May 15, 2025 — Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) launched its new certification standard for farmed seafood at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain. Over 200 attendees from across the supply chain—including producers, retailers, processors, industry bodies, and media—joined the long-awaited launch, which included support from industry guest speakers.
Aligning the twelve ASC species standards into one global standard, the ASC Farm Standard brings greater consistency to requirements across all species standards.
Formally launching the Farm Standard, ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said that “sustainability is no longer a trend; it’s the undeniable future, unfolding now. With the population estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050, and with wild-caught fisheries at capacity, the importance of seafood farming will continue to grow, the environmental and social impacts of our industry must be addressed. That is why ASC is driven to accelerate that transformation, not least by championing farms and feed mills that are making Change.”
ASC director of Standards and Science Michiel Fransen said, “built on four pillars—fish, farm, people and planet—the standard empowers producers to meet regulatory and market demands, enhance farming practices and fish health, prioritise worker and community wellbeing, and protects biodiversity.”