On the application of the principles of the best aquaculture practices in Russian aquaculture

Objective: Implementation of the concepts of best aquaculture practices as a mechanism for sustainable development ща aquaculture in Russia Methods: Comparative analytical methods of studying open information sources as well as a semi-quantitative scoring method to determine the degree of impact of risks and threats to the sustainable development of aquaculture farms were used. Novelty: An analysis of the best practices used in countries with developed aquaculture was conducted, a current list of threats to aquaculture farms in Russian Federation was determined, and principles and criteria for assessing the sustainability of aquaculture farms were proposed. Result: The basic principles and criteria for the best aquaculture practices for the main areas of Russian aquaculture are formulated, and primary sets of indicators characterizing various aspects of sustainability are developed. The following sustainability aspects were selected: regulatory, environmental, safety, technical and economic. A semi-quantitative threat analysis revealed that the most vulnerable are pond and cage farms, precisely those types of aquaculture farms that contribute the most to the volume of aquaculture production. The practical significance: The proposed system of criteria allows to assess current threats to Russian aquaculture farms and suggest areas of activity to reduce risks. The system of criteria, after its verification in operating aquaculture farms, will be used in the development of reference books (guidelines) on best aquaculture practices.