ECOSMA - Ecological Certification of Products from Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

The increasing demand for sea products from the growing world population results in unsustainable production and harvesting methods that impose a severe threat to natural species and habitats. While marine aquaculture has the potential to meet this demand, existing practices are often not environmentally friendly and, generally, its potential has not been sufficiently explored or developed. The project seeks to increase the production and marketing of ecological mariculture products by implementing a practical process for ecological certification of products from sustainable marine aquaculture in the Baltic Sea. This is done thorough the creation of German regional committee on sustainable mariculture and the drafting of a White Paper on sustainable mariculture (including guidelines for site selection of mariculture and water quality aimed at producers and a supporting Code of Practice for producers, certifiers and salespeople). Ultimate aim is to contribute to the harmonisation of the environmental and economic developments of coastal regions on the Baltic Sea.