ANNEX IIDETAILED RULES WITH RESPECT TO THE STOCKING DENSITY AND THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS FOR AQUACULTURE ANIMALS AS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 22

Part I: Salmonids in fresh water

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) – Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) – American brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) – Salmon (Salmo salar) – Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) – Grayling (Thymallus thymallus) – American lake trout (or grey trout) (Salvelinus namaycush) – Huchen (Hucho hucho)

Production systemsOngrowing farm systems must be fed from open systems. The flow rate must ensure a minimum of 60 % oxygen saturation for stock and must ensure their comfort and the elimination of farming effluent.
Maximum stocking density

Salmonid species not listed below 15 kg/m3

Salmon 20 kg/m3

Brown trout and Rainbow trout 25 kg/m3

Arctic charr 25 kg/m3

Part II: Salmonids in sea water

Salmon (Salmo salar), Brown trout (Salmo trutta) – Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Maximum stocking density10 kg/m3 in net pens

Part III: Cod (Gadus morhua) and other Gadidae, sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), sea bream (Sparus aurata), meagre (Argyrosomus regius), turbot (Psetta maxima [= Scopthalmus maximux]), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus [= Sparus pagrus]), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and other Sparidae, and spinefeet (Siganus spp.)

Production systemsIn open water containment systems (net pens/cages) with minimum sea current speed to provide optimum fish welfare or in open systems on land.
Maximum stocking density

For fish other than turbot: 15 kg/m3

For turbot: 25 kg/m2

Part IV: Sea bass, sea bream, meagre, mullets (Liza, Mugil) and eel (Anguilla spp.) in earth ponds of tidal areas and costal lagoons

Containment systemTraditional salt pans transformed into aquaculture production units and similar earth ponds in tidal areas
Production systemsThere must be adequate renewal of water to ensure the welfare of the species. At least 50 % of the dikes must have plant cover Wetland based depuration ponds required.
Maximum stocking density4 kg/m3

Part V: Sturgeon in fresh water

Species concerned: Acipenser family

Production systems

Water flow in each rearing unit must be sufficient to ensure animal welfare.

Effluent water to be of equivalent quality to incoming water.

Maximum stocking density30 kg/m3

Part VI: Fish in inland waters

Species concerned: Carp family (Cyprinidae) and other associated species in the context of polyculture, including perch, pike, catfish, coregonids, sturgeon.

Perch (Perca fluviatilis) in monoculture

Production systems

In fishponds which must be fully drained periodically and in lakes. Lakes must be devoted exclusively to organic production, including the growing of crops on dry areas.

The fishery capture area must be equipped with a clean water inlet and of a size to provide optimal comfort for the fish. The fish must be stored in clean water after harvest.

Areas of natural vegetation must be maintained around inland water units as a buffer zone for external land areas not involved in the farming operation in accordance with the rules of organic aquaculture.

For grow-out ‘polyculture’ must be used on condition that the criteria laid down in the present specifications for the other species of lakes fish are duly adhered to.

Maximum stocking densityThe total production of species is limited to 1 500 kg of fish per hectare per year (provided as farming yield due to specific characteristic of the production system).
Maximum stocking density only for perch in monoculture20 kg/m3

Part VII: Penaeid shrimps and freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium spp.)

Production systemsLocation to be in sterile clay areas to minimise environmental impact of pond construction. Ponds to be built with the natural pre-existing clay.
Maximum stocking density

Seeding: maximum 22 post larvae/m2

Maximum instantaneous biomass: 240 g/m2

Part VIII: Crayfish

Species concerned: Astacus astacus.

Maximum stocking density

For small-sized crayfish (< 20 mm): 100 individuals per m2.

For crayfish of intermediate size (20-50 mm): 30 individuals per m2.

For adult crayfish (> 50 mm): 5 individuals per m2 provided that adequate hiding places are available.

Part IX: Molluscs and echinoderms

Production systemsLong-lines, rafts, bottom culture, net bags, cages, trays, lantern nets, bouchot poles and other containment systems. For mussel cultivation on rafts the number of drop-ropes must not exceed one per square meter of surface area. The maximum drop-rope length must not exceed 20 metres. Thinning-out of drop-ropes must not take place during theproduction cycle, however drop ropes may be subdivided without increasing the stocking density.

Part X: Tropical fresh water fish: milkfish (Chanos chanos), tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), siamese catfish (Pangasius spp.)

Production systemsPonds and net cages
Maximum stocking density

Pangasius: 10 kg/m3

Oreochromis: 20 kg/m3