Username: Password:   Mandate   Objectives   Environmental Policy   Oyster   Mussel   Finfish   R&D priorities   R&D Coordinator   R&D funding agencies   Species   Health & Nutrition   Benefits of Eating Finfish   Benefits of Eating Shellfish   Market Forms of Seafood   Grades of Oysters   Buying Fresh Seafood   Basic Cooking Methods   Recipes   Care & Storage of Seafood   Sources & References   Shellfish Aquaculture Industry Environmental Policy The Prince Edward Island (PEI) aquaculture industry recognizes the interdependency between a vibrant, sustainable shellfish aquaculture industry and the health of the marine environment. The industry believes that: shellfish aquaculture can be undertaken in harmony with the environment; and that the sustainable use of the marine environment is a shared responsibility requiring a climate of cooperation among all resource users and regulatory authorities. The industry is committed to managing aquaculture operations in an environmentally sustainable manner. This commitment is demonstrated through development of this Environmental Policy and Shellfish Aquaculture Environmental Codes Of Practice (SAECOP). The SAECOP was developed in 2001 in consultation with shellfish growers, government regulators, key stakeholders and other users of the marine resource. After various meetings and drafts for discussion, over 200 Island Shellfishers signed on to the SAECOP in January 2002. Adoption of the SAECOP by Island shellfish aquaculturists is voluntary. Should an aquaculturist sign on to the Code as a mitigative measure for an Environmental Assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, maintenance (upholding) of the Code will no longer be voluntary. The PEI Aquaculture Alliance will be responsible for: promoting the adoption of the SAECOP by industry members; maintaining a registry of SAECOP users; promoting the SAECOP to regulatory agencies and other interested groups; reviewing revision requests and updating the SAECOP, as required; forwarding revised sections of the SAECOP to all registered SAECOP holders in a timely manner. PEI shellfish aquaculturists using the SAECOP will be responsible for: familiarizing themselves and their employees with the procedures described herein; managing their aquaculture operations in an environmentally sustainable manner; keeping their SAECOP document up to date; inserting revised sections into the SAECOP in a timely manner; and, ensuring that employees are familiar with the revisions and that any required training is provided. The SAECOP is specifically designed to be a living document that is easily revised to meet the changing needs and technologies of the PEI shellfish aquaculture industry. The Environmental Policy states the shellfish aquaculture industry’s position on issues of: Sustainable Management; Water Quality; Natural Processes and Ecosystems; Pollution; Waste Management; Energy; Product Quality; Other Resource Users; Cultural Values; Amenity Values; Regulatory Compliance; and Environmental Stewardship. The SAECOP outlines shellfish aquaculture practices that are anticipated to help ensure environmental responsibility, economic viability and maximum product quality. A copy of the PEI SAECOP may be purchased from the PEI Aquaculture Alliance. For more information contact Nancy Geldert Laybolt or Peter Warris at 902-368-2757 or e-mail: peiaqua@aquaculturepei.com