Aquaculture Stewardship Council Recorded Farm Improvements
The program saw thousands of environmental and social upgrades in 2025 across certified seafood farms worldwide.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
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The Aquaculture Stewardship Council documented 6,995 environmental and social improvements at 2,543 certified farms throughout 2025. This initiative spanned 51 countries and oversaw more than 2.9 million tonnes of seafood production, representing a 9 percent year-on-year increase.
Why it matters
Tracking these metrics provides transparency into the sustainability practices of global seafood suppliers. As certification requirements evolve, these figures help identify how effectively industrial aquaculture addresses environmental impacts and social responsibilities.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council completed 1,454 audits in 2025 across 51 countries to verify compliance with environmental and social standards. While 6,995 improvements were logged, 28 certificates were suspended for non-conformities, highlighting the ongoing oversight process.
The players
Aquaculture Stewardship Council
An international non-profit organization that establishes and manages certification standards for responsible aquaculture and seafood farming.
The details
Independent conformity assessment bodies conduct these audits to ensure farms adhere to established standards for ecological and social welfare. When farms fail to meet these requirements, they are mandated to take corrective actions or face suspension. The newly launched ASC Farm Standard serves as the latest framework for guiding these operational changes toward more sustainable production.
Timeline
2025: ASC recorded 6,995 improvements and conducted 1,454 audits.
31 October 2025: Farms became required to use ASC-conforming feed.
End of 2025: 21 farm sites were active in improvement projects.
Health Landscape
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s data reflects a broader shift toward formalizing environmental oversight in global food production. This work follows the launch of the ASC Farm Standard, which currently serves as the primary mechanism for regulating the social and ecological footprint of farmed seafood.
Consumers looking to make informed seafood choices can use third-party certifications to identify products that meet specific environmental and social criteria. It is worth discussing with your local retailer how their sourcing policies align with independent audits like those conducted by the ASC.
The takeaway
The growth in certified production suggests a continued effort to standardize transparency in the seafood industry. Readers can track these standards by looking for official certification labels on seafood packaging when making grocery decisions.
Further reading
For more on sustainability standards in food production, visit our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Fish Site.
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Do you trust that environmental certification labels on seafood reflect real changes in farming practices?
