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Sustainability Standard for Farmed Shellfish Production
Food Alliance provides a sustainability standard which shellfish producers may use to evaluate management practices, measure social and environmental performance and seek voluntary third-party certification.
What does the Standard Cover?
- soil and water conservation,
- fish and wildlife conservation,
- integrated pest and weed management,
- healthy, humane care for shellstock,
- safe and fair working conditions, and
- shared resource management.
To Whom Does the Standard Apply?
The standard applies to North American shellfish farms that produce:
- Oysters
- Clams
- Mussels
- Geoducks
The program does not cover wild harvest.
Where can I read the Standard?
Applies where relevant:
Food Alliance Certification for Farmed Shellfish
Food Alliance certification for farmed shellfish provides a trusted and independent third-party audit process for certifying socially and environmentally responsible management practices in shellfish farming operations and handling facilities.
With certification, products grown and processed by these operations are licensed to use the Food Alliance Certified eco-label on qualified products.
This comprehensive, supply chain-based approach to certification means Food Alliance Certified shellfish products meet high standards for social and environmental responsibility — from the tidelands to the seafood market.
Learn more about Farmed Shellfish Certification.
Additional Questions?
- Read the Frequently Asked Questions about the Sustainability Standard for Farmed Shellfish Production.
- Download a two-page overview of the Food Alliance Sustainability Standard for Farmed Shellfish Production (PDF)
Endorsements & Testimonials
Shellfish help maintain the health of local estuaries – through filtration, nitrogen removal and habitat diversity – and provide an ongoing incentive for clean water.
We applaud Food Alliance for establishing sustainability standards for shellfish aquaculture. The new standards build on the industry’s environmental code of practices and complement the global standards for aquaculture that the World Wildlife Fund has developed.
These new sustainability standards will raise the bar for social and environmental performance This is good news for Puget Sound.
- Betsy Peabody, Executive Director
Puget Sound Restoration Fund
The shellfish industry represents family businesses where current shellfish growers have followed the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. Food Alliance Certification captures the essence of this multi-generational industry. The criteria and standards for shellfish certification honors previous generations of growers and sets forward-thinking expectations for future generations.
- Margaret Pilaro Barrette, Executive Director
Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
We are so proud, and so lucky to be a part of this amazing community of oyster farmers in this beautiful bay. To protect this incredible resource we all have in Marin County, we must have minimal impact, both on the land and in the water. I think this should be the goal of every single grower and rancher in West Marin. Food Alliance certification helps us tell that story to our customers.
- Terry Sawyer, Co-Founder
Hog Island Oyster Co.
