Arctic char
Salvelinus alpinus
Method of production — Farmed
Production country — UK
Production method — Land based flow through and recirculating systems.
Sustainability rating
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Sustainability overview
Land based farmed Arctic char is a good choice to make when looking for an oily fish. The use of land based production systems addresses many issues of environmental concern that can be associated with farmed fish production such as organic and chemical waste deposition, escapes and habitat impacts. Artic char has a lower requirement for fish in its diet compared to other salmonid species and in UK and Icelandic production responsibly sourced feed is used.
Feed Resources
Criterion Score: 2
Artic char are fed on a commercial, pelleted feed that comprises fishmeal, fish oil and vegetable proteins and oils. Global Gap standards recommend the responsible sourcing of the marine components of the diet but do not insist upon it. There are no requirements for the responsible sourcing of vegetable proteins and oils. Although Arctic char are good feed convertors they still require a little more fish protein than they produce.
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Environmental Impacts
Criterion Score: 2
Arctic char farmed in freshwater ponds to Global Gap standards address many environmental concerns such as impacts on the surrounding environment through waste dispersal, and impacts on surrounding habitats and species due to the contained nature of the ponds. Criteria within the standard also minimise escape risk. However lethal predator control is permitted.
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Fish Health and Welfare
Criterion Score: 1
Global Gap standards make provisions for fish health, welfare and humane slaughter as part of Veterinary Health Plan
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Management
Criterion Score: 5
Management and regulation of this land based system in England is broadly effective. There are regulations in place for the abstraction and disposal of water/waste water, chemical use and biosecurity. An environmental impact assessment is required prior to operation and this production system is certified to an independently audited standard.
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Production method
Land based flow through and recirculating systems.
The production of fish using land based, freshwater recirculating and flow through systems addresses the issues of environmental concern that can arise from open water production as interaction, and therefore impact, on the environment is prevented. The negative effects that can be associated with open waters systems such as uncontrolled discharges, escapes of farmed fish, transfer of disease and parasites, habitat damage and adverse effects on local wildlife are prevented by the containment systems in use.
Alternatives
Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating:
only fish rated 2 and below are included as an alternative in
the list below. Click on a name to show the sustainable options
available.
Anchovy, European anchovy
Anchovy, Peruvian anchovy
Arctic char
Herring or sild
Horse Mackerel, Scad
Kingfish, yellowtail
Mackerel
Salmon, Atlantic
Salmon, Chum, Keta, Calico or Dog salmon
Salmon, Pink, Spring , humpback
Salmon, Sockeye , Red Salmon, Bluebacks, Redfish
Sardine, European pilchard, sardines
Swordfish
Trout, Rainbow
Tuna, albacore
Tuna, skipjack
Tuna, yellowfin
Biology
A member of the Salmonidae family (as are salmon and trout), Arctic char (or charr) are both a freshwater and marine fish. Anadromous forms of the fish spend the majority of their lives at sea and those forms that do not migrate live in lakes and rivers. They are native to the cold water of the Artic and sub-artic, occupying coastal waters and lakes. It is also a native species to Scotland where is it found in deep, cold glacial lakes, as can be found in similar deep waters in the rest of the UK. It can reach sizes over 9kg but more typically are offered for sale at 1 -2 kg. In the wild they have a varied diet comprising of fish, insects, and crustaceans. Artic char are very sensitive to water pollution and acidification.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help businesses and consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish. For full details, please see the full farmed seafood methodology available
here.
Feed Resources
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 6 |
No feed inputs required. |
| -5 to 5 |
Feed inputs required. Scored according to traceability, sourcing and ingredients. |
| -6 |
Unsustainable, untraceable feed with a high fish feed dependency. |
Environmental Impact
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 7 |
All environmental impacts are mitigated by technology, production method and/or management practices. |
| -14 to 6 |
Environmental impacts are only partially mitigated for. |
| -15 |
High environmental impacts across all criteria. |
Fish Welfare
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 2 |
High welfare and slaughter standards. |
| 0-1 |
Either welfare or slaughter standards applied, not both. |
| -2 |
No standards for welfare or slaughter. |
Management
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 6 |
Good regulations and management practices, certified product to independent audited standards. |
| -6 to 5 |
Regulation and management is only partially effective and/or not comprehensive. |
| -7 |
Poor regulation, enforcement, management practices and uncertified product. |
For farmed seafood assessments, a 'critical fail' may be triggered and produce a default red rating where juveniles or broodstock are
sourced from wild capture fisheries that are rated 5, red rated, on the Good Fish Guide. For full details, please see the full farmed
seafood methodology available here.
References
GGAP V5.0 (2016) Global Gap Farm Assurance, All Farm Base- Aquaculture Module, Control Points and Compliance Criteria, English Version 5.0, Edition 5.0- 02 July 2016, Obligatory From 01 July 2016.
Houghton Springs Fish Farm pers comm 12/07/2019
Aller Aqua. Arctic Charr. Aller Arctic Support Datasheet. Available online at: file:///C:/Users/Dawn/Downloads/260-Arctic%20charr-EN.pdf. Accessed 13/07/2019
FAO. Aquaculture Feed and Fertilizer Resources Information System. Available online at: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/affris/docs/Trout/English/table_3.htm. Accessed 18/06/2016
Environment Agency. Environmental permitting guidance: Water discharge activities. Available online ://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-permitting-guidance-water-discharge-activities. Accessed 13/07/2019
The Wild Trout Trust. Artic charr. Available online at: https://www.wildtrout.org/content/arctic-charr. Accessed 12/07/2019
River Basin Management Plans: 2015.UK government. Available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/river-basin-management-plans-2015. Accessed 24/06/2019
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/43/EEC (1) of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora Council Directive 2006/66/EC . EUR Lex. Available online at :https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32006L0088. Accessed 24/06/2019
Council Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 of 11 June 2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture. EUR Lex. Available online at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32007R0708 Accessed 24/06/2019
The sustainability of fish can vary significantly depending on how and where it has been caught or farmed. Many single species are caught or farmed in a variety of ways and this range shows that, within a species, some sources may be more sustainable than others.
To find out specific ratings, click on the 'Show options for this fish' button under the image of the fish.
'Best choices' are rated 1 and 2 (green), 'Fish to Avoid' are rated 5 (red). Ratings 3 and 4 mean 'Think' (yellow and amber), as there are better rated alternatives.
Fish that are under review are shown with a question mark icon and no rating.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help consumers and businesses choose the most environmentally sustainable fish.
Seafood sources indicated as, 'To be assessed', are those that have not yet been assessed and assigned a rating or are undergoing a period
of review. These include sources previously rated by MCS for which the rating has lapsed, due to changes in the market or MCS priorities and
resources. Given that these sources are not fully assessed, the profile should not be used to infer the current sustainability of the
fishery or farmed species.
If you are interested in the sustainability of this seafood source, please let us know by emailing
ratings@mcsuk.org
Rating 1 (light green) is associated with the most
sustainably produced seafood.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 2 (pale green) is still a good choice, although some
aspects of its production or management could be improved
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 3 (yellow) based on available information; these
species should probably not be considered sustainable at
this time. Areas requiring improvement in the current
production may be significant. Eat only occasionally and
check www.goodfishguide.org for specific details.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 4 (orange) should not be considered sustainable, and
the fish is likely to have significant environmental issues
associated with its production. While it may be from a
deteriorating fishery, it may be one which has improved from
a 5 rating, and positive steps are being taken. However, MCS
would not usually recommend choosing this fish.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
'Red improver' ratings are assigned to seafood sources which have been assessed and rated 5 (red) due to significant environmental concerns
with one or more aspects of their management, capture or production, yet credible efforts to improve these issues have been agreed through a
Fisheries or Aquaculture Improvement Project – a FIP or an AIP - and work is underway. Such projects are normally publicly listed at
www.fisheryprogress.org. MCS wants to encourage environmental improvements in fisheries and fish farms, and so does not recommend avoiding
these sources, as we normally do for seafood rated 5 (red rated).
'Best choice' fish are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help businesses and consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 5 (red) is associated with fish to be avoided on the
basis that all or most of the criteria for sustainablilty
have not been met.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
