AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market yesterday announced that it has implemented new standards for its farmed seafood that will require vendor partners to successfully pass an independent, third-party audit ensuring that their aquaculture operations have a minimal impact on the environment. The operations must work in a way that does not harm sensitive habitats such as wetlands and mangrove forests, and must monitor water quality to prevent pollution. Farm-to-fork traceability will also be required, from hatcheries to the ponds, pens, raceways and tanks, and through to the plants where the fish are processed. “For years our seafood standards made us a leader in our industry. Now, we have taken an additional step by embarking on an intensive process to further develop and enhance our farmed seafood standards,” Carrie Brownstein, seafood quality standards coordinator for Whole Foods, said in a news release. “By working closely with the farmers who produce the highest-quality farmed seafood for our shoppers, Whole Foods Market is proud to set the bar even higher.”

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