World Aquaculture December 2020

30 DECEMBER 2020 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG The presence of plastics in aquatic organisms is an important component of the communication of results of research studies on marine litter, and this has raised significant concerns from consumers. However, this is rarely considered in context and compared to the presence of plastics in other food products consumed globally (e.g. vegetables, kitchen salt, beer and bottled waters), where commercial laboratories have already been carrying out monitoring for decades. Asking aquaculturists to evaluate the amount of plastic in their products while not asking the same of producers of other food products reaching consumers’ tables will be de-incentivizing for farmers trying to implement plastic management practices. Define, Design, Change The challenge faced by industry, academia and regulatory bodies today is that standardization does not exist because the questions and challenges are not clearly defined. A number of methods are needed to answer the diverse questions related to plastics and aquaculture. For example, the methods required for sampling, extraction and analysis of mesoplastics and larger microplastics (>5 μm) are unsuitable for smaller microplastics (<5 μm) and nanoplastics. Importantly, a wide range of sampling, extraction and analysis methods exist, but are not directly comparable, meaning data generated by different methods are not comparable. Much of the current discrepancy in sampling, extraction and analysis approaches is the result of the goal of achieving highly accurate and robust characterization regarding the origin, fate and composition of plastics, which are common questions in academic research. This diversity of highly specialized and costly approaches does not lend itself to routine monitoring and their outcomes are seldom comparable. Fortunately, coarser, more broadly applicable methods do exist. It is, therefore, important to slowly implement best practices to start creating a process of standardization and comparability of information: What are we measuring? In which matrix? For what reasons? In which unit are the results to be produced? To support changes towards more sustainable aquaculture, from production to food safety, stakeholders dealing with the source and impacts of plastics in aquaculture need to better define what problems are to be dealt with, in which segment of the industry they originate from and what is feasible to evaluate and monitor. In Table 1 and 2, we highlight a number of questions that may be of interest to quaculture and identify widely used protocols that are considered suitable to answer these questions. We also indicate the potential pitfalls of these approaches. There is a need for standardization, but this needs to be operationally viable, starting simply and implementable globally. Changes necessary for aquaculture will occur as multi-sectorial change, including technology developers, equipment providers, third-party accredited testing laboratories, certification schemes, regulations and incentives for change supported by governments. Community and even general public perceptions can also have a significant influence. However, this typically varies across different regions/cultures and, although it is not always a limiting factor, communication is crucial to implement the changes needed to achieve more sustainable use and reduction of plastics in aquaculture. At this stage, it seems important to create a baseline in an environmental context and to keep things simple. There are two main monitoring needs: the presence/weight/types of plastic among sites and the long-term trends at individual sites. This is knowledge that will allow governments to map sources and responsibilities for the presence of microplastics in the environment, as well as the effectiveness of implemented mitigation actions, thereby creating a basis for regulations. In terms of food safety, there are still many questions regarding the accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in products of aquaculture and the role of plastic chemical additives. Thus, it is currently difficult to engage with either regulators or farmers on this topic at this stage. Plastics represent a two-fold challenge in aquaculture, where aquaculture production represents a source of environmental release and where aquaculture is affected by plastics in the environment. Proposed changes to be implemented, such as inventory and monitoring, need to be supported by financial and technological incentives and by the various stakeholders (e.g. technology providers, laboratories, governmental agencies, feed and nutrition companies). Although aquaculture has a role to play in reducing plastic emissions to the marine environment, the fact that 80 percent of marine plastic derives from terrestrial sources highlights the need for wider, societal-level action on this problem. Thus, engagement with farmers is an important challenge that needs to be carefully managed. Aquaculture is the livelihood for 20 million farmers worldwide and cooperation toward more sustainable food production system is a necessity. #WA2020 Based on fruitful discussions from the first event, delegates expressed interest in continuing to share information and define areas where actions can be initiated and others where the need for research is critical. The roundtable is expected to continue as part of the WA2020 conference in Singapore (14-18 June 2021), including a dedicated theme within the program and another planned roundtable for more targeted discussions. Submissions from across the sector are encouraged to highlight the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and to provide a platform for the community to come together and discuss new practical, technical and legislative solutions relating to plastics in aquaculture. For further details please contact Guillaume.Drillet@sgs.com for #WA2020. Changes necessary for aquaculture will occur as multi-sectorial change, including technology developers, equipment providers, third-party accredited testing laboratories, certification schemes, regulations and incentives for change supported by governments. Community and even general public perceptions can also have a significant influence. However, this typically varies across different regions/cultures and, although it is not always a limiting factor, communication is crucial to implement the changes needed to achieve more sustainable use and reduction of plastics in aquaculture.