AQUACULTURE: EUROPE WANTS MORE, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SAYS NO MORE FARMED SHRIMP, OTHER NGOS GET INTO THE ECO-LABEL GAME.

At a time when the European Union is calling for redoubling Europe's aquaculture efforts and NGOs are vying to sell their eco-labels to producers, Friends of the Earth wants to cut consumption and shut down the majors in the shrimp farm business. All of the fuss and bother suggests one thing: aquaculture has captured the world's attention.

Driving aquaculture into the public spotlight is the growing realization that while consumption is up, capture fisheries cannot meet consumer demand given the limitations of wild resources. Nations around the world are eyeing aquaculture as a growth industry and developed and developing nations alike want their share of the farmed seafood revenue pie.

The drumbeat of NGO negativity that's dogged aquaculture over the past few decades has many messages yet in many ways these groups have shaped modern aquaculture.

NGO criticism rightly focused attention on the very real need to create systems compatible with nature and that offered good jobs with fair pay to workers wherever they might be. But the call for sustainable farmed seafood has its dark side.

Blanket condemnation of shrimp farms for destroying mangrove stands ignored ponds built on useless salt flats that in fact enhanced mangroves. Hypothetical dangers to the environment were invented and passed off as real. Allegations of worker mistreatment proved groundless. All of which suggested a hidden NGO agenda that may or may not be presenting itself in the fact that the very NGOs sounding the most shrill alarms appear to have created a lucrative venture of their own: eco-certification complete with stylish eco-labels to append to consumer products.

WWF created the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) that is now, for all practical purposes under the control of Pew Charitable Trust interests. Earth Island Institute holds sway over canned tuna imported into the United States as "dolphin safe." And one of EII's tuna label veterans is making his mark issuing "Friend of the Sea" certification at a cost to producers that vastly undercuts the very expensive MSC eco-label. The constant bickering among NGOs over the credibility of each other's eco-label suggests that concern is more for dollars generated from consumer "feel good" marketing than over the plight of the environment.

As if to turn back aquaculture's time line a decade or two, Friends of the Earth long an advocate for the organic food industry is renewing the call to end shrimp farming and reduce farmed shrimp consumption.

Last month, FoE's Indonesian arm - The Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia) - held a meeting in Lampung Indonesia to discuss a campaign against "Industrial Shrimp Aquaculture." Except for finally acknowledging shrimp farm locations on salt and mud flats away from mangroves, the Lampung Declaration issued by the group condemns shrimp farming, calls for a drastic reduction in consumption, and demands farms be shut down as environmental dangers. It also condemns eco-certification as an industry ploy to encourage consumer confidence, failing to note that its fellow NGOs are behind many eco-certification schemes.

Ironically, the FoE Lampung Declaration is a reprise of the 1997 Industrial Shrimp Network effort to shut down shrimp farms. Then the "network" membership included the WWF (MSC eco-label creator). ISN was created in an effort to bring shrimp farming to its knees. While rogue shrimp farms indeed do violate principles of environmental compatibility and sustainability many don't and are legitimate means for production of environmentally friendly protein, good jobs and hard cash flowing from developed to developing nations. Those facts were attested to in the FAO Technical Consultation on Shrimp Farming held in Thailand in 1997.

It's only fair to say that the press for more aquaculture whether fin fish, shell fish or shrimp will present opportunities to ethical and unethical practitioners alike. Importers, retailers and consumers must be on guard to deal strictly with sustainable providers. However, that is no reason for NGO hyperbole muddying the waters on this or any issue.