Statement on Certification

Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador
November 5, 2003

Meeting of the Board of Redmanglar Internacional

WE EXPRESS our concern over plans to expand the shrimp farming industry in all the countries where Redmanglar Internacional is currently working, because of the demonstrated history of social and environmental destruction that this activity has imposed in our countries.

WE NOTE the growing interest of the shrimp farming industry in getting access to certification schemes to counteract the destructive image that the industry has developed over the last decade.

WE STATE that, in the view of Redmanglar Internacional, the shrimp farming certification schemes currently being proposed for the countries where we work do not guarantee an ecologically and socially responsible activity, nor have our member organizations been consulted about these proposed schemes.

WE DEMAND  a moratorium on all aquaculture certification schemes and we call for the establishment of a consultative process to determine the basis on which a socially equitable and environmentally sound aquaculture activity can be built. Such a consultative process will allow us to properly evaluate the different certification schemes.

With respect to certification schemes in particular, Redmanglar Internacional considers that no aquaculture activity – especially no shrimp farming activity – should be promoted or certified, unless the following criteria are taken into full account:

- Any certification scheme must serve the objectives of sustainable food production, local population food security and respect for human rights;

- Any certification process must guarantee the full participation of the communities that will be affected by the proposed activity, both in the first stages of the process as well as in the later follow up stages. Participation must not be restricted to the mere provision of information, but provide for and enable real participation in the decision-making process;

- All stages of the certification process must be fully transparent, with all relevant information made fully available to the affected communities and other potentially affected stakeholders;

- Land rights, including traditional use and tenure rights, must be clearly established and documented. Local communities with legal and/or customary tenure or use rights shall maintain these rights over aquaculture operations unless they delegate control with free and informed consent to other agencies;

- No shrimp farming activity should affect or destroy traditional uses of land and water and the control of these resources by local communities;

- Compliance with all national and international law related to the activity must be ensured, as well as compliance with all local administrative requirements;

- No certification should be granted without a previous study of the social, economical and environmental impact of the activity. These studies must take into account the impact on the coastal area, on the hydrographic basin, as well as on other uses within the region, with particular attention given to the activities carried out by local communities;

- No certification will be granted on the basis of any promise of future improvements;

- No aquaculture activity will rely for larvae supply purposes on wild catches;

- The use of potentially harmful chemicals such as pesticides, algaecides, fungicides, immuno-stimulants, antibiotics or other similar products that might bio-accumulate or persist in the environment must be prohibited;

- The activity must provide for proper and stable employment, and respect all rights warranted by the ILO Conventions;

- The use of non-indigenous species as well as genetically modified organisms must be strictly prohibited;

- The chain of custody, from the producer to the final seller, must be perfectly traced and all relevant information has to be made publicly available.