from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WASHINGTON - The National Organics Standards Board opened a week of meetings Tuesday on the question of whether farmed fish should qualify for the federal government's official organic label.
Opponents say that would violate the Agriculture Department's own standards. They claim the fish meal and fish oil used in aquaculture concentrates pollutants such as PCBs and mercury that are hazardous to human health. They also say the most common method of fish farming, called open pen net farming, is inconsistent with the principles of organic agriculture.
he industry contends that a U.S. organic standard for farmed fish is needed to help producers improved their operations and compete against foreign producers whose own standards are suspect.
At stake for the farmers is a foothold in a U.S. organic food market estimated at $15.5 billion in 2006 and enjoying double-digit annual growth.
Already, consumers see plenty of fish in the stories labeled "organic," but none with the official USDA label. That's because foreign producers are allowed to sport labels awarded by their own countries - much to the alarm of domestic fish farmers.
In March, the Organic Standards Board voted to temporarily exclude all U.S.-farmed fish from the organic standard. It also asked for public comment on the two main issues to be debated this week:
- Fish meal and fish oil produced from wild animals. The board's proposed rule would allow no more than 24 percent of a farmed fish's feed to be made up of meal or oil from wild fishes. Even this percentage would have to be phased out after seven years.
- Open-net pens. The board proposed to allow them "where water depth, current velocities and direction, and other factors" keep waste solids from building up on the sea floor underneath.
"We want to make sure that everybody's heard," said Joan Schaffer, a board spokeswoman.
Full Story: http://www.ajc.com/business/content/living/food/stories/2007/11/27/FISH_FARMS.html
Fish Farms Try To Hook 'Organic' Label
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By ASHLEY GOSIK
Cox News Service, November 27, 2007
Straight to the Source
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beverleyonline
Dec 18 2007, 05:50 AM
I so feel like crying. "Certified organic" has been my reassurance, my safeguard, and my oasis in the foodplace desert. Now it appears that even it may soon be meaningless. I guess it's coming down to grow my own or rely on local trusted sources. What type of rationale is "to help producers improve their operations"? Let them improve their operations FIRST, and THEN apply for certification. And there are other longer-term-sensible options to the problem of helping domestic producers compete against competitive so-called organic products from other countries: rather than lowering our standards overall in order to improve the economic outlook of a few companies - and insulting the intelligence (and health) of consumers in the process - how about, for example, having an additional label mandated to be added to foreign organic labelling warning that there the foreign cetification does not necessary meet our high standards. If the NOSB gives in to any industry for any reason, it will be compromising its standards only to support the type of practices that created a need for the certification in the first place.
ladycat
Dec 18 2007, 11:16 AM
Organic standards were lowered as soon as the USDA took over certification. Organics have been going downhill ever since.
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diana
Dec 24 2007, 06:49 PM
QUOTE (beverleyonline @ Dec 18 2007, 05:50 AM) 
I so feel like crying. "Certified organic" has been my reassurance, my safeguard, and my oasis in the foodplace desert. Now it appears that even it may soon be meaningless. I guess it's coming down to grow my own or rely on local trusted sources.
It really is going to come down to 'buy local' and 'know your producer.' There will be a mad scramble for good foods on a local level, but someone can be coaxed to fill in the niche, especially if it's profitable. We could, I suppose, start some sort of local wish list for farm types to consider and hang it in some central farm-folk hangout, or on-line for the 'net-savvy. I love the idea of promoting local ag, and working directly with the producers, and even organizing a pickup schedule so that they don't have to deal with tens of locals each day (unless they want to). Good stuff could happen, if we picked up and moved it into place, IMO. --diana (who is still trying to wrinkle the map so that the dairying El L is closer)
