Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Strengthens Its Position as a Global Leader in Aquatic Animal Welfare

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) welcomes the results of the 2025 Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark, which identify ASC as the leading organization for animal welfare amongst the top three major aquaculture certification programmes globally.

ASC Standards Manager for Animal Health and Welfare Maria Filipa Castanheira said, “We thank the Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) for recognizing ASC Farm Standard’s robust management structure and its clear commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, and strong scientific foundations in improving aquatic animal welfare. We value the discussion and dialogue encouraged by the benchmark and appreciate the constructive engagement it fosters across the sector.”

“As we refined this year’s Benchmark, our exchanges with ASC’s technical team were consistently constructive and rooted in a shared commitment to advancing aquatic animal welfare,” said Steffan Edward, Certification Specialist at the ALI.

“The ASC Farm Standard stands out as a rigorous and evolving framework, and Aquatic Life Institute’s assessment focuses solely on the welfare dimensions of that framework, without incorporating the broader social, environmental, or accountability components that also define ASC’s holistic approach. We value the openness with which ASC has engaged in discussions about future improvements, it is encouraging to see a leading organisation demonstrate both scientific ambition and a willingness to continually refine its standard. This spirit of collaboration strengthens the entire sector and brings us closer to meaningful, measurable welfare gains for aquatic animals worldwide.”

With a score of 7.75 out of 10, the ALI Benchmark found the ASC Farm Standard demonstrates a technically mature, welfare-conscious, and continuously evolving framework. ASC remains the leading reference for measurable and evidence-based aquatic animal welfare standards worldwide among major aquaculture organisations. 

The score of 7.75 does not reflect the assurance component of ASC’s certification, as this element is currently excluded from the benchmark criteria. However, although not factored into the scoring framework, transparency and assurance remain central to ASC’s approach to animal welfare. 

Through ASC’s robust assurance system — including rigorous audits, verification processes, stakeholder consultation, and public reporting — ASC provides clear, demonstrable proof that welfare requirements are not only defined but consistently implemented in practice. This integrated model ensures our standards deliver credible, accountable, and tangible improvements for aquatic animal welfare. 

ASC recognises the important role of benchmarks in driving higher sector-wide standards and welcome ongoing engagement to ensure they accurately reflect both written requirements and the systems that deliver meaningful welfare outcomes in practice. 

“We continue to work towards stronger alignment with ALI’s key animal welfare principles and look forward to continued collaboration in support of shared goals for higher welfare and more responsible aquaculture,” Castanheira said.

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

The ASC label on pack showcases ASC-certified farms and feed mills — impact-focused and transparent operations delivering measurable and verifiable change. They meet science-based, rigorous requirements that foster accountability and trust across the seafood value chain, from feed ingredients to farm to fork. 

ASC is an independent non-profit organisation setting the global standard for responsible farmed seafood. Our comprehensive environmental and social requirements drive continuous improvement in aquaculture practices. 

ASC is advancing the leading certification programme for responsible farmed seafood, partnering to increase demand for ASC-labelled products, and championing innovation through industry collaboration. 

Find out more: www.asc-aqua.org