A+ Environmental Checklist 2019

Aquaculture Company
Evidence for desktop review
Evidence for site visit
Optional evidence
1
COMPLIANCE
1.1
Have there been any changes to any of your resource consents?
View resource consent and review changes
Discuss changes during site visit and view evidence of compliance with amendments
  • Communication with council
  • Annual compliance report
1.2
Have you registered all the farms you operate on the Government Fish Farmer Register (Fishserve)?
Confirm with FishServe records (from 2020)
1.3
Do you provide copies of the A+ Oyster Farmer On-Water Guide on your vessels (if appropriate) for staff to refer to?
Staff training records
  • Confirm guides are on vessels during site visit
  • Interview staff to confirm awareness
1.4
How many council abatement notice(s) have you received relating to your farms?
View council abatement notice(s)
1.5
How many non-compliance notices have you received from Maritime New Zealand?
View non-compliance notices from Maritime New Zealand
Evidence of corrective actions and management strategies to avoid further notices
1.6
How many non-compliance notices have you received from Worksafe?
View non-compliance notices from WorkSafe New Zealand
Evidence of corrective actions and management strategies to avoid further notices
1.7
Have you been issued with any harbourmaster infringement notices?
Check infringement notice(s)
  • Check infringement notices
  • Communication with relevant authorities
  • Discuss contravening activing and preventative measures undertaken by farm
1.8
Are you certified to any other environmental programmes or standards? e.g. Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), International Standards Organisation (ISO), organics, others?
View certificate and check expiry
Discuss non-conformance report
Full audit report
Please describe the programme(s)
View certificate and check expiry
2
ECOLOGY
Biodiversity
2.1
Do you have sensitive habitats near any of your farms?
Review resource consent – Map indicating the location of any sensitive habitats, within 100m of farm boundary
  • Map indicating the location of sensitive habitats, within 100m of the farm boundary
  • Staff awareness regarding sensitive habitats and management actions
  • EIA – or what is expected in NZ regarding the biodiversity assessment prior to establishing a farm
  • Resource consent
  • Mitigation strategies to minimise impact/s
Internal environmental management systems which assist in protecting sensitive habitats but not required by law
2.2
Do you have any reports relating to the Biodiversity section?
Biosecurity
2.3
Do you wash and/or visually inspect stock (spat/seed/oysters) prior to transferring between regions and/or require that it has been washed/inspected when receiving it?
View records of stock hygiene practices (visual inspection and washing prior to transfer)
  • Discuss records of stock hygiene practices (visual inspection and washing prior to transfer)
  • Staff training in spat transfer and receival
  • View controlled area notice if applicable
  • Shellfish movement control permit if applicable
Standard operation procedures
2.4
Do you carry a copy of the MPI ‘New Zealand’s Marine Pest Identification Guide’ on your vessels?
Confirmation of guide on vessel
  • Witness guide on vessel(s)
  • Staff ability to use guide to successfully identify pests (interview)
  • Training records
In-house training tools such as PowerPoint presentation and questionnaire
2.5
Have farm staff been trained in biosecurity awareness and/or management?
View staff training records
  • Training materials
  • Interview staff to confirm awareness
In-house training tools such as PowerPoint presentation and questionnaire
2.6
Do you keep records of receipt and transfer of stock?
View annual records of stock source and transfer. Records to include date/kg/location
View annual records of stock source and transfer. Records to include date/kg/location
Standard operating procedures
2.7
Do you maintain harvesting records for your farms?
Inventory database – annual harvest records
  • Inventory database
  • Data collection forms
Farm management software if used e.g. AquaManager.
2.8
Do you minimise transfer of equipment between regions?
  • View procedures that address biosecurity risks of equipment transfer i.e. wash/dry prior
  • Cleaning and sanitation records for equipment (prior to transfer)
  • Biosecurity Plan
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Cleaning and sanitation records
  • Staff training
  • Antifouling records
2.9
Have you identified any notifiable pests or diseases or unusual mortality on your farms?
  • Notifiable disease or pest reports
  • Mortality records
  • Mortality report to MPI (date / % loss)
  • Confirm that staff understand process for notifiable disease or pest by way of interview during site verification assessment
  • View mortality records
  • View pathology reports
Shellfish / Fish Health Surveillance Program. Survival Improvement Plan
2.10
Are any of your farms covered by a Biosecurity Management Plan?
Confirm Biosecurity Management Plan covers hygiene practices and disease management
View Biosecurity Management Plan
Staff training
Wildlife
2.11
Have you provided awareness training to farm staff with regards to reducing the impact on wildlife including marine mammals and birds?
Staff training records
  • Staff training records
  • Wildlife awareness training tools
Wildlife Interaction Plan
2.12
Do all marine vessels associated with your farms have a DOC sticker visible to the skipper about how to approach marine mammals?
  • Observe DoC sticker on vessels
  • Discuss with skipper and staff
2.13
Were any injury or mortality incidents recorded relating to your farms for wildlife such as birds or marine mammals?
View wildlife mortality records
  • Wildlife interaction and mortality records
  • Wildlife incident reporting to DoC
How many bird mortality incidents did you record?
  • View annual incident records
  • View DoC reports
Review historical records – look for improvement
Strategies to reduce bird interactions mortalities
How many mammal mortality incidents did you record?
  • View annual incident records
  • View DoC reports
Review historical records – look for improvement
Strategies to reduce mammal interactions and mortalities
2.14
Were they reported to DOC?
2.15
Do your boat transits avoid travelling within 100m from breeding colonies of threatened wildlife such as King shags?
  • Staff awareness training
  • Company policy
  • Staff training
  • Company policy
Wildlife Interaction Plan
2.16
Are any of your farms covered by a Wildlife Management Plan?
Wildlife Interaction Plan
Benthic Effects
2.17
For any of your farms, has a benthic survey been undertaken by a suitably qualified science provider?
View benthic survey report(s)
Benthic survey report(s)
Actions taken to manage benthic issues
2.18
Do you monitor changes to the benthos under your farms visually?
Note names of farms surveyed
  • View ROV report or similar
  • Confirm names on dashboard
2.19
Have best practice methods been implemented to minimise organic matter being discharged to the benthic environment? e.g. oyster drop off, crushed oysters, over settled species.
  • Request evidence - ask staff if they are aware of requirements
  • Maintenance/cleaning records (farm structures)
  • Inspection records
  • View records of farm stocking density (oysters/m3)
  • Staff training records
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Inspection records
  • Biofouling Management Plan
  • Non-target species reduction plan
  • Benthic Management Plan
Ecosystem Services
2.20
Have you participated in any programmes or taken any initiatives to restore ecosystems? (e.g. pest management programmes)
Record of participation
Ecosystem restoration program documentation – agreements
Ecosystem Services Strategy and training
2.21
Ecology Research - Please outline any new ideas for research or innovation relating to this ecology section that you have to share such as initiatives to protect wildlife, new biosecurity practices or alternative uses for non-target fouling species
View documents provided
Discuss during assessment
3
WATER QUALITY
Discharges
3.1
Has training been provided to staff to reduce vessel and farm discharges e.g. greywater?
  • Staff training records
  • View consent conditions for compliance of greywater discharge m3
3.2
Do you have an annual monitoring report that includes analysis of water column surveys?
View monitoring report and water column surveys
Discuss monitoring report
Pollution
3.3
How many pollution or spill incidents have you recorded?
  • View records of pollution incidents and corrective actions
  • Location map of storage
  • Oil/chemical spill kits observed on site
  • Standard operating procedures – e.g. refuelling
  • Waste collection procedures
  • View chemical and fuel storage on site
  • Incident Register
  • Chemical manifest
  • Materials Storage Handling and Waste Disposal plan
  • Initiatives to reduce pollution – biodegradable compounds and new management practices
3.4
Do you have Material Safety Data sheets (MSDS) on file in the event of an emergency?
View MSDS records
View MSDS records and check expiry dates
3.5
Do you have a spill response plan? e.g. for fuel, chemicals or oil
View Spill/Emergency Response Plan
  • Staff training on spill response
  • Emergency response plan
Waste collection procedures
3.6
Is vessel antifouling carried out according to best practice?
  • View Standard Operating Procedures
  • Antifoulant register and records of use
  • View storage and manifest during site visit
  • Biofouling Management Plan and/or record book
  • Invoices/receipts for coating type
  • Understanding of Guidelines for the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species
Chemical manifest
3.7
Are farms and/or vessels undertaking work on your farms compliant in terms of hazardous substances?
Maritime Transport Operator Plan – including cartage of hazardous substances
  • Interview Health and Safety Representative if applicable
  • Staff training in chemmical handling
  • SDS
  • Observe appropriate storage
Materials Storage Handling and Waste Disposal plan
3.8
Are you certified to an appropriate level under any Maritime New Zealand safety management system e.g. Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS)?
  • Current Maritime Transport Operator Certificate
  • MTO Plan
  • Current Maritime Transport Operator Certificate
  • MTO Plan
Hydrology
3.9
Do you follow best practices to maintain water flow through your farm(s)?
  • Hydrology assessment – EIA
  • Regular biofouling removal
Standard operating procedures
3.10
Water Quality Research - Please outline any new ideas for research or innovation relating to this water quality section that you have to share such as initiatives to reduce pollution in the aquatic environment
View documents provided
Discuss during assessment
4
WASTE
Waste Audit
4.1
Do you record the amount of waste (in tonnes and/or m3) taken to landfill annually?
View waste database. Note volume – m3
  • Waste collection template
  • Evidence of downward trend or stable
4.2
Do you have a plan detailing appropriate storage and disposal of organic (over settlement) and non-organic (e.g. ropes, lashings and floats) waste (as landed over the wharf)? e.g. shells used in vineyard.
  • Staff training records
  • Waste Storage and Disposal Plan
  • Standard operating procedures and forms
  • Site layout map detailing disposal and storage area
  • Interview staff to see if they are aware of their responsibilities
  • Training tools
  • Waste
  • Standard operating procedures and forms
  • Storage and Disposal Plan
  • Materials Storage Handling and Waste Disposal plan
  • MfE Solid Waste Analysis Protocol
Farming Debris
4.3
Have staff been trained in best practice measures to eliminate farm debris?
  • Staff training records
  • Training tools
  • Focus of training
  • Staff interview to confirm awareness
  • Training tools
  • Standard operating procedures e.g. on-water guide
  • Evidence of applying A+ Oyster Farmers Best Practice Management
  • Discuss efficacy of measure with staff during site visit
  • Evidence based improvements
  • Marine Operations Waste Management Plan
  • Evidence based improvements.
4.4
Please describe the measures you focus your training on
4.5
Are you an active participant in a local industry environmental programme?
Documentation of involvement in Industry Environmental Programme if applicable
Discuss programmes
4.6
How many (formal or informal) environmental clean-up events have you participated in?
View number of events
  • Marine debris beach clean-up forms – type of waste/volume e.g. recreational, domestic and industry
  • Discuss marine debris clean-up at site visit
  • Volume and type recorded
Do you keep a record of the volume and type of debris collected?
View records
4.7
How many complaints have you received either directly from the community or via a local marine farming association about farm debris?
  • View complaints register
  • Mitigation – complaints register corrective action/s and preventative measure/s
  • Complaints policy
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Interview stakeholder
Community consultation forum/process
Recycling & Reduction
4.8
Do you record the amount of recyclable material e.g. pegs, racks, baskets etc?
  • View inventory of pegs, racks, baskets etc
  • Records of pegs, racks, baskets etc recycled
  • View forms used to records information or company database
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Maintenance records
Marine Operations Waste Management Plan
4.9
Please describe how any of your waste minimisation efforts have led to a reduction of waste
  • View historical records of waste management
  • Operational initiatives leading to waste reduction (e.g. reduction in biofouling and therefore organic/inorganic waste reduction)
Zero Waste
4.10
Are you working towards a Zero Waste Policy?
View Zero Waste Policy or Plan
  • Staff training
  • Supporting documents to evidence plan or policy is adhered to
Familiar with SBC Zero Waste Guide
4.11
Waste Research - Please outline any new ideas for research or innovation relating to this waste section that you have to share such as initiatives to reduce/reuse/recycle waste or work with the community on marine debris issues
  • View supporting documents
  • Research applications/grants
Discuss during site visit – evidence of success
5
RESOURCES
Farm Structures
5.1
Do you keep records of your maintenance and inspection activities?
  • View farm maintenance records
  • Inspection checklist – frequency
  • View hard copies of forms regarding maintenance and daily/weekly inspections
  • Staff training – competency with standard operating procedures
  • Training tools
Engineers report upon establishment of farm
5.2
How many complaints have you received relating to maintenance or integrity of farm structures?
Complaints records
  • Complaints records
  • Incident register
Post-storm checklist
Please describe the complaint(s) and any initiatives you undertook as a result
Complaints/incident register including corrective action
Complaints/incident register including corrective action
5.3
Do you have a management/contingency plan in the event of damage to, or loss of, your farm structures?
View plan – Staff training records
  • Staff training in managing loss of farm infrastructure
  • Staff awareness of reporting process
  • Discuss plan and documents to support the plan – is there evidence the plan is working
Energy
5.4
Do you record the amount of fuel used across your farming operation annually?
  • View energy expenditure records
  • Petrol and Diesel used per MT of production.
Discuss records during site visit
  • Scope 1 and 2 GHG report
  • Advanced would be an LCA (which includes Scope 3 indirect emissions)
5.5
Do your work planning processes take into account energy efficiency?
View company energy efficiency strategy
Discuss energy efficiency strategy
Life cycle assessment
5.6
Resources Research - Please outline any new ideas for research or innovation relating to this resources section that you have to share such initiatives to maintain structures or reduce energy use.
  • View supporting documents
  • Research applications/grants
  • Staff awareness and training in energy efficiency
  • Ecosystem restoration management/action plan
Waste Reduction Action Plan
6
FOOD SAFETY AND ANIMAL HEALTH
Food Safety
6.1
Have all harvesting and farming staff received training in food safety and harvesting requirements?
  • View staff training records
  • Animal Products Risk Management Programmes
  • Hygiene policy
  • Training tools
  • Animal Products RMP if present
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Staff interview to confirm awareness of food safety
  • Part 11 Harvesting BMS and Part 17 Health of Personnel BMSRCS on site
  • Quality Management Plan
6.2
Do you have a Harvest Food Safety Plan, or evidence that staff have been trained in such?
6.3
Are you a current member/operator of a delivery centre programme operating under the Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish Regulated Control Scheme (BMSRCS)?
View operator registration under the BMSRCS - AP43/45/47
Risk Management Plan
Shellfish Sanitation Programme Risk Management Plans
6.4
Have all reporting and record keeping requirements been met for the BMSRCS?
Review SQAPDC to ensure growing area classification, testing, surveys, inspections, reporting requirements are met under the BMSRCS
View BMSRCS reporting and record keeping confirming it meets the requirements
Upload evidence of BMSRCS reporting and record keeping here
View records
Confirm records during site visit
Traceability
6.5
Are you able to trace harvested product back to farms in the event there is an issue?
Animal Health & Welfare
6.6
Are best practice management procedures for harvest followed as per the SMF operations procedures?
View SOPs to confirm compliance with SMF
  • View harvest during site visit
  • Confirm SOPs comply with SMF
6.7
Have all farm staff received training in shellfish behaviour, best husbandry guidelines and protocols contributing to shellfish welfare?
6.8
Do you have records of shellfish health, including disease, injury and mortality?
6.9
Food Safety & Animal Health Research - Please outline any new ideas for research or innovation relating to this food safety & animal health section that you have to share such as initiatives to enhance fish quality or traceability.
View research proposals, grants and applications
7
IWI PARTICIPATION
7.1
Do you know the name of the Iwi who have katiakitanga over the area in which your farms are located?
Request list and confirm with Iwi register
Discuss during site assessment and confirm list
7.2
Do you proactively engage/collaborate with your local iwi?
Community engagement and consultation evidence – meeting minutes, emails, documented site visits, media releases
  • Community consultation evidence – meeting minutes, emails, documented site visits, media releases
  • Meeting minutes
Communications Plan
Please outline any positive outcomes from Iwi engagement/collaboration you have to share.
View collaborative decisions/initiatives that have been made with local Iwi
7.3
Please outline any new ideas for Iwi/industry engagement or collaboration that you have to share.
View what has been submitted on dashboard
Discuss during assessment
8
COMMUNITY
Navigation
8.1
Do you have inspection records for navigation aids?
View inspection records for navigational aids
  • Check Marine Farm Lighting Plan is approved and comprehensive as per resource consent
  • View navigational incidents log
  • Project upgrades if applicable
Maritime New Zealand Aids to Navigation Guidelines awareness
8.2
How many navigational incidents are you aware of relating to your farms?
Incident register
Please describe the incident(s) and any initiatives you undertook as a result
  • Incident register
  • View documented initiatives to support navigational safety
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Meeting minutes
  • Discuss the effectiveness of the initiatives
Communications Plan
Communication
8.3
How many meetings/engagement initiatives have you attended on relevant community issues?
Community engagement records
Please describe examples of your community engagement e.g. local meetings, local festivals, and regional plan submissions.
View documentation in support of community engagement
  • Meeting minutes
  • Actioned items
  • Community complaints register
  • Community complaints policy
Communications Plan. Community consultation forums
8.4
How many staff do you employ across all farming operations?
Number of staff employed
  • View employee records
  • Break down of age/sex
8.5
Do you have a policy to actively employ locals?
View Employment Policy
Check employment policy is active
8.6
Do you actively seek to procure services in your local regions?
Evidence of local procurement of goods and services
8.7
Please give examples of any community events or organisations you support financially or with in-kind support
View evidence of community engagement with regard to sponsorship, donations or in-kind support
Sponsorship and donations database
8.8
Please describe how you communicate to the community (e.g. notices in the paper, social media, emails etc)
View social media formats
Request links
Visual Effects
8.9
Does your maintenance programme seek to ensure that farms are kept as tidy and well maintained as possible?
  • Request maintenance programme and check with resource consent
  • Documents to support maintenance programme e.g. Standard operating procedures
  • Staff training
  • Bins with lids
  • Skip bins
  • View maintenance yard
  • Annual compliance records
  • Maintenance standard operating procedures
  • Training materials/tools
  • Staff interview to confirm awareness
Preventative maintenance programme
8.10
Does your maintenance programme seek to ensure that vessels and barges are kept as tidy and well maintained as possible?
Check maintenance programme includes vessel and barge housekeeping
  • Barge and vessel maintenance procedures and schedule
  • Daily checklist
8.11
How many complaints have you received relating to farm or vessel/barge visual impacts?
View number of complaints
  • Council communications
  • Community complaints register
Please describe the visual complaint(s) and any initiatives you undertook as a result
View complaints report/register which includes corrective action/s and preventative measure
Discuss complaints and initiatives taken to resolve
Noise and Odour
8.12
Do you have practices and training in place to manage odour?
  • Staff training records
  • Training tools
  • Standard operating procedures.
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Staff interview to confirm awareness
8.13
Do you have practices and training in place to manage noise?
Evidence of staff training in noise management
  • Noise Management Plan
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Staff interview to confirm awareness
8.14
How many complaints have you received relating to odour or noise?
Community complaints register
Please describe the noise and odour complaint(s) and any initiatives you undertook as a result
Discuss noise and odour reducing initiatives and their effectiveness with farm staff
Employee Welfare
8.15
Is your operation compliant with New Zealand Health and Safety at Work legislation?
  • HR Policy Manual
  • H&S Management Plan/Policy
  • Dive logs and diver qualifications
  • Hazard identification
  • Risk register
  • Incident reporting process
  • Incident investigation procedure
  • ACC documentation
  • Dive Management Plan if applicable
  • Induction software e.g. Rapid Induct
  • Health and Safety at Work Training
  • Farm Health and Safety Representative?
8.16
How many notifiable events have been recorded across your operation?
View H&S incident records
Most recent Lost Time Injury? or WHS incident
HR3 or similar software
8.17
What was your LTIFR (Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate)?
8.18
Is your operation compliant with New Zealand employment law including hours of work & minimum wage?
  • Check HR policies
  • Staff contracts
  • Payslips
  • Provide ACC accreditation and level
  • Staff contracts
  • Payslips
  • Check HR policies
  • Confirm wages/salary meets minimal wage requirements
8.19
Please describe any initiatives you have in place to improve employee welfare.
Evidence of employee programs
8.20
Community Research - Please outline any new ideas for research or innovation relating to this community section that you have to share such as initiatives to improve navigational safety, community support programmes, improvement of amenity values or employee support programmes.
View supporting documentation
Discuss during site assessment