The Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue has released the final draft of global standards for certifying farmed shrimp. This version of the standards is being used to create an Audit Manual and will be subject to voluntary field testing on selected farms.

The Dialogue’s Global Steering Committee (GSC) used the feedback received during the last public comment period to revise the standards document and produce this final draft of the standards. The GSC is developing its formal responses to public comments which will be available on the WWF website in early 2012.

The GSC reached agreement in this version and looks forward to using the results from this short field-testing phase to make any final, minor revisions to the standards so that they can be put into use on shrimp farms around the world.

The final standards will be handed over to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), during the first half of 2012. The ASC will ensure farms are certified against the standards through independent third party certification bodies that are accredited by ASI and follow ISO and ISEAL guidelines.

Download the draft standards from the link below (PDF).