The standard model of implementing welfare standards for aquatic animal production is top down. Certifications bodies and NGO answers to rising citizen awareness about poor farming condition. They create and implement ethical production standards to create seafood products for consumers that understand and acknowledge animal suffering. This model has its limitation because it relies on a niche of educated and sympathetic consumers. Little, if no effort, has been made to understand, support and encourage farmers own intrinsic motivation to do better. FAI believe farmers are the most important actor that drive welfare improvements in aquaculture. We believe they are an untapped force for good who’s power can be unleashed through practical farm assessments that align business and welfare objectives.
Farm animal assessment
Working with scientists and farmers in Brazil, Thailand and China, FAI has developed a new approach based on bottom-up farm animal assessments. The assessments help farmers understand what good welfare looks like and show them that it naturally lead to better fulfilment of animal nutritional, health, environmental and behavioural needs. Assessments kickstart a positive spiral of improvements, tapping into farmers innate need to be better and do better. If a problem is identified by the assessor, actions are likely to be taken to fix or improve it, resulting in better welfare. The assessment tool developed by FAI can be used by farmers or processors. Those wishing to use the tool are guided through a series of simple questions that will help them to monitor and drive progress regarding welfare and best practices.
What is FAI offering the industry?