Global Food Collaborative

Link with National Organic Survey Results mentioned below (February 3) here

January 27, 2010

It has been some time since we have disseminated a communiqués via the National Organic Aquaculture Work Group (NOAWG) mail group. Many of you know the National Organic Standards Board has completed its recommendations on national organic standards for aquaculture products including diverse systems of production, use of fish meal and oil, and aquatic plants. The Aquaculture Work Group under the chairmanship of George Lockwood has done a remarkable job of providing technical and scientific guidance, public testimony and comments, and strong persistent advocacy for the US aquaculture community to gain legal eligibility for USDA organic certification and labeling of aquaculture products.

Much work remains to be done as some NOSB recommendations are not reasonable for actual implementation by farmers and companies as well as identifying and gaining approval of essential products on the NOP National List. The next phase toward USDA approval is the formal public rulemaking process to be undertaken by the USDA National Organic Program.  At this time we are uncertain when this process will begin and a timeline for completion.

We were considering a short meeting of NOAWG as well as other interested parties at World Aquaculture Conference in San Diego to discuss the current state of affairs and planning to support the USDA approval process. George Lockwood would be an essential participant at this meeting, however, he is not planning to attend. We would have also extended an invitation to an official of the NOP to provide an update as they have in past years. At this time we are not planning a NOAWG meeting and no technical session on organic aquaculture is planned as in recent past years under the leadership of Richard Nelson. With positive developments expected hopefully in 2010 we do plan to again re-energize and focus efforts in the public rulemaking process.  Your contributions will be critical in the future.  We can expect strong opposition for organic certification from some groups who will be organized, engaged, vocal and well financed.  

However, I do want to share some news regarding organic farming in the US. On Wednesday, February 3, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release results of the 2008 Organic Production Survey. The survey, which is a follow-on to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, is USDA's first-ever, wide-scale survey of organic producers. The findings should offer some interesting insights into this sector of agriculture production.


Lastly, we will keep working on this project until we have a final rule.  Many of you know that this work began in the late 1990s with contributions by many persons. I want to end this communiqué by listing the individuals who are members of the Aquaculture Work Group as appointed by the USDA and NOSB and personally thank them for their dedication and efforts that overcame daunting hurdles to gain 2/3 voting support by NOSB members to move organic aquaculture production into the rulemaking stage.

The National Organic Program Aquaculture Working Group Members:

Sebastian Belle
Executive Director - Maine Aquaculture Association

Robert A. Bullis, DVM
President - South Eastern Aquatechnologies, Inc.

Ralph Elston, PhD
President - Aquatechnics

Rebecca Goldburg, PhD
Director of Marine Science - The Pew Environment Group

Ronald W. Hardy, PhD
Director - University of Idaho Aquaculture Research Institute

John A. Hargreaves, PhD
Aquaculture Consultant
Former Associate Professor - Louisiana State University Agriculture Center

George S. Lockwood
Consultant and Task Force Chairperson

Robert A. Mayo
President - Carolina Classics Catfish, Inc.

Christopher L. Nelson
Vice President - Oyster Operations - Bon Secour Fisheries

Bart Reid
Owner - Permian Sea Shrimp Co.

Albert G.J. Tacon, PhD
Technical Director - Aquatic Farms Ltd.

Kwamena K. Quagrainie, PhD
Aquaculture Marketing Director - Purdue University

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Thanks and regards,

Gary

Gary Jensen
National Program Leader for Aquaculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Mail Stop 2220
1400 Independence Avenue S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250-2220

Email: gjensen@nifa.usda.gov
Tel: 202-401-6802
Fax: 202-401-6156