THE STANDARD IS CHANGING

The Standard is Changing: Join ASC at Seafood Expo Global 2025 to hear more

A ground-breaking change for responsible seafood farming is on the horizon, and it’s being released to the world at Seafood Expo Global (SEG) 2025 in Barcelona.

Change starts on 7 May 2025 with the launch of the ASC Farm Standard, accelerating change for Fish, Farm, People, and Planet. This marks a monumental step towards more sustainable seafood production worldwide.

ASC CEO, Chris Ninnes said, “If you’re attending the expo, please join us to find out how we will drive positive change across the industry.

“I’m delighted to say that we will be joined on stage by Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) CEO Sophie Ryan, Nomad Foods Group Sustainability Manager Oliver Spring and Head of Sustainability from Sainsburys, David Parker for the launch of the ASC Farm Standard giving a supply chain view of the Farm Standard. Together we will accelerate progress towards a future of sustainable seafood worldwide.”

Choose change and reserve your seat now!

Chris Ninnes shares an insight into this landmark change for the industry.

Why the change?

As the global leader in aquaculture certification, ASC is setting the standard for seafood.

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.

The ASC Farm Certification Programme and its Standard – the result of extensive industry collaboration and years of consultation and scientific research – is designed to help farms operate more efficiently while ensuring the highest level of responsibility towards fish welfare, workers and communities, and the environment.

This change ensures that ASC certified farms more effectively meet market demands, regulatory requirements, and sustainability goals—while maintaining the highest level of accountability. It also embeds a commitment to data sharing and continuous improvement, with various mechanisms and support to enable them, that helps further drive industry-wide change.

It’s more than just an update to our programme—it’s a bold step that’s paving the way for meaningful and long-lasting change, accelerating progress towards a more sustainable seafood industry.

What’s changing?

The ASC Farm Certification Programme is a significant evolution, consolidating multiple species-specific standards into a single, comprehensive framework.

This new approach is designed to enhance efficiency, make it more accessible to a wider range of producers, support industry-wide adoption and ensure greater accountability.

The ASC Farm Standard addresses the interconnectedness of fish, farm, people and planet:

• A more holistic approach to fish welfare, ensuring better health and farming practices
• A smarter and more adaptable certification system for farms that aligns with evolving market, consumer, and regulatory demands
• Strengthened requirements to protect workers and communities, ensuring fair and ethical practices
• A science-based, impact-driven standard aimed at conserving biodiversity and minimising environmental impacts

What are the benefits for the supply chain?

With increasing consumer demand for responsibly farmed seafood, the ASC Farm Standard offers a competitive advantage for producers who prioritise sustainability. Whether you’re a seafood supplier, retailer, or farmer, adopting the ASC Farm Standard will help you:

• Meet market expectations more effectively
• Gain greater supply chain credibility
• Future-proof your operations against regulatory changes

How is ASC supporting farmers with this change?

To support producers and ensure the smoothest possible adoption of the ASC Farm Standard, a two-year transition period will begin in May 2025. This means:

• Producers can choose to adopt the new standard early, with existing ASC Species Standards remaining operational for those needing more time
• ASC will provide training, tools, and resources to support a seamless transition
• We will recognise early adopters for their leadership, with opportunities to showcase their best practices

Source Press Release

Main Image: ASC booth at SEG Barcelona 2024  | Source: ©ASC_Group