Research webinars on standards impacts

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1 Research webinars on standards impacts No.33: Social and environmental monitoring of the ASC certification in the south of Chile. 29 November 2018, 2pm Certified salmon at supermarket ASC

2 Social and environmental monitoring of the ASC certification in the south of Chile. Researchers Irina Montenegro Director of the Strategy and Science Program WWF Chile Priscila Molina Perez Monitoring & Evaluation Technical Officer WWF Chile Discussant Douglas Tenison-Collins Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

3 Social and Environmental ASC Certification in Southern Chile. First Findings and Recommendations Irina Montenegro Paredes, Strategy & Science Director. Priscila Molina Pérez, Monitoring & Evaluation Technical Officer. WWF Chile

4 Table of Contents Technical context Methodological approach Key Findings and recommendations Main challenges Conclusions Future steps

5 WWF work on Certification schemes WWF s Commodity Standards Impacts Program Set of criteria defining good social and environmental practices in an industry or product. WWF ToC about effects of certification schemes in relation to conservation / human well being targets A credible certification requires collect information to proves impacts from standard-setters while also improving it.

6 Case study: Social & Environmental Monitoring of ASC Certification Hypothesis Adopting best practices in salmon farms management due to the ASC Certification, generates positive social and environmental effects.

7 Case study: Social & Environmental Monitoring of ASC Certification Financial Institutions Executed by Collaborators Municipalities and local communities

8 Study Area General Context: 2 nd producer worldwide of salmon and trout, 30% of global salmon market. 1,355 salmon farms in the Chiloense Marine Ecoregion; 20% national salmon production is ASC certified. 2 participant salmon companies.

9 PHASE 1 (2015): Enabling conditions (partners, monitoring framework, resources) Case study: Social & Environmental Monitoring of ASC Certification Project phases Key products: 6 salmon companies, two universities and ASC in Latin America engaged in the project Preliminary set of indicators agreed PHASE 2 (2016): Methods designed and First measurement PHASE 3 (2017): Methods adjusted and Second measurement Key products: Work agreement with national University First measurement Workshop on Monitoring Techniques of salmon production Key products: Methodology adjusted. Second measurement PHASE 4 (2018): Third measurement and closing process Key products: Third measurement of indicators and comparison with previous measurements. Closing event.

10 Environmental approach Comparison of ASC certified (Dec 2015) / non ASC certified salmon farms Data compiled from control points, without salmon production (500m m). Temporal analysis summer season 2016, 2017 and 2018 for available data. Data analysis PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER6+ Diverse routine (S, N, H ) SIMPER (Similarity Percentage Analysis) Permanova (1 and 2 ways) Principles Coordinates Analysis (PCO) AZE (Allowable Zone of Effects) Control points (Reference site) Header upstream Header downstream 500 m Residual current Methodological Environmental Variables Framework Quality of Water Column (N & P based nutrients) Nitrites, Nitrates, Ammonium Total phosphorus Ortho-phosphates Seabed Quality RedOx, ph Benthic biodiversity Richness (S) Abundance (N) Shannon-Weiner (H ) Community structure

11 Environmental Study Area Areas assessed: Los Chonos archipelago (Non ASC certified) and Puyuhuapi channel (ASC certified).

12 Social Approach Methodological Framework Qualitative evaluations to measure temporal changes in the local communities perceptions of ASC salmon farms. Data collected from semi-structured interviews (snowball method), focal groups and collective mapping during summer season 2016, 2017, and Data Analysis Content Analysis using Atlas ti, Social network analysis, Area of influence analysis and proposal. Social variables Social network analysis Community participation Conflict resolution mechanisms Access to natural resources and cultural sites Local development

13 Social Study Area Areas assessed: Guaitecas, Cisnes and Hualaihue counties with certified and Non certified salmon farms.

14 Key findings & Recommendations

15 Key findings: Environmental variables Quality of Water column Seabed Quality Benthic biodiversity Key Finding Changes in N-based nutrients, redox level and species diversity (richness and abundance) are slightly different between certified and Non certified salmon farms. Control points compared to ASC/Non ASC centers have better conditions. Insufficient data to do temporal analysis. Key Finding Dominant species in certified farms & non certified farms are indicators of intervened environments, compared to control points. Key variables to analyze ecosystem health. WWF Reflections There are no significant differences between ASC and non ASC farms, however is obvious that impacts on environmental variables are higher than in areas without salmon production Differences detected possibly related to location of certified and non-certified farms. Variables results depend on number of samples (cover and repetition) and major data series to show trends.

16 Community Participation Conflict Resolution Key findings: Social Access to Natural Resources and Cultural Sites variables Local Development* Key Findings Efforts to improve communications and relations between companies and communities have been recognized in comparison with the past. There is more focus on providing information than engaging communities in decision making or consultation. Participants are not clear about conflict resolution mechanisms. Conflicts solved either face-toface or via complaints to local authorities. Key Findings loss or deterioration of natural resources which generate restrictions. No reports on values of cultural significance. No High Conservation Values Areas (HCVAs) identified. Key Findings Periodic company efforts to contribute to local development, mainly associated with a particular company s policies. WWF Reflection Focuses more on a topdown relationship than participatory. WWF Reflection Key variables as proxy for territorial governance (ASC Principle 7). No awareness of ASC certification social benefits. Responses are associated more at company level than at certified center. Also there are differences on farms about how to establish relations with communities, depending on staff experience. Outreach efforts cannot be attributed exclusively to ASC. Highly dependent on identification of influence zone and vital resources for communities

17 Recommendations for key stakeholders ASC Institutions Academics /NGOs Key actors in the territory Improve monitoring methods by increasing control points (reference sites) and strengthening environmental variables analysis: Environmental: Landscape scale analysis, more detailed taxonomic analysis at the genus level (detect bioindicator sp.), increase control points, carrying capacity. Social: Influence zones, HCVAs defined, participation criteria. In order to test properly environmental effects of ASC: Non ASC farms + control points need to be monitored. Create awareness among local stakeholders about ASC certification s benefits, opportunities and tools. Promote studies and workstreams within organizations to evaluate environmental and social effects from certified salmon production. More robust auditing processes developed by certification bodies based on validated sources to verify compliance with the Standard criteria. Contribute technical expertise to the design and monitoring. Strengthen production management based on a carrying capacity analysis. Authorities should make use of territorial planning tools that include environmental and social criteria. Companies need to promote the inclusion of communities in decisions for local development investment.

18 Main challenges Conclusions Future steps

19 Main challenges Lack of pre-certification data (difficult to compare to previous state of salmon farms). Non significant differences attributable to temporal (certified salmon farms got the seal by 2015 and it s difficult to detect some changes) and spatial scales (only at site level rather than landscape level). Environmental variables: differences between certified vs. non-certified areas due to sites geographic location (channel and a archipelago). Availability and access to information (Ex.: Non certified centers without seabed monitoring) Costs of monitoring: access to more effective technologies for data collection and processing was critical. It is difficult to attribute the changes detected in this study exclusively to ASC certification.

20 Conclusions Not conclusive in terms of the hypothesis, but generates baseline for scientific evidence of effects of ASC Certification. First time that this type of study has been carried out in Chile, so it works as a contribution to the lack of methodological and scientific knowledge in Chile. An effective process of environmental and social monitoring requires the constant commitment of the participants, which will facilitate the validation and legitimization of the results. The results of the monitoring should be transparently disclosed in order to identify management gaps and promote the adoption of measures that strengthen the environmental and social practices promoted by the ASC certification.

21 Future Steps Continue sharing final report and key findings of the project. Provide technical recommendations to key stakeholders to improve the monitoring system of ASC. Provide recommendations to strengthen monitoring systems developed by companies that own ASC certified salmon farms.

22 Colonia cormorán imperial, Patagonia Chile. Marcelo Flores / WWF Chile Thank you! irina.montenegro@wwf.cl priscila.molina@wwf.cl Final report can be found here:

23 Discussion with Douglas Tenison- Collins (ASC) Photo ASC

24 Pangasius fish Aquaculture Stewardship Council Thoughts? Questions? Comments?

25 RESEARCH WEBINARS SPRING-SUMMER 2019 Have you published research you would like to share? Do you know of interesting recent research in the field of sustainability standards? We are recruiting researchers for the next webinar series Please contact ISEAL Research and Evidence team: RSPO certified palm oil plantation Maris Zudrags for ASI

26 Thank You! Marcelo Hidalgo for Accreditation Services International