Who Decides?

The United States Department of Agriculture or USDA decides which foods can be considered organic. This means that food products, whether meat, vegetable, fruit or dairy, are not organic unless they have been certified by the USDA and bear the USDA stamp of approval.

Organic Standards for Seafood?

Such standards have not yet been developed for seafood, so you won’t find certified organic seafood at your local market. You may, however, see some seafood products labeled as organic, but don’t be confused! Seafood can only officially be considered organic if it bears the USDA stamp.

The Debate

The National Organic Standards Board of the USDA is currently developing standards for organic seafood. As a result of active public participation (thank you!), the standards may be pretty good, but we still face a tough battle against those who would benefit from lower standards!

• Proposed NOSB standards should require that farmed fish receive an exclusively organic diet. However, there is pressure on the NOSB to allow organic fish to be fed wild fish. Feed derived from wild fish contributes to the decline of wild fish populations and is known to contain high levels of contaminants, such as PCBs.
• Proposed NOSB standards should not allow fish that are grown in environmentally damaging and unsustainable net pens in the open-ocean to be labeled organic. There is no way to control what contaminants flow into these cages or waste flows out. Fish farming methods that adversely impact wild fish populations and emit large amounts of waste into the environment should not be regarded as healthy, sustainable, low-impact food products and therefore should not be considered organic.

What’s the Difference Between Wild and Organic?

Organic is a term traditionally used to classify agricultural products. In other words, the designation “organic” is directly related to whether the feed an animal has been reared on is organic, whether it has been exposed to chemicals or pesticides and whether it has been genetically altered. Because the food sources and environment of wild fish are completely uncontrolled, they should not be considered organic.

To learn more about our concerns regarding the development of organic standards click here, and stay tuned for an opportunity to submit your own comments to the NOSB.