Overview
ISO 17273:2024 - Waste management and reduction from aquaculture facilities in natural water bodies - provides principles and guidelines for managing solid waste generated by aquaculture in marine and fresh water environments. The standard specifies a system for waste management including waste plans, methods, classification, storage, monitoring and prioritization using the waste hierarchy and circular-economy principles. It explicitly does not apply to land‑based aquaculture or to biological waste.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and definitions: Clear terms for waste, litter, plastics (including biodegradable and microplastics), main components, extra equipment and other equipment.
- Principles: General guidance to avoid littering and pollution, prioritize waste prevention and resource recovery, and adapt measures to local waste systems.
- Waste plan: Requirements to develop, document and implement a waste management plan covering classification, handling, storage and offloading.
- Classification & hazardous waste: Guidance on categorizing solid waste, and managing hazardous items appropriately.
- Operations & maintenance waste: Handling wastes from cleaning/flushing, maintenance of vessels and aquaculture equipment, and managing lost or discarded gear.
- Storage & discharge: Rules for planned storage and controls to avoid discharge into aquatic environments.
- Monitoring & documentation: Ongoing monitoring, geolocation of lost items, recordkeeping and risk assessment to support continuous improvement.
- Circular economy actions: Prioritize reuse, recycling and recovery; avoid actions that reduce waste quality; and integrate local waste‑receiver arrangements.
Practical applications
- Reduce litter and plastic pollution (including macro- and microplastics) from farms, cages, barges and service vessels.
- Minimize environmental impacts on fish, invertebrates, birds and marine mammals by preventing gear loss and uncontrolled discharges.
- Improve resource efficiency through reuse and recycling of equipment and materials.
- Support compliance and stakeholder communication via documented waste plans, monitoring records and risk assessments.
- Facilitate operational decisions during maintenance, equipment replacement and emergency response to minimize waste release.
Who should use this standard
- Aquaculture operators and farm managers working in natural water bodies
- Environmental and compliance officers
- Regulators and permitting authorities
- Consultants, auditors and certification bodies
- Equipment manufacturers and service providers in the aquaculture supply chain
- NGOs and community stakeholders focused on marine pollution reduction
Related standards and references
- ISO 5020:2022 (terminology referenced in the document)
- MARPOL (Appendix V) principles referenced for litter definitions
- Guidance from ISO/TC 234 (Fisheries and aquaculture)
Keywords: ISO 17273:2024, aquaculture waste management, marine aquaculture, waste reduction, circular economy, waste plan, plastic pollution, microplastic, waste hierarchy.
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