Invitation to Quote August, 2016 SEAFISH RISK ASSESSMENT FOR SOURCING SEAFOOD (RASS) - AQUACULTURE PROFILES

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1 Invitation to Quote August, 2016 SEAFISH RISK ASSESSMENT FOR SOURCING SEAFOOD (RASS) - AQUACULTURE PROFILES 1. Introduction / background Seafish is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) set up by the Fisheries Act 1981 to improve efficiency and raise standards across the seafood industry. We are funded by a levy on the first sale of seafood products in the UK, including imported seafood. At Seafish, our mission is to support a profitable, sustainable and socially responsible future for the seafood industry. Our remit includes everything - and everyone - from fishermen and processors through to importers, retailers and food service providers Seafish are currently working to their Corporate Plan. More information is available on our web site Responsible sourcing underpins the reputation of the whole seafood supply chain and is increasingly central to seafood buying policies. Aquaculture is an important aspect of global seafood supplies, and aqua-products will play an ever more influential role in seafood consumption. There are strong pressures from the supply chain aimed at sourcing farmed seafood responsibly and this is translated into a requirement for suppliers to respond with suitable information. The options available for responding to these requests range from reliance on information obtained from various sources such as Seafood Watch, Marine Conservation Society (MCS), and eco-standards such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Currently, the Seafish Aquaculture Responsible Sourcing Guides (Aquaculture RSGs) 1 cover eight farmed species/groups. However, Seafish can empower buyers to make more informed choices and comply with their corporate social responsibility requirements by providing more focused information on the key risks relating to the responsible sourcing of aquaculture derived seafood. We propose to add an aquaculture facet to the existing web-based Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood (RASS) which currently provides information on the environmental risks of wild-capture fisheries pertinent to the UK supply-chain. 2. Aims and objectives industry recognised best practise? or some way of articulating how we expect the scope of information captured to be determined AIM: For comprehensive responsible sourcing of aquaculture products, there is a need for an information system that will not only allow users to recognised industry best practise for a farmed species, but empower buyers to proactively question their suppliers on the key risks and what mitigation methods are being adopted in the farming of that aquaculture species/group of species from that particular source. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to provide clear, pertinent information which is easy to maintain and highlights the most important environmental issues and corresponding mitigation measures that commercial seafood buyers need to be aware of in aquaculture production. RASS Aquaculture profiles will be created for the specific groups/species that are of most importance to the UK market and will form another facet of the existing web-based tool ( Focused and detailed information on each key risk will be made available, including the industry methods and strategies industry employ to mitigate the identified risk. However unlike RASS fishery profiles, no risk score methodology will be developed and no risk score given. The aquaculture tool will be designed to help 1

2 industry seafood buyers inform their seafood purchasing through increasing their awareness of the key risks and their mitigation measures surrounding a farmed aquatic group/species. It will enable them to ascertain whether their suppliers are addressing key risks through mitigation and at a level acceptable with their own responsible sourcing policies aligned to their own business tolerance to risk. The profiles will also feature information on the relevant certification schemes (eco-standards, certification) that may address the key issues identified; it is then a matter for the buyer to interrogate these schemes to ascertain if they address their concerns. It is envisaged that outcomes of Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) 2 benchmarking will be highlighted within profiles as and when available. In the same vein as the wild RASS fishery profiles, it will still be possible to print off PDF versions of the RASS Aquaculture profile information. Based on feedback from industry through the RASS Steering Group 3, Seafish have prioritised a list of sixteen RASS Aquaculture profiles. Content for three of these profiles have already been created, namely: Atlantic salmon, turbot and mussels. As the project has developed profile formats have evolved and this will continue to do so, however a draft profile for Atlantic salmon is given in Appendix 1. The information in each profile will cover general introduction to the group/species (sources, quantities, main aquaculture production method/s) but the primary focus will be on the key environmental risk/s of production and industry methods and strategies to mitigate them. The relevant schemes (eco-standards, certification standards) that address the key risks and their mitigation methods also need identifying. 3. Scope of work This Invitation to Quote relates to the development of thirteen farmed groups/species profiles. The farmed groups/species that have been chosen are: Rainbow trout Cobia Sea trout Tilapia European seabass Warm water prawn P monodon European seabream Warm water prawn L vannamei Halibut Oysters Meagre Scallops Pangasius In order to create a profile for each, there are four main tasks: i. Overview - general introduction to the group/species, geographical sources and quantities of production, main cultivation method/s and system/s, geographical differences in governance of their production (inc. zonal management) should be highlighted ii. Identification of, and information gathering on the key risk/s with regards to each group/species aquaculture; geographical differences must be highlighted iii. Identification of, and information gathering on the key mitigation options in relation to each of the key risk/s identified for each group/species aquaculture; geographical difference should be highlighted iv. Identification of relevant schemes (eco-standards, certification standards) that address the key risks and their mitigation methods as identified in tasks 2 and 3 2 Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative The RASS Steering Group brings together seafood buyers, retailers and food service representatives, and NGOs and invites them to provide Seafish with feedback and guidance in regards to the scope and development of the RASS tool 2

3 4. Outputs The contractor will be expected to create the thirteen fully referenced RASS Aquaculture profiles in a WORD template. The use of easily digestible graphics and figures to disseminate the information is desirable. 5. Expected approach The contractor will define the detail of how they will undertake the project. Overall this is expected to include; - Building up on the template/draft Atlantic salmon profile provided - Detailed literature review; published reports, media coverage, websites, etc. - Discussions with members of the seafood buying community, seafood industry groups and representatives - Direct engagement with other relevant key stakeholders 6. Timescale The start date for the project should be as soon as possible after the contract is awarded. The preferred deadline for delivery of all outputs is Friday 13 th January Quotes Please submit concise quotes to Lee Cocker at Seafish outlining and including the following: Contractor: - Proven expertise in this subject area or a proven track record of delivering similar projects to a high standard including references / examples of work that will demonstrate the relevant expertise of any person directly involved in the contract - Provide a detailed plan specifying timescales for the project, by main task Costs: - A summary breakdown of the proposed work (including; research costs; travel expenses; overheads; other costs; and VAT where applicable), and a proposed payment schedule. Quotes should be submitted electronically by COP Friday 26 th August to either: Lee Cocker, Aquaculture Manager, Seafish Industry Authority. lee.cocker@seafish.co.uk. Tele: / Mob: Dr Alex Caveen, RASS Manager, Seafish Industry Authority. alex.caveen@seafish.co.uk Tele: Evaluation of Quotes Quotes will be assessed by a small team within Seafish and will consider; total cost; relevant experience; ability to deliver within the desired timeframe. We will aim to notify the outcome and successful bidder within September Further enquires For further enquires relating to this invitation to quote, please contact Lee Cocker, Aquaculture Manager, Seafish Industry Authority. lee.cocker@seafish.co.uk. Tele: / Mob: Dr Alex Caveen, RASS Manager, Seafish Industry Authority. alex.caveen@seafish.co.uk Tele:

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10 Below is a draft of the first stage of the Certification Drop-box. Once GSSI begins to release details of benchmarked schemes, then the certification drop-box could be expanded 10

11 Certification Drop-box - once GSSI begins to release details of benchmarked schemes, then the certification drop-box could be expanded (Note: The certification table - crosses against the certification schemes are just an example and not a true representation) 11