[1] The ideals of this practice established sustainable marine environments with consideration for naturally occurring ecosystems, use of pesticides, and the treatment of aquatic life.
[4] This seafood growing method has become popular in Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland,[5] but consumers can be confused or skeptical about the label due to conflicting and misleading standards around the world.
[2] Organic regulations designed around soil-based systems don't transfer well into aquaculture [7] and tend to conflict with large-scale, intensive (economically viable) practices/goals.
There are a number of problems facing organic aquaculture: difficulty of sourcing and certifying organic juveniles (hatchery or sustainable wild stock); 35-40% higher feed cost; more labour-intensive; time and cost of the certification process; a higher risk of diseases, and uncertain benefits.
Defining acceptable practices is also complicated by the variety of species - freshwater, saltwater, shellfish, finfish, mollusks and aquatic plants.
[16] The variation in standards, as well as the unknown level of actual compliance and the closeness of investigations when certifying are major problems in consistent organic certification.
[12][19] Canada's General Standards Board's (CGSB) proposed updates to their standards were strongly opposed in 2010 because they allowed antibiotic and chemical treatments of fish, up to 30 percent non-organic feed, deadly and uncontrolled impacts on wild species and unrestrained disposal of fish feces into the ocean.
[20] At the other end of the scale, the extremely strict national legislation in Denmark has made it difficult for the existing organic trout industry to develop.
[21] One major issue in organic aquaculture production is finding practical and sustainable alternatives to non-organic veterinary treatments, feeds, spat and waste disposal.
Research into ways of decreasing the amount on non-sustainable fishmeal in feed is currently focusing on replacement by organic vegetable proteins.
However, with the complexity and diversity of the marine systems, the group requested more time to explore bivalve mollusks (oysters, clams, mussels and scallops) in depth.
[30] It is anticipated that the first version of the rule for organic aquaculture will be announced in April or May 2016 with need for approval by the Office of Management and Budget.
It is expected to see the final rule in play by late summer or fall of 2016 with organic aquaculture products likely available in store in 2017.
[12] Organic seafood products are a niche market and users currently expect to pay premiums of 30-40% although there is "varying dimensions and durability".
[35] 1Indonesian Shrimp farms are locally certified as organic but a recent study found them to be highly environmentally damaging.