Unima, a prominent player in Madagascar’s shrimp production sector, has recently been awarded the Aquaculture Stewardship Certification (ASC) for its aquaculture farm, Aqualma. Located on the northwest coast of Madagascar in Mahajamba, Aqualma becomes the first shrimp farm in Africa to attain ASC certification, a globally recognized standard emphasizing high environmental and social performance within the aquaculture industry.

The collaboration between Unima and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) dates back to 2007, focusing on the development and implementation of commendable social and environmental practices. Through the ASC certification, Unima is acknowledged for its contributions to community development, reforestation efforts, and the adept management of mangrove areas, water treatment, and waste management.

WWF praises Unima for surpassing the ASC standard, adopting a comprehensive approach that goes beyond environmental aspects to include education, healthcare, and other social and environmental improvements on the farm.

This certification marks a significant advancement for the shrimp sector across Africa and augurs well for the export market in Madagascar. In 2014, shrimp fishing and farming constituted a substantial 49% of Madagascar’s fish product exports, with Aqualma alone responsible for over 60% of farmed shrimp production.

The primary consumer of Malagasy shrimps is Europe, importing 400,000 tons of tropical farmed shrimp annually. France dominates the market, accounting for the majority of imports, while Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom share the remaining 10%.

Dr. Didier Fourgon, WWF Fisheries Programme Officer, underscores the importance of responsible aquaculture management: “When managed responsibly, aquaculture can thrive alongside healthy wild fish populations and without harming the marine environment, including the vulnerable mangrove areas in Madagascar. The ASC shrimp certification is a good starting point to achieve this. It’s a proof of good industrial practices and a quality warranty for European consumers on their product choice.”

Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, Country Director, WWF Madagascar, expresses optimism about the broader impact of Aqualma’s certification: “We hope this certification of Aqualma will serve as a model for other shrimp farms and will stimulate further engagement of the broader Malagasy shrimp industry towards sustainable management. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Unima and also other farms in shrimp-producing countries such as Mozambique to implement better practices and help achieve ASC certification throughout the Africa region.”