearsofcommercialavailabilityinthefarmingregion

Applicability:All

5.2.2.

[12]ThestandardforFFERwillbereducedto0.8withinthreeyearsofthepublicationdateofthestandards.

5.2.1.


b.ObtaindeclarationfromeachfeedsupplierstatingthatfishmealandfishoilcomponentsinfeedoriginatesfromfisheriesdeemedsustainablebyanISEALcompliantcertificationschemeforsustainableforagefisheries.

B.Verifyfromdocumentationthat>95%offishmealandoilusedinthemanufacturedfeediscertifiedbyanISEALcompliantcertificationschemewithin5yearsofcommercialavailability.


a.Prepareapolicystatingthefarm'scommitmenttoproperandresponsibletreatmentofnon-biologicalwastefromproduction.Itmustexplainhowthefarm'spolicyisconsistentwithbestpracticeintheareaofoperation.

A.Verificationthatawastetreatmentpolicyexistsandthatbestpractiseexamplesintheareaareusedinthispolicy.

b.Provideadescriptionofthemostcommonproductionwastematerialsandhowthefarmensuresthesewastematerialsareproperlydisposedof.Indicatewhichwastematerialsarerecycled.

B.Duringtheon-siteinspectionlookforevidenceofproperwastedisposalandrecyclingofwastematerials


a.Maintainrecords(e.g.receipts)offuelandelectricityusedbythefarm.Aminimumof12monthsofcontinuousrecordsarerequiredbeforethefirstaudit.

A.Verifythefarmmaintainsrecords.

b.Computetheannualenergyconsumptionforthelast12months.Energyusageisitemizedandsummedinkilojoules.Conversionsofenergycomponentstokilojoulesofenergycanbefoundat:http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=about_energy_conversion_calculator.

B.Verifytheaccuracyofthecalculatedannualenergyconsumption.

c.Usingresultsfrom5.4.1.bandthetotalweight(metrictons)ofabaloneproducedoverthelast12months(calculatedin5.2.1.a.),determinethefarm'senergyconsumptionrelativetoproduction.

C.Verifytheaccuracyofthecalculatedenergyconsumptionrelativetoproduction.

d.DocumentanyeffortsmadebythefarmtoimproveenergyefficiencyD.Confirmtheeffectivenessofthefarm'seffortstoimproveenergyefficiency(asapplicable).

5.4.2.

Indicator:Evidenceofenergyauditorin-houseassessmentifindependentauditorsarenotnationallyavailable

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

a.Conductanenergyauditwithinthe12monthspriortofirstaudit.Anin-houseauditisacceptableifnoindependentauditorsareavailablenationally.

A.Verifydocumentationoftheenergyaudit.

a.Maintaincontinuousrecords(e.g.receipts)offreshwateruseonthefarm.Aminimumof12monthsofcontinuousrecordsarerequiredbeforethefirstaudit.

A.Verifythefarmkeepscontinuousrecordsofwaterconsumption.

b.Calculatethetotalquantityoffreshwaterusedonthefarmonanannualbasis. B.Verifytheaccuracyofthecalculationoftotalannualquantityoffreshwaterused.

c.Documentanyattemptsmadetoreducethefarm'swaterconsumption.C.Confirmtheeffectivenessofthefarm'seffortstoreducewaterconsumption(asapplicable).

Indicator:Recordsoftotalquantitiesoffreshwaterusedonfarm

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

5.4.3.

5.3.Criteria:Solidwastedisposal

Indicator:Evidenceproperdisposalofwasteandpresenceofrecyclingprograms

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

5.4.1.

Indicator:Evidenceofenergyusemonitoringrelativetoproductionandon-goingefforttoimproveefficiency

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

5.3.1.

Indicator:>95%offishmealandfishoilcomponentinfeedoriginatesfromfisheriesdeemedsustainablebyanISEALcompliantcertificationschemeforsustainableforagefisheries

Requirement:Yes,withinfiveyearsofcommercialavailabilityinthefarmingregion

Applicability:All

5.4.Criteria:Energyefficiency

5.2.2.


**********SocialrequirementsofthisStandardshallbeauditedbyanindividualwhoisaleadauditorinconformitywithSAASProcedure200section3.1.

(SeeASCFarmCertificationandAccreditationRequirements)**********

PRINCIPLE6.BEAGOODNEIGHBORANDCONSCIENTIOUSCOASTALCITIZEN


a.Maintainfreeaccesstopublicresources.Providemapshowingfarmoperationsandpropertyinrelationtopublicareasandresources

A.Verifythroughsiteinspectionthataccesstopublicresourcesismaintained

b.Minimizetheuseoflightsandbrightcoloredbuoysincomparisontothoserequiredfornavigationalsafety

B.Verifythatlightsandbrightcoloredbuoysareminimizedincomparisontothoserequiredfornavigationalsafety

a.Provideacopyoflocalnavigationalrulesandregulations.Documentthatstaffhavebeenappropriatelyinformedandtrainedincompliancewithlocalnavigationalrulesandregulations.

A.Verifythroughsiteinspectionthatfarmcomplieswithlocalnavigationrulesandregulations.Workersmustprovecompetenceintheserulesandregulations.

b.Postacopyoflocalnavigationalrulesandregulationsonfarmsite. B.Verifythatnavigationalrulesarepostedonfarmsite

a.Maintainapubliclyavailabledocumentthatoutlinesthefarm'sexternalcomplaintresponseprotocol,includingarecordofallpastcomplaintsandappropriateresponsestaken.

A.Verifythedocumentedconflictresolutionpolicy

-B.Verifythatrecordsofcomplaints,relatedactionsandresolutionmaintainedarepubliclyavailable

6.1.2.

ComplianceCriteria(RequiredClientActions):

6.1.3.

Indicator:Documentedcomplaintsresponseprotocolthatincludes,ataminimum,aregistryofcomplaintsandappropriateresponses

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

6.1.1.

Indicator: Rightsofaccesstopublicresourcesaremaintained

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

6.1.Criteria:Communityrelationsandinteraction

Indicator:Evidenceofcompliancewithallapplicablenavigationalrulesandregulations

Requirement:Yes

Applicability: Sea-basedFarms


-C.Verifyfromtherecordthatpastcomplaints,whenbroughttofarmattention,weredealtwithswiftly.

Footnote

Footnote

Footnote

7.1.Criteria:Childlabour

e.Equaltreatmentforchildrenofmigrantworkers.

a.Minimumageofpermanentworkersis15orhigher(pernationallegalminimumage).

b.Systemexiststomonitorhoursandconditionsofyoungworkersandlightworkbychildren.

PRINCIPLE7.DEVELOPANDOPERATEFARMSINASOCIALLYANDCULTURALLYRESPONSIBLEMANNER

6.1.3.

Indicator:Documentedcomplaintsresponseprotocolthatincludes,ataminimum,aregistryofcomplaintsandappropriateresponses

Requirement:Yes

Applicability:All

[13]A“child”isdefinedasanypersonlessthan15yearsofage.Ahigheragewouldapplyiftheminimumagelawstipulatesahigherageforworkormandatoryschooling.If,however,thelocalminimumagelawissetat14,inaccordancewithdevelopingcountryexceptionsunderInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO)Convention138,theloweragewillapply.

[14]“Childlabour”isdefinedasanyworkbyachildyoungerthantheagespecifiedinthedefinitionofachild,exceptforlightworkasprovidedforbyILOConvention138,Article7.

[15]A“youngworker”isdefinedasanyworkerbetweentheageofchild,asdefinedabove,andundertheageof18.

c.Youngworkersfrom15to18yearsofage[asdefinedinfootnote15]:havenoconflictsbetweenworkandschooling;donotspendmorethan10hours/dayontransportationtime,schoolandwork;anddonotperformhazardouswork[asdefinedinfootnote16].

Indicator:Incidencesofchild[13]labour[14]

Requirement: 0

Applicability:All

7.1.1.

d.Childrenunder15performonlylightwork.Lightwork&schoolnottoexceed7hours/day.

**********SocialrequirementsofthisStandardshallbeauditedbyanindividualwhoisaleadauditorinconformitywithSAASProcedure200section3.1.

(SeeASCFarmCertificationandAccreditationRequirements)**********



Footnote

Footnote

Footnote


b.Employeesfreetoleaveworkplaceandmanagetheirowntime.

c.Employerdoesnotwithholdemployee’soriginalidentitypapers.

7.2.Criteria:Forced,bonded,compulsorylabour

[16]“Hazardouswork”isdefinedasworkthat,byitsnatureorcircumstancesinwhichitiscarriedout,islikelytoharmthehealthorsafetyofworkers.

a.Contractsclearlystatedandunderstoodbyemployees,no‘paytowork’schemesthroughlabourcontractorsortrainingcreditprograms.

d.Employershallnotwithholdanypartofworkers’salaries,benefits,propertyordocumentsinordertoobligethemtocontinueworkingforemployer.

7.2.1.

[17]“Forcedlabour”isallworkorservicethatisextractedfromanypersonunderthemenaceofanypenaltyforwhichsaidpersonhasnotofferedhimselforherselfvoluntarilyorforwhichsuchworkorserviceisdemandedasarepaymentofdebt.“Penalty”canimplymonetarysanctionsandphysicalpunishment,suchaslossofrightsandprivilegesorrestrictionofmovement(orwithholdingofidentitydocuments).

[18]“Bondedlabour”iswhenapersonisforcedbytheemployerorcreditortoworktorepayafinancialdebttothecreditingagency.

ComplianceCriteria(RequiredClientActions):7.3.Criteria:Discrimination

Indicator:Incidencesofdiscrimination[19]

Requirement: 0

Applicability: All

7.3.1.

e.Employeesnotobligatedtostayinjobtorepaydebt.

Indicator:Incidencesofforced[17],bonded[18],orcompulsorylabour

Requirement:0

Applicability: All

b.Workertestimonysupportsthatthecompanydoesnotinterferewiththerightsofpersonneltoobservetenetsorpractices,ortomeetneedsrelatedtorace,caste,nationalorigin,religion,disability,gender,sexualorientation,unionmembership,politicalaffiliationoranyotherconditionthatmaygiverisetodiscrimination.Recordsindicateobjectivemechanismsforemployeereviewsandtheofferingofpromotionandtrainingopportunities

a.Writtenanti-discriminationpoliciesinplace,statingthatthecompanydoesnotengage/supportindiscriminationinhiring,remuneration,accesstotraining,promotion,terminationorretirementbasedonrace,caste,nationalorigin,religion,disability,gender,sexualorientation,unionmembership,politicalaffiliation,ageoranyotherconditionthatmaygiverisetodiscrimination


Footnote

7.4.1.

a.Documentationisgeneratedwithregardstooccupationalhealthandsafetyviolations.

c.Healthandsafetytrainingforallemployeesisavailable,includingtrainingonpotentialhazardsandriskminimization.

7.4.Criteria:Healthandsafety

d.Potentiallydangerouschemicalsarestoredproperlyandasprescribed.

Indicator:Allhealthandsafetyrelatedaccidentsandviolationsarerecordedandcorrectiveactionistakenwhennecessary

Requirement: Yes

Applicability: All

a.Minimizationofhazards/risksintheworkingenvironment,includingdocumentedsystemicproceduresandpoliciestopreventworkplacehazardsandtheirrisks,shallexistandtheinformationshallbeavailabletoemployees.

7.4.2.

Indicator:Occupationalhealthandsafetytrainingisavailableforallemployees

Requirement: Yes

Applicability: All

[19]“Discrimination”isanydistinction,exclusionorpreference,whichhastheeffectofnullifyingorimpairingequalityofopportunityortreatment.Notalldistinction,exclusionorpreferenceconstitutesdiscrimination.Forinstance,ameritorperformance-basedpayincreaseorbonusisnotbyitselfdiscriminatory.Positivediscriminationinfavourofpeoplefromcertainunderrepresentedgroupsmaybelegalinsomecountries.


b.Emergencyresponseproceduresshallexistandbeknownbyemployees.

b.Correctiveactionplansareimplementedinresponsetoaccidentsthathaveoccurred.Thisshouldinclude:analysisoftherootcauses,addresstherootcauses,remediateandpreventfutureaccidentsofsimilarnature.


7.4.3.

Indicator:Employerresponsibilityandproofofinsurance(accidentorinjury)foremployeemedicalcostsinajob-relatedaccidentorinjury,unlessotherwisecovered

Requirement: Yes

Applicability: All

7.7.1.

7.5Criteria:Fairanddecentwages

a.Documentationmaintainedbymanagementconfirmsthatallpersonnelareprovidedsufficientinsurancetocovercostsrelatedtooccupationalaccidentsorinjuries.Equalinsurancecoveragemustincludetemporary,migrantorforeignworkers.

b.Finesorwagedeductionsshallnotbeacceptableasamethodfordiscipliningworkers(indicatedbypolicystatements,aswellasevidencefromworkertestimony).


7.6.1.

Indicator:Paymentoffairanddecentwages

Requirement: Yes

Applicability: All

b.Employersensurewagespaidforastandardworkingweek(nomorethan48hours)alwaysmeet,atleast,legal/industryminimumstandards.

c.Labourconflictresolutionpolicyinplacetotrackconflictsandcomplaintsraised,andresponsestoconflictsandcomplaints.

Indicator:Incidencesofabusivedisciplinarypracticesoccurringonthefarm

Requirement: 0

Applicability: All

d.Ratiooflowestwageratetobasicneedswagealwaysexceeds100%.

a.Workershavethefreedomtoformandjoinanytradeunion,freeofanyformofinterferencefromemployersorcompetingorganizationssetuporbackedbytheemployer.TheILOspecificallyprohibits"actswhicharedesignedtopromotetheestablishmentofworkerorganizationsortosupportworkerorganizationsunderthecontrolofemployersoremployers'organizations".

Indicator:Employeeshaveaccesstofreedomofassociationandcollectivebargaining

Requirement: Yes

Applicability: All

7.6.Criteria:Freedomofassociationandcollectivebargaining

d.Explicitcommunicationsfromtheemployerabouttheircommitmenttofreedomofassociationandcollectivebargainingrightsofall.

7.5.1.

c.Tradeunionrepresentativeshaveaccesstotheirmembersintheworkplaceatreasonabletimesonthepremises.

a.Employers/Managersunderstandandhavepoliciestoensuretheprincipleofequalpayforequalwork.

7.7.Criteria:Non-abusivedisciplinarypractices


b.Localtradeunion,orwherenoneexistsareputablecivil-societyorganization,confirmsnooutstandingcasesagainsttheemployerforviolationsofemployees’freedomofassociationandcollectivebargainingrights.

a.Thereisneveranyuseoforsupportfor(e.g.subcontractorsusing)corporalpunishment,mentalorphysicalcoercion,orverbalabuse.


e.Iftradeunionsexist,theyareabletoaccess/informallworkersdirectly(posters,pamphlets,visits).


c.Labour-onlycontractingorfalseapprenticeshipschemesarenotaccepted,including:revolving/consecutivelabourcontractsusedtodenybenefitaccrual.

7.7.1.

7.8.1. d.Clear,transparentmechanismforwagesettingknowntoemployees.

b.Wageandbenefitsareclearlyarticulatedtoemployeesandrenderedtoemployeesinaconvenientmanner;e.g.noneedtotraveltocollectbenefits,nopromissorynotes,couponsormerchandise;paymentincashorcheck.

7.8.Criteria:Workinghours

Indicator:Incidencesofabusivedisciplinarypracticesoccurringonthefarm

Requirement: 0

Applicability: All

f.Allovertimeshallbepaidatapremiumandshouldnotexceed12hoursperweek.


e.Employershallcomplywithapplicablelawsandindustrystandardsrelatedtoworkinghours.“Normalworkweek”canbedefinedbylawbutshallnotonaregularbasis(constantlyormajorityofthetime)exceed48hours.Onlyifallowedbylaw,variations(tothe48-hourregularworkweek)basedonseasonalitymayapply.

c.Proceduresexistforsituationsinwhichdisciplinaryactionisrequired,andtheyestablishtheuseofprogressiveverbalandwrittenwarnings.Aimshouldalwaysbetoimprovetheworkerbeforelettinghim/hergo.(Indicatedbypolicystatementsaswellasevidencefromworkertestimony).

Indicator:Incidences,violationsorabuseofworkinghoursandovertimelawsorexpectations

Requirement:None

Applicability: All

a.Nodeductionsinpayfordisciplinaryactions.


g.Overtimeworkshallalwaysbevoluntary.

7.8.1.

1.0Rationale

References

Airoldi,L.2004.Forecastingtheeffectsofenhancedsedimentloadstocoastalareas:apleaforlong-termmonitoringandexperiments.AquaticConservation:14(S1):S115-S117.-Airoldi,L.,2003.Theeffectsofsedimentationonrockycoastassemblages.Oceanogr.Mar.Biol.Annu.Rev.41:161-236.-Britz,P.J.andGodfrey,B.(2008).Specialistreportontheimpactoftheexpansionofthewildcoastabalonefarmonthemarineenvironment.EnvirofishAfrica.208p.-CCME(CanadianCouncilofMinistersoftheEnvironment).(2002).CanadianWaterQualityGuidelinesfortheProtectionofAquaticLife:TotalParticulateMatter1999.Updated2002.-DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries.(2007).VictorianAbaloneAquacultureTranslocationProtocol.FisheriesVictoriaManagementReportSeriesNo.45.DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries.Melbourne.-DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries.(2008).AbaloneAquacultureBiosecurityProtocolAuditGuidelines.FisheriesVictoriaManagementReportSeriesNo.52.DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries.Melbourne.-Diaz,R.J.andRosenberg,R.1995.Marinebenthichypoxia:Areviewofitsecologicaleffectsandthebehavioralresponsesofbenthicmacrofauna.Oceanogr.Mar.Biol.Annu.Rev.33:245-303.-DWAF(DepartmentofWaterAffairsandForestry).(1995).SouthAfricanWaterQualityGuidelinesforCoastalMarineWaters.Volume1:NaturalEnvironment.DWAF,Pretoria.-Hargrave,B.T.,Doucette,L.I.,Cranford,P.J.,Law,B.A.andMilligan,T.G..2008a.Influenceofmusselaquacultureonsedimentorganicenrichmentinanutrient-richcoastalembayment.MarEcol.Prog.Ser.363:137-149.-Hargrave,B.T.,Holmer,M.andNewcombe,C.P.2008b.Towardsaclassificationoforganicenrichmentinmarinesedimentsbasedonbiogeochemicalindicators.Mar.Poll.Bull.56:810-824.-Hawkins,C.D.andJones,J.B..2002.Larvalescapethroughabalonecultureeffluentsystems:ananalysisoftherisk.JournalofShellfishResearch.21:805-809.-Hodgson,G.1990.SedimentandthesettlementoflarvaeofthereefcoralPocilloporadamicornis.CoralReefs.9:41-43.-Holmer,M.,Lassus,P.,Stewart,J.E.andWildish,D.J.2001.ICESsymposiumonenvironmentaleffectsofmariculture.Introduction.ICESJournalofMarineScience.58:363–368.-ICES.(2005).ICESCodeofPracticeontheIntroductionsandTransfersofMarineOrganisms,InternationalCouncilfortheExplorationoftheSeas,Copenhagen,Denmark.30p.-OIE.(2009).AquaticAnimalHealthCode2009.http://www.oie.int/Eng/normes/fcode/en_sommaire.htm-Onitsuka,T.,Kawamura,T.,Ohashi,S.,Iwanaga,S.,Horii,T.andWatanabe,Y.2008.EffectsofsedimentsonlarvalsettlementofabaloneHaliotisdiversicolor.JEMBE.365:53-58.-Pearson,T.H.andRosenberg,R.,1978.Macrobenthicsuccessioninrelationtoorganicenrichmentandpollutionofthemarineenvironment.Oceanogr.Mar.Biol.Ann.Rev.16:229-311.-Schroeter,S.C.,Dixon,J.D.,Kastendiek,J.K.,Smith,R.O.andBence,J.R.1993.Detectingecologicaleffectsofenvironmentalimpacts:acasestudyofkelpforestinvertebrates.EcologicalApplications.3:331-350.-SWRCB(StateWaterResourcesControlBoard).(2009).CaliforniaOceanPlan.WaterQualityControlPlan,OceanWatersofCalifornia.SWRCB,CaliforniaEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Sacramento.-Stewart-Oaten,A.,Murdoch,W.M.andParker,K.R.1986.Environmentalimpactassessment:‘‘pseudoreplication’’intime?Ecology.67:929-940.-Walker,J.W.2007.EffectsoffinesedimentsonsettlementandsurvivaloftheseaurchinEvechinuschloroticusinnorth-easternNewZealand.Mar.Ecol.Prog.Ser.331:109-118.

APPENDIXI:Experimentaldesignforassessmentofbenthicimpactsofabaloneculture

Indicator:Incidences,violationsorabuseofworkinghoursandovertimelawsorexpectations

Requirement:None

Applicability: All


Fig.1Tieredassessmentapproachforassessingeffectsofabalonecultureonbenthichabitatconditions

2.0TieredAssessment

Before-After-Control-Impact(BACI)andGradientAnalysis(GA)modelsmaybeusedfordetectingenvironmentalchangeordisturbanceinbenthicvariablesaffectedbyabaloneculture.TherecommendedexperimentaldesignsareconsistentwiththetieredassessmentapproachdescribedinSection2.1.1fornon-depositionalareasofhardsubstratesusingbottomvideo/imagingmethodsormeasurementsoftotal'free'sulphide(S)orotherindicatorsoforganicenrichmentindepositionalareaswherebottomsamplescanbecollected.Changesinbenthichabitatcharacteristicsareassessedbycomparingobservationsataseriesofstationsoutsideofafarmedareaeitheralongtransectsorrandomlyplacedasgroupsofsamplingsitestoassesstemporalandspatialdifferencesinmeasuredvariables.Thedesignselecteddeterminesstationlocations,numbersandsamplingfrequency.Thebefore-after(BA)testcomparesobservationswithinafarmedareabeforeandafterthefarmisestablished.Alternatively,non-farm(control)andfarm(impact)areascanbecompared(CIdesign)todetermineifabaloneculturehaschangedtemporalvariationsinselectedvariables.IfbothBAandCIdatafrommultiplesitesareavailable,theBACImodeldetectsenvironmentalchangeassociatedwithdisturbance.RegressionanalysisisusedtotestforspatialtrendsinaGAmodelwherechangesinvariablesoccurwithincreasingdistancefromafarm.

Bottom video or grabs/cores obtained within proposed/existing

farm boundaries

Tier 1a hard rock, cobble, gravel bottom

(no sampling possible)

bottom video transects monitor every 5 years

Tier 1b coarse sand bottom (grab/core samples)

S<1500 uM toxic

acceptable monitor every 5 years

Tier 2a sand-silt bottom

(grab/core samples)

S≥1500 ≤3000 uM hypoxic

acceptable monitor annually

Tier 2b silt-sand bottom

(grab/core samples)

S ≥3000 uM hypoxic/anoxic unacceptable

management response required


Oftendatafromthebeforeperiodisnotavailable.Ifthisisthecaseacontrol-impact(CI)modelcanbeusedtocomparesiteswithinandoutsideoffarmboundariesinlocationsassumedtobeunaffectedbydisturbance.Adecisionmustbemadetoselectsamplinglocationswithinimpactedandcontrolareasonarandomorstratifiedbasis.Ifarandomizeddesignisusedcontrolsitesmustbeasufficientdistancefromtheimpactedareatorepresentnatural'background'variability(i.e.beunaffectedbytheeventswithinthefarm).Theappropriatedistancemaybedeterminedbysamplingalongtransectswithdistanceanddirectionsdeterminedbythevelocityanddirectionofmajorcurrents(discussedbelow).Theappropriateupstreamordownstreamlocationsforcontrolsitesrelativetoanabalonecultureareawillvarywithspecifichydrographicconditions.Insomestudiesbenthiceffectswereonlymeasureabledirectlyunderculturearrays(Grantetal.1995,Crawfordetal.2003).However,modellingstudiesofthedistributionofbiodepositsfrommusselaquaculturehaveshownthatdependingoncurrentspeedandwaterdepthenhancedsettlingofparticulatematterfromculturescouldoccuruptodistancesof30to90mfromafarm(Weiseetal.2009).TheCIapproachwasusedinanembayment-widestudyinashallowinletwithintensivemusselculturetoshoweffectsoforganicenrichmentinfarmvs.non-farmareas(Hargraveetal.2008).

3.3.GradientObservations

3.2.Control-ImpactObservations

3.0SamplingDesigns

Atieredassessmentapproachisrecommendedforassessingeffectsofabalonecultureonbenthichabitatconditions(Fig.1).Collectionofbottomvideoorotherimagesalongtransectsonceevery5years(Tier1aassessment)isrecommendedformonitoringhighenergy,lowriskareaswherehardbottompreventssamplecollection.Samplinginlowerenergyareaswithdepositionalconditionsrepresentedbysandormudbottomtypesmaybecarriedoutonceevery5years,annuallyormorefrequentlydependingonthelevelofriskdeterminedbymeanormedianSconcentrations(Tier1band2aand2bassessments).

3.1Before-AfterObservationswithandwithoutaControl

Green(1979)describedasimpleapproachfordetectingenvironmentalchangesassociatedwithhumanactivitybymakingobservationsatonelocationbeforeandaftertheactivityhasoccurred.Underwood(1991,1992),Smithetal.(1993)andUnderwood(1994)presentedamorecompleteexperimentalsamplingdesignwithobservationsatmultiplesitesinimpactedandcontrolareas(BACI)todetermineifchangesinmeasuredvariablesareduetoenvironmentaldisturbanceandtoaccountfornaturalvariations.

AfullapplicationoftheBACImethodrequirescollectionofreplicatesamplesintimeandspaceoverdifferenttemporalscalesatmultiplesamplingsitestodetermineifan'event'haschangedoneormoremeasuredvariables.Observationsarecomparedbeforeandafterthestartoftheactivitypotentiallycausingthedisturbance.Multiplesitesselectedatrandomwithinimpactedandcontrolareascanbesampledwithobservationsatthesamelocationsbeforeandaftertheactivityhasbegun.Ideallysamplingshouldoccuratrandomtimesbutseasonaleffectscanbeminimizedifsamplingoccursatafixedtimeduringtheyear.

Theapproachhasbeenusedfollowingtheestablishmentofmusselculturetoassesstemporalvariationsinbenthicmacrofaunacommunities(Lasiaketal.2006)andgeochemicalindicatorsforsedimentorganicenrichment(Cranfordetal.2009).


Fig.2ExampleofgradientsamplingapproachforTier1aassessmentofbenthiceffectsofabaloneaquaculture(Fig.1).Thevideotransect(solidline)orphotographictransect(soliddots)isalignedalongtheaxisofthemajorcurrent(arrows)andrunsthroughthefarmboundaries(dottedlines).

Tier1aassessmentsofnon-depositionalorhardbottomsusingbottomimagingshouldbeconductedusingtheGAapproachwithtransectsextendingfrominsidetooutsideofaproposedorexistingfarmarea.Theorientationoftransectsshouldasfaraspossiblefollowdepthcontourstominimizedepthandsedimenttypevariations.BottomimagingwithGPSnavigationwouldbeobtainedcontinuously(video)oratrandomorregularintervals(stillimages)alongtheentirelengthofatransectrunningthroughandoutsidefarmboundariesinbothdirections.Imageanalysiscanthenbeappliedtoexaminegradientsinbenthicconditionsalongthetransect.

TheBACIdesignsallowarea-by-area(e.g.farmvs.non-farm)comparisonstodetectenvironmentalchangesagainstabackgroundofnaturalvariabilitywhentherearedefinedboundariesfortheimpactedarea.GAusingsamplingalongtransectsprovidesanalternativedesignforassessingeffectsofbivalveaquaculturewhereboundariesbetweenimpactedandcontrolareasmaybepoorlydefinedorvariablebetweensites.SamplingalongtransectsmaybemoresensitivefordetectingspatialdifferencesthanaCIdesignifthedisturbanceisdirectional(EllisandSchneider1997).Samplingstationsalongtransectsshouldbelocatedalongtheaxisofthemajorcurrentwitheitheruniformspacingoratvariabledistancestoreflectexpecteddiminishedeffectswithincreasingdistancefromculturearrays.Crawfordetal.(2003)providedanexampleofobservationsalongtransectstoevaluatebenthiceffectsofshellfishfarms.

Sincethepowerofstatisticaltestsincreaseswithsamplesize(SokalandRohlf1995)numbersofobservationsshouldbeaslargeaspracticallypossiblewithequalnumbersofobservationsatalllocationsbeingcompared.Asacompromisebetweenmonitoringcostsandstatisticalpowertodetectdifferencesbetweensites,triplicatesamplesattensitesalongtransectsorwithinfarmandnon-farmlocationsarerecommended.Replication(3samplesx5sites,n=15)foreachgroupofstationstobecomparedisrequiredtoaccountforvariationsinbenthicconditionscommoninshallowcoastalareaswhereabaloneaquacultureoccurs.

BottomsamplesforthepreliminarysiteassessmentandsubsequentTier1b,2aand2bmonitoringprogramsmaybecollectedusingtheGAapproachsamplingineitherupstreamordownstreamdirectionsbycollectingsamplesatknowndistancesfromthefarmboundary(Fig3).Stationspacingcanbeuniformorincreasewithdistancefromtheedgeofafarmwithtriplicatesurface(0-2cm)sedimentsamplescollectedateachofthefivesitesalongatransect.

4.0StationLocationsandNumbers



Fig.3FourexamplesofgradientsamplingapproachforTier1b,2aand2bassessmentofbenthiceffectsofbivalveaquaculture(Fig.1).Thebottomsamplingsites(soliddots)arealignedalongtheaxisofthemajorcurrent(arrows)andrunthroughthefarmboundaries(dottedlines).Samplesfortotal'free'sulphidemeasurementswouldbecollectedintriplicatefromfivestationsalongasingletransecteitherupstreamordownstreamfromthefarm.Stationspacingcouldbeuniformorincreasewithdistancefromthefarmedge.Transectsinsideandoutsidetheboundariesofthecultureareashouldhavegenerallysimilardepthsandsedimenttypes.


5.0StatisticalAnalyses

BottomsamplesforthepreliminarysiteassessmentandsubsequentTier1b,2aand2bmonitoringprogramsmayalsobecollectedusingarandomcontrol-impactsamplingapproach(CIandBACI)bycollectingsamplesineitherupstreamordownstreamdirectionsatknowndistancesfromthefarmboundary.Triplicatesurface(0-2cm)sedimentsamplescanbecollectedfromfiverandomlylocatedstationswithinfarmandnon-farmareas(Fig.4).Controlsitesarelocatedinanareaassumednottobeinfluencedbytheculturedstock(e.g.asufficientdistancefromfarmboundariestobeunaffectedbyincreasedsedimentationofbio-deposits).Depthsandbottomsubstratesinthefarmandnon-farmareasshouldbesimilartoavoidconfoundingeffectsofdepthandsedimenttypeonSconcentrations.

Fig.4ExampleofrandomsamplestationlocationsforTier1b,2aand2Bassessmentsofbenthiceffectsofabaloneaquaculture.Total'free'sulphidemeasurementswouldbemadeontriplicatesamplesofsurface(0-2cm)sedimentcollectedatfivestationswithgenerallysimilardepthsandsedimenttypeslocatedrandomlywithin(soliddots)andoutside(opencircles)ofthefarmboundary.


1.Atsites<20mdepthdiverscanbeusedtopushopenendedacryliccoretubesintothesedimenttomaintainthesediment-waterinterfaceasundisturbedaspossible.Agentletwistingmotionpreventssedimentcompactionandkeepsthesedimentsurfaceinsidelevelwiththatoutsidethecoreduringinsertion.2.Upperandlowerendsofacoreareclosedwithrubberstoppersorplasticcapstopreventwaterleakage.3.Atdeeperdepthsgrabs(e.g.VanVeen,0.25m2)canbetaken.Ifsedimentdoesnotcompletelyfillthegrabareasonablyundisturbedsampleoftheuppersedimentlayerscanbeobtained.4.Holesofsufficientdiametertoallowinsertionofacut-offsyringearedrilledat2cmdistancesinaspiralfashiondownthelengthofacoretubeandcoveredwithducttapetoallowsedimentsubsamplestobewithdrawnfromdifferentdepths.5.Afterretrievalofacore,keptuprightandhandledgentlytominimizedisturbanceofthesedimentsurface,asharpbladeisusedtocutintotheducttape(X)overeachholestartingatthetop.6.Samplinginasequentialdown-corefashionpreventsdisturbanceofdeeperlayerswhenmoreshallowdepthsaresampledfirst.7.A5-mlcut-offplasticsyringeisusedasasubcorerfilledbyslowlywithdrawingthefullyinsertedplungerasthebodyofthesyringeispushedhorizontallyintothecore.8.Amixedsamplefromsurfacesedimentinagrabcanbeobtainedinthesamewaybyinsertingthesyringeobliquelyto2cmdepth.Theplungerispartiallywithdrawnastheopen-endofthesyringebarrelisslowlypushedintothesediment.Theprocedureisrepeateduntilthebarrelisfullywithdrawnandthesyringefilledwithmixedsedimentfromthe0-2cmlayerwithnoairbubbles.9.Syringesmustbeclosedwithtightfitting(air-tight)plasticcapsandstoredoniceorrefrigerated(5ºC).10.Analysesforredoxpotentials(EhNHE)anddissolved('free')sulphides(HS-,H2S,S=)(S)shouldbecarriedoutwithin4to6hrbutsamplesmaybestoredforupto72hrifrefrigeratedorheldonicewithoutbeingfrozen.

2.0Redox(EhNHE)potentials

2.1Materials

1.Anionspecificelectrode(ISE)meter(e.g.Orion4-StarpH/ISE,model#1215001)oranymVmeterwithaconnectorsuitableforattachmentoftheredoxelectrode.2.Anoxidationreductionpotential(ORP)Ptelectrodecombinedwithaninternalreferenceelectrode(e.g.Orion96-78BNWP)withacableandappropriateconnectorforattachmenttotheISEmeter.TheelectrodeshouldhaveathinPtdisc(ratherthanapin),berefillable(notgel-filled)withanepoxybody(toavoidbreakage).3.A4MKClfillingsolution(e.g.Orionsolution#900011,KClsaturatedwithAg/AgCl)isrecommendedforredoxelectrodesusedinmarinesediments.4.RedoxreferencesolutionsmaybepurchasedfromsomeISEelectrodemanufacturersorstandardssuchasZobellssolutionscanbepreparedfromreagents(seebelow).Calibrationshouldbeconductedatintervalsrecommendedbythemanufacturer.5.CleaningstripscanbeusedforpolishingPtelectrodes(availableforOrionISEelectrodes)orafinepowdereddetergentcanbeusedasanabrasive.

2.2ZobellEhstandardsolutions

APPENDIX2:MethodsforRedox(EhNHE)and'free'SulphideMeasurementsinMarineSediments

GradientSamplingApproach:Datafromsamplesatfiveormorelocationsalongeachtransectcanbecomparedusinglinearandnon-linearregressionmethodstotestforsignificantgradientswithdistanceandgoodness-of-fit.Commonstatisticalpackagesallowpvaluestobecalculatedwithassumptionsthatindependentresidualshaveequalvariance.Bartlett'stestcanbeusedtotestforequalvarianceacrossgroupsofsamples.

RandomSamplingApproach:Aone-sampleone-tailedt-testcanbeusedtodetermineifthemeanSconcentrationwithinagroupofstationswherebottomsamplescanbecollectedexceedsthresholdSconcentrations(1500and3000µM)todetermineifaTier1b,2aor2bassessmentisrequired.Theprecisionofthetestdependsonthenumberofobservations,assumesrandomsamplingwithindependentobservationsandanormaldistribution.Thismaynotbethecasewhensamplesizeissmall(n=15).Thenullhypothesis(meanSconcentrationattheculturesiteisequaltomeanvaluesatcontrolsites)isrejectedwhenp<0.05.AWilcoxonsigned-ranktestcanbeusedtocomparemedianvaluesbetweensamplesinthesamelocationarecomparedbeforeandaftercultureactivitieshavebegun.Thenon-parametrictestisrecommendedduetothesmallnumbersofsamplesbeingcompared.Thenullhypothesisisthatthedistributionfunctionsofmedianvaluesoftworelatedsamplegroupsarethesame(before-afterobservationshaveamediandifferenceofzero).

Whensamplesizeissmall(n<20)aMann-WhitneyUtestcanbeusedtodetermineifmedianvaluesbetweentwogroupsofsamplesaresignificantlydifferent.Thetestdeterminesifsamplesfromtwoindependentgroupshaveidenticaldistributionfunctionsandmedianvalues.Thereisnorequirementforanormaldistribution.TimecanbeusedasthegroupingvariableinaBAcomparisontotestthenullhypothesisthatthetemporalchangeinmedianSconcentrationsintwogroupsofstationsisthesame.ThetestcanalsobeappliedinaCIdesigntocomparemedianvaluesofSwithinfarmandnon-farmareasusingsiteasthegroupingvariable.Thenullhypothesisisthatobservationsdonotdiffersignificantlybetweenthetwoareas.IfBAandCIcomparisonsareavailablewithmultiplesamplingtimesandlocationsincontrolandfarmsitesbeforeandaftercultureoperationsbegin,aBACIcanbeperformedusinganANOVAmodelwithsite,timeandsitextimeinteraction.AnANOVA,however,requiresconfirmationthatthedataarenormallydistributedandthestatisticalpowerisreducedwhensamplesizeissmall.

1.0Collectionofsedimentsamples


1.ZobellStandardA:weigh2.11gofK4Fe(CN)6•3H2O(potassiumhexacyanoferrate(II)trihydrate)and0.825gofK3Fe(CN)6(potassiumhexacyanoferrate(III))intoa50mlvolumetricflask,add~25mlofdistilledwatertodissolvethesolidsanddiluteto50ml.

2.ZobellStandardB:weigh0.21gK4Fe(CN)6•3H2O,0.825gK3Fe(CN)6and1.695gofKF•2H2O(potassiumfluoridedehydrate)intoa50mlvolumetricflask,add~25mlofdistilledwatertodissolvethesolidsanddiluteto50ml.

3.FreshlymadeZoBell'ssolutionsmustbeagedforatleast24hbeforeuse.Solutionsarestableatroomtemperatureforseveralmonthswhenstoredinair-tightglass-stopperflasks.


Table1Referenceelectrodepotentials(mV)relativetothenormalhydrogenelectrodeatdifferenttemperaturesandfillingsolutionconcentrationstobeaddedtoPtelectrodepotentialtodetermineEhNHE.FromWildishetal.(1999).

1.Ptelectrodesstoreddrymustbeactivatedbyaddingthefillingsolutionatleast24hrbeforedeterminingperformanceinredoxstandards.2.Apreparedelectrodeshouldstabilizerapidly(<30sec)duetothestrongoxidation-reductioncoupledreactioninastandardsolution.3.Witha4MKCLfillingsolutionZobellsolutionAshouldhaveapotentialof+234±9mVandsolutionB+300±9mVat20ºC.4.Afteraday’susethePttipoftheelectrodeshouldbecleanedwithadetergentorabrasivestripfollowedbyrinsingwithdistilledwater.Forlongtermstorage(morethanaweek)thefillingsolutioncanberemovedandtheprobestoreddry.

2.4EhNHEmeasurements

1.Samplesin5mlsyringesallowtwo2mlsub-samplesofsedimenttobeanalysed,eitherasduplicatesorwiththesecondsampleusedforotheranalyses(e.g.watercontent,grainsize,organicmatter).2.Priortoanalysis2mlofsedimentispushedfromasyringeintoasmall(50ml)beaker.Syringemarkingscanbeusedtodeterminetheextrudedvolume.3.TemperaturemeasurementsofthesubsampleshouldbemadeimmediatelyandthePtelectrodeplacedinthesampletoensurefullcontactbetweenthePttipandwetsediment.4.mVreadingsshouldstabilizewithin1-2min.Ifredoxconditionsarenotcontrolledbysingleoxidation-reductionreactions,asinoxicsediments,thereisoftenaslow,continuousdriftofelectrodepotentials(Whitfield1969).Anarbitrarytime(3-4min)canbechosentorecordmVreadingsiftheydonotstabilizeinlessthanthistime.Potentialsinreducedsedimentsusuallystabilizemorerapidlyduetoredoxconditionsbeingcontrolledprimarilybythereversiblehalf-cellreaction[HS-aq.↔Sorhomb+H+aq.+2e-](Berner1963).5.MeasuredmVpotentialsarecorrectedtoberelativetothenormalhydrogenelectrode(EhNHE)byadditionofapotentialcharacteristicforthefillingsolutionusedandthesampletemperature.(Table1)

2.3AssessingPtelectrodeperformance

3.0'Free'sulphides

3.1Materials

1.AportableISEmeter(e.g.Orion4-StarpH/ISE,model#1215001)oranymVmeterwithaconnectorsuitablefortheAgSelectrode.2.AnOrionAg+/S=combinationelectrode(Orion#96-16BNWP)orsimilarelectrodewithathindiscofAg(ratherthanapin)attheelectrodetip.TheelectrodeshouldberefillablewithanepoxybodyandhaveasuitableconnectortoallowattachmenttotheISEmeter.3.IftheOrion96-16Sure-flowcombinationelectrodeisused,OptimumResultsTMAsolution(Orion#900061)isrecommendedasthefillingsolutionforpreciseS=measurementswithoptimumtemperatureandresponsetime(ThermoElectronCorp.2003).


1.SAOBsolutioncanbepurchased(e.g.fromOrionasSulphideAnti-oxidantBuffer(SAOBII)ReagentPack#941609)orpreparedfromseparatereagents.2.20.0gofNaOHand17.9gEDTAbuffer(ethylenediaminetetraaceticaciddisodiumsaltdehydrate)areplacedina250mlvolumetricflaskanddilutedtovolumewithdistilledwater.3.Allowthesolutiontocooltoroomtemperaturebeforeuse.Thesolutionisstableforupto7daysifstoredinarefrigerator.4.Justbeforestandardsorsamplesaretobeanalysed8.75gofL-ascorbicacidisaddedtothe250mloftheSAOBsolution.Themixtureisunstableandmustbeusedwithin3hr.5.TheSAOBwithascorbicacidisaddedtostandardsandwetsedimentsamplesina1:1volumeratio.

1.Astocksolutionof0.1MNa2Sispreparedbyweighing2.402gNa2S•9H2Ointoa100mlvolumetricflaskanddilutingto100mlwithde-oxygenated(N2–bubbled)distilledwater.Largecrystalsshouldbegroundtoafineconsistencyusingamortarandpestle.Userubberglovesandweighthereagentonabalanceinafume-hood.2.AlthoughsolutionsofNa2S•9H2Oareunstableandeasilyoxidizedonexposuretoair(Barica1973),theconcentrated0.1Mstocksolutioncanbestoredrefrigeratedinadark,air-tightbottleforupto48hours.3.Adecreasingconcentrationseriesispreparedbytransferring10mloftheconcentratedstocksolutionintoavolumetricflaskanddilutingto100mlwith90mlofde-oxygenateddistilledwater.4.Theprocedureisrepeatedsequentiallyusing10mlaliquotsofeachstandardand90mlofde-oxygenatedwater(e.g.10mlof10,000mMS=standardsolutionistransferredtoavolumetricflaskanddilutedto100mltoprepare1000mMS=).5.Dilutedstandardsareunstableandmustbeusedforcalibrationofanelectrodeassoonaspossible.

1.AdryAg+/S=combinationelectrodemustbeactivatedbyaddingthefillingsolutionatleast24hrbeforeuse.2.Asetofstandards(e.g.100,1000,10000,100000µMS=)ispreparedtospantherangeexpectedinsamples.3.Standardsshouldbeatthesametemperatureassamples.4.TheAg+/S=combinationelectrodetipshouldbegentlycleanedusinganabrasivestripordetergentsolutionbeforeeachcalibration.5.CalibrationoftheAg+/S=combinationelectrodeshouldbecarriedoutworkingfromthelowesttohighestconcentrationinastandardseries.6.Standardsarediluted1:1withequalvolumesofSAOB(withascorbicacidadded)(e.g.2mlstandard+2mlSAOB).7.TheISEmetershouldbeusedinthedirectmeasurementmodetorecordmVpotentialsaftertheystabilize(usually<2min).8.Thetheoreticalslopeconstantfortheinverselinearrelationbetweenlog10S=andmVpotentialisapproximately-28mV(ThermoElectronCorp.2003).9.Theslopeofthecalibrationcurveisslightlytemperaturesensitivewiththeoreticalvaluesbetween-28.1and-29.1at10and20ºC,respectively.Inpracticeslopecoefficientsvary(-26to-34)dependingonelectrodecharacteristics.10.Electrodesshouldbecalibratedatleastonceadayorduringadaybeforeandafteranalysisofasetofsamples.

3.3Sulfidestandards

3.4Ag+/S=electrodecalibration

3.2Sulphideanti-oxidantbuffer(SAOB)solution


APPENDIX3:MeasurementsofAmmoniainEffluents

Turbidityisameasureofthelackofclarityortransparencyofwatercausedbybioticandabioticsuspendedordissolvedsubstances.Thehighertheconcentrationofthesesubstancesinwater,themoreturbidthewaterbecomes.Technically,whenpassinglightthroughawatersample,turbidityisanexpressionoftheopticalpropertiesofsubstancesthatcauseslighttobescatteredandabsorbedratherthantransmittedinstraightlinesthroughthesample(Wetzel1975).Themostreliablemethodfordeterminingturbidityisnephelometry(lightscatteringbysuspendedparticles),whichismeasuredbymeansofaturbiditymetergivingnephelometricturbidityunits(NTUs).Environmentalsamplesvarywithinthenormalrangeof1to1000NTUs(Chapman1992).

Thetypeandconcentrationofsuspendedmattercontrolstheturbidityandtransparencyofthewater.Suspendedmatterconsistsofsilt,clay,fineparticlesoforganicandinorganicmatter,solubleorganiccompounds,plankton,andothermicroscopicorganisms.Suspendedmatterismeasuredinthelaboratorybybothfilterableandnonfilterableresiduesofawatersample.Undissolvedparticlesmakeupthenonfilterableresidues,thesevaryinginsizefromapproximately10nmto0.1mmindiameter,althoughitisusuallyacceptedthatthesuspendedsolidsarethefractionthatwillnotpassthrougha0.45-μmporediameterglassfibrefilter(Cauxetal.1997).Forthepurposeofderivingwaterqualityguidelines,thenonfilterableresidues,containingbothbioticandabioticcomponents,willbereferredtoastotalsuspendedsediments.

1.Electrochemicalpotentialsaretemperaturesensitiveandstandardsandsamplesshouldbethesametemperature(±1°C).2.SAOBisaddedtothesediment(1:1volume)immediatelyfollowingredoxmeasurements.3.TheAg+/S=electrodeispositionedsuchthatthetipisfullyimmersedintheSAOB-sedimentmixture.4.Alkalineconditions(pH>12)createdbySAOBwilldissolvesolidphasemetal-sulphidecomplexescausingS=concentrationstoincreaseovertimeasparticulatephasesulphides(FeSandpyrite)aresolubilized.Theeffectcanbeminimizedbyrecordingpotentialsassoonaspossiblewhendrifthasstabilized(1-2min).5.ThestablemVreadingisusedinthecalibrationcurveregressiontocalculateµMS=.6.Ag+/S=electrodescanbewipedcleanandrinsedwithdistilledwaterbetweentheanalysisofsuccessivesamples.7.Thereferenceelectrodefillingsolutionshouldbedrainedandthechamberrinsedwithdistilledwateriftheelectrodeistobestoredformorethanoneweek.

Procedures,calibrationtechniques,andinstrument/reagentspecificationsusedtodeterminecompliancewithTableBoftheCaliforniaOceanPlan(www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ocean)shallconformtotherequirementsofUSAfederalregulations(40CFRPART136)orequivalentnationalregulations.Allmethodsshallbespecifiedinafarmproceduresmanual

LaboratoriesanalysingmonitoringdatashallbecertifiedbyNationalorStategovernments,andmustincludequalityassurance/qualitycontroldatawiththeirreports.

National,StateorRegionalBodiesmayspecifytestmethodswhicharemoresensitivethanthosespecifiedin40CFRPART136.

APPENDIX4:MeasurementofTotalSuspendedSolids

3.5Sulfidemeasurements


Thisprotocolsetsoutminimumrequirementsforhealthsurveillanceanddiseaseresponseinabalonefarming.Itisintendedtobeapplicabletobothland-andsea-basedfarms.

2.Identificationofkeydiseasesofconcern

Allfarmsmustidentifythekeyinfectiousdiseasesofconcernfortheabaloneintheirareaandensurethatthefollowingprotocolincorporatesmeasuresfortheirdetection.Thusthelaboratoriesusedforpathologyworkmusthavediagnosticproceduresthatwoulddetectthesediseases(ifpresent)orconfirmabsenceofthesediseases(ifabsent).Wherelisteddiseaseshaveexternallyvisiblesymptoms,farmstaffshouldbetrainedtorecognizetheseandreportthemtomanagement.Itisacknowledgedthatfromtimetotimenewdiseasesemerge—thisprotocolisdesignedtoensureearlydetectionofanewdiseasethroughregularobservationofstockandmortalities(Section3)andhealthsurveillance(Section4).

APPENDIX5:FarmedAbaloneHealthSurveillanceandDiseaseResponseProtocol

3.Observationofstockandrecordingofmortalities

1.ObjectivesoftheProtocol


Allfarmsshouldobservestockonaregularbasistohelpensurethatanymortalityeventorabnormalbehaviouroftheabaloneisquicklyinvestigated.Thefrequencyofstockinspectiononanabalonefarmvarieswithfeedtype,growoutunitdesign,weatherandmanagementstrategies.Everygrowoutunitonthefarmmustbeinspectedatleastonceevery10daysinsufficientdetailtodetectabnormalbehaviourorabnormalmortalityofabalone.Ifthenumberofmortalitiesinanygrowoutunitexceedsthetriggerlevelforamortalityevent(asdefinedinSection5)orifabnormalbehaviourisobserved,thenthedetailsmustberecordedandtheproceduresoutlinedinSection5mustbefollowed.Eachfarmwillcompileovertimerecordsofgrowoutabalonemortalityratesbyyearclassandseason.ThesewillbeusedasareferencepointinSection7andwillhelpthefarmidentifytrendsthatcouldrelatetodiseases.

5.Nonroutinesamplingandmortalityeventinvestigation

6.Lower-levelunexplainedmortality

4.Routinehealthsurveillance

Asaminimum,allfarmswillroutinelysubmitatleasttwiceperyear66abalonetoanauditor-approvedserviceproviderexperiencedinaquaticanimalpathology.Oneofthesesampleswillbetakenduringaperiodofhighstress(e.g.,highseawatertemperatureatsiteswithstressfullywarmsummers,orimmediatelyafterspawningatcoolwatersites)asidentifiedbypastexperience,andthesecondsampleapproximatelysixmonthslater.Samplingandfixationproceduresshouldbeasadvisedbythepathologylaboratory.Thepathologylaboratoryorveterinarianwillprovideawrittenreporttothefarmasapermanentrecordofthesurveillanceresults.Thereportshouldexplainthesignificanceoftheresults.

Ifaninspectionfindsthatmortalityinagrowoutunitexceeds1percentbutislessthan50abaloneandthereisnoobviousnon-infectiouscause,thenthenumberofdeadabaloneinthatgrowoutunitwillbecounteddailyandthedeadabaloneremoved.Countswillcontinueforatleast10days,andlongerifrequiredtodemonstratethatmortalityhasdeclinedtolevelstypicalforthatfarminthatseason(asdocumentedinSection3above).Ifcumulativemortalityexceedsafurther2percentwithin10days,thentheeventwillbetreatedasamortalityeventandtheproceduresinSection5Cfollowed.

A.Farmsmayexperienceamortalityevent.Amortalityeventisdefinedhereasfollows:•Morethan1percentoftheabaloneinagrowoutunitorbroodstocktankhavediedsincethegrowoutunitwaslastinspected.•Thetotalnumberofabalonedeadinthegrowoutunitorbroodstocktankisgreaterthan50abalone.(Thisistoexcludetriggeringbyasmallnumberofdeathsinagrowoutunitholdingaverylownumberofabalone.Mortality>1percentbutlessthan50abaloneiscoveredinSection6.)•Itisthefirsttimethepopulationhasexperiencedthislevelofmortalityovertheprevious10days(toavoidrepeatedtriggeringfromthesamegrowoutunitduringthesamemortalityevent).Ifamortalityeventoccurs,orabnormalabalonebehaviourisobserved,theeventmustbeinvestigatedandasatisfactoryexplanationforthemortalityeventprovidedandlogged.Relevantdetailstoberecordedinthelogaredate,abalonebehaviour,growoutunitnumber,causeofevent,actiontakenandconclusion.B.Ifthereisanobviousnon-infectiouscauseofabalonedying(e.g.,equipmentfailure),thenfarmsarerequiredtocorrecttheproblemandcontinuetomonitortheaffectedpopulationdailyforatleast10days.Ifmortalitiesdonotdecreasewithin10daysoftheproblembeingfixed,thenfarmsmustfollowtheprocedureoutlinedinCbelow.Theeventshouldberecorded,detailingtheproblemthatledtoincreasedmortalities,theremedialactiontakenandthesubsequentresponseoftheabalonepopulation.C.Ifthereisnoobviousnon-infectiouscauseofabalonedying,orifmortalitycontinuestoincrease,thenfarmsmusttakethefollowingactions:•Isolatetheaffectedgrowoutunit(s).•Submitmoribundabalone(atleastfiveifavailable)fromtheaffectedgrowoutunit(s)forpathologicalanalysistoanauditor-approvedlaboratoryexperiencedinaquaticanimalpathology.•Submitapparentlyunaffectedabalone(atleastfive)fromthesameproductionunitandfromacompletelyunaffectedunitmatchedascloselyaspossiblewithrespecttosize,age,parentage,etc.•Seekadvicefromanaquatichealthexpert.•Continuetomonitorandrecordthebehaviourandmortalityoftheabalonepopulationdaily.•Ifthelevelofmortalitiescontinuestoincreaseorifsimilarmortalitiesoccurinothergrowoutunits/cagesonthefarm,thefarmmustimmediatelyconsultwiththeiraquatichealthexperttodecideacourseofactionandnotifythecompetentauthority(asdefinedbyOIE,2009).•Incaseswheretheaquatichealthexpert’sdeterminationisthatthediseasecannotbeeffectivelymitigatedortreated,theanimalsintheaffectedproductionunit(s)mustbeculledandtheunit(s)disinfected.•Areportonthemortalityeventshallbefileddetailingthecourseofevents.Thereportshallincludetheresultsofthepathologytesting,arecordofanyinstructionsfromthefarm’sveterinarianorrelevantauthorities,andthefarm’sresponsetothese.


7.Testingofwildabalonetranslocatedontoafarm

eFCR=Feed,kgormtNetaquaculturalproduction,kgormt(wetweight)

APPENDIX7:GuidancefortheSocialComponentoftheASCAbaloneStandard

TherequirementsrelatedtolabourissuesandworkconditionsonthefarmwerecreatedwithinputfromSocialAccountabilityInternational(SAI),arecognizedleaderonlabourissues.SAIalsorecommendedthefollowingguidancetoaccompanythesocialcomponentoftheASCAbaloneStandard.

Guidance•Childworkersundertheageof15performonlylightwork(seedefinitionbelow)aslongasitdoesnotexceedtwohoursperdayonaschooldayorholidayandthetotalnumberofhoursspentonlightworkandonschoolshouldnotexceedsevenhours/day.•Foremployeesaged15-18(youngworkers),workshouldnotconflictwithschooling(combinationofdailytransportation,schooltimeandworktimeshouldnotexceed10hours).Hazardousworkisnotperformedbythosebelowage18(includingheavyliftingdisproportionatetotheirsize,operatingheavymachinery,workingnightshift,exposuretoanytoxicchemicals).DefinitionsLightwork:(ILOConvention138,Article7.1)Lightworkisworkthatis1)notlikelytobeharmfultoachild’shealthordevelopmentand2)notlikelytoprejudiceachild’sattendanceatschool,limitachild’sparticipationinvocationalorientationortrainingprograms,ordiminishachild’scapacitytobenefitfrominstructionreceived.

1.Childlabour

APPENDIX6:FeedResourceCalculationsandMethodologies

Abalonetranslocatedfromthewildtoafarmrepresentahighriskofdiseaseintroductionforabalonefarmsandsoarerequiredtobeheldinabiosecurequarantinefacilitywitheffluenttreatmentforatleasteightweeksbeforebeingmovedelsewhereonthefarm.Itisoftennotanoptiontosacrificewildabalonetoscreenfordiseases.Tohelpdetectanydiseasespresentinthewildabalone,farmed“sentinel”abalonemustbeplacedinthegrowoutunitscontainingthewildstockforthedurationofthequarantineperiod(minimumeightweeks)andmonitoredasfollows.•Abatchofatleast50farmedabalone>30millimetreshelllengthwillbeplacedinthegrowoutunitswitheachbatchoftranslocatedwildabalone.Boththewildandfarmedabalonewillbeinspectedforabnormalbehaviourormortalityatleastonceevery10days.•Ifmorethantwoofthefarmedsentinelabaloneinagrowoutunithavediedorbecomemoribundsincethatgrowoutunitwaslastinspected,thenthisshallberegardedasamortalityeventandtheproceduresinsections5BandCfollowed.•Beforethewildstockisreleasedfromquarantine,atleast10abaloneshouldbesubmittedforpathologicalanalysisandfoundfreeofsignificantinfectiousdiseases.Theseabaloneshouldincludeinorderofpriority(1)anymoribundwildabalone,(2)anymoribundfarmedsentinelabalone,and(3)aselectionoffarmedabaloneincludinganythatshowsignsofillhealth.Duringthequarantineperiodfarmstaffmustattempttoidentifymoribundabaloneandpreservethemforpathologytesting.

1.ForageFishEquivalencyRatio(FFER)calculationForageFishEquivalencyRatio(FFER):thequantityofwildfishusedperquantityofculturedfishproduced.Thismeasurecanbeweightedforfishmealorfishoil,whichevercomponentcreatesalargerburdenofwildfishinfeed.Inthecaseofabaloneatcurrentstatus,thefishmealwillbethedeterminingfactorfortheFFERinmostcases.Thedependencyonwildforagefishresourcesshouldbecalculatedforbothfishmealandfishoilusingtheformulasnotedbelow.Inthisstandard,itisthehighestnumber(dependency)thatisrelevantandthatmustbeused.Theseformulascalculatethedependencyofasinglesiteonwildforagefishresources,independentofanyotherfarm.FFERm=(%fishmealinfeedfromforagefisheries)x(eFCR)22.2FFERo=(%fishoilinfeedfromforagefisheries)x(eFCR)5.0Where•Thepercentagesoffishmealandfishoilexcludemealandoilderivedfromfisheryby-products.Onlyfishmealandfishoilthatisderiveddirectlyfromapelagicfishery(e.g.,anchoveta)istobeincludedinthecalculationoftheFFER.Mealandoilderivedfromfisheryby-products(trimmings,offal)shouldnotbeincluded,becausetheFFERisintendedtobeacalculationofdirectdependencyonwildfisheries.•Theamountoffishmealinthedietiscalculatedbacktolivefishweightbyusingayieldof22.2percent.Thisisanassumedaverageyield.Ifadifferentyieldisused,documentationmustbeprovided.•Theamountoffishoilinthedietiscalculatedbacktolivefishweightbyusingayieldof5percent.Thisisanassumedaverageyield.Ifadifferentyieldisused,documentationmustbeprovided.•EconomicFeedConversionRatio(eFCR):thequantityoffeedusedtoproducethequantityoffishharvested.


2.Forced,bondedorcompulsorylabour

7.Nonabusivedisciplinarypractices

6.Freedomofassociationandcollectivebargaining

5.Fairanddecentwages

4.Healthandsafety

Guidance•Employersshouldneverbepermittedtowithholdoriginalidentitydocuments.•Contractsshouldbeclearlystatedandunderstoodbyemployeesandneverleadtoanemployeebeingindebted(suchasemployeespayingfortrainingprograms).•Employeesshouldbefreetoleavetheworkplacewhennotworkingandtomanagetheirownnonworktime.(Note:Extracareshouldbegiventomigrantsandcontractor/subcontractorsituations.)

Guidance•Companyshallnotengageinorsupportdiscriminationinhiring,remuneration,accesstotraining,promotion,terminationorretirementbasedoncaste,nationalorigin,religion,disability,gender,sexualorientation,unionmembership,politicalaffiliationorage.•Companyshallnotinterferewithemployeerightstoexerciseorobservetenetsorpracticesortomeetneedsrelatedtorace,caste,nationalorigin,religion,disability,gender,sexualorientation,unionmembershiporpoliticalaffiliation.

Guidance•Minimizationofhazards/risksintheworkingenvironment,includingdocumentedproceduresandpoliciestopreventworkplaceaccidents/injuries.Emergencyresponseproceduresshouldexistandbeknownbyemployees.•Documentationofoccupationalhealthandsafetyviolations.•Accesstocleanlavatories,potablewaterandsanitaryfacilities.Dormitoriesmustbecleanandsafeandmeetthebasicneedsofemployees.•Insurance,ifnototherwiseprovided,tocoveremployeeswhosufferaccidentorinjuryintheworkenvironment.Specialconsiderationmustbegiventomigrantorforeignworkerswhomayfalloutsideoflocalornationallawsandlegislation.•Correctiveactionplanforaccidentsthathaveoccurred.

Guidance•Nodeductionsfordisciplinaryactions;wagesandbenefitsmustbeclearlyarticulatedtoemployees;wagesandbenefitsmustberenderedinamannerconvenienttoemployees(notravel,nopromissorynotes,couponsorproducts/merchandisetoreplacecash/checkorelectronicmethods).•Nolabour-onlycontractingrelationshipsorfalseapprenticeshipschemes(Seebelow.).DefinitionsLabour-onlycontractingarrangement:practiceofhiringworkerswithoutestablishingaformalemploymentrelationship,forthepurposeofavoidingpaymentofregularwagesortheprovisionoflegallyrequiredbenefits,suchashealthandsafetyprotection.Falseapprenticeshipscheme:practiceofhiringworkersunderapprenticeshiptermswithoutstipulatingtermsoftheapprenticeship/wagesundercontract.Itisa“false”apprenticeshipifpurposeistounderpaypeople,avoidlegalobligationsoremploychildren.

Guidance•Employersshouldrespecttherightofallpersonneltoformandjointradeunionsoftheirchoiceandtobargaincollectively.•Whensuchsituationsarerestrictedunderlaw,employersshouldfacilitateparallelmeansofindependentandfreeassociationandbargainingandensurethattheyarenotthesubjectofdiscrimination.(Whenrightsarerestricted,thecompanyneedstomakecleartoworkersthattheyarewillingtoengageworkersincollectivedialoguethrougharepresentativestructureandthattheyarewillingtoprovideworkerswiththeopportunitytoengageinsuchdialogue.)

Guidance•Absolutelynoengagementinorsupportofcorporalpunishment,mentalorphysicalcoercion,orverbalabuse.Finesorwagedeductionsarealsonotanacceptablemethodofdiscipliningworkers.

3.Discrimination


8.Workinghours


Guidance•Auditorsshallbeawareofworkinghoursandovertimerequirementsinlocallegislation.Theycanchecktimesheetsandpayrollandverifythroughworkerinterviewsthatworkersareworkinglegallyallowedhours.Payslipsandpayrecordscanconfirmwhetherovertimehoursarebeingpaidatapremium.Toverifythatovertimeisnotthenorm,interviewscanbeconductedandproductionrecordschecked,aswellastimesheetsorotherrecordsofworkinghours,foratleastoneyearbefore.Someexceptionscanbemadeforovertimenotbeingvoluntary,ifthereisacollectivebargainingagreementinplacethatallowsit.•Employershallcomplywithapplicablelawsandindustrystandardsrelatedtoworkinghours.“Normalworkweek”canbedefinedbylawbutshallnotonaregularbasis(constantlyormajorityofthetime)exceed48hours.Variationsbasedonseasonalitymayapply.•Allovertimeshallbepaidatapremiumandshouldnotexceed12hoursperweek.Overtimeworkshallbevoluntary.Exceptionstothislastrequirementcanbemadeincaseswhereitislegalandinwhichthereisacollectivebargainingagreementinplacethataddressesthis,inordertomeetshort-termbusinessdemands.

Documents

AUDIT MANUAL - ASC ABALONE STANDARD Version 1.1 March … · Monitoring via video or seabed imaging transects shall be conducted every five years (Proceed to 2.3.1) A. Verify from