Seafood Leaders Explore Responsible Salmon Farming on Second ASC Discovery Tour in Norway

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) recently hosted its second Discovery Tour in Northern Norway, bringing together leaders from the European seafood and retail sectors to experience ASC-certified farm operations up close. Participants visited Nordlaks and Kvarøy salmon farms, along with Skretting’s feed facility, gaining first-hand insight into sustainable aquaculture in practice. 

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Vesterålen, Lofoten, and Helgeland islands, the tour built on ASC’s ongoing efforts to showcase responsible aquaculture in Norway.

Madalena Garrido, Product Manager, Pescanova Portugal said, “Taking part in the ASC Discovery Tour in Norway was an incredibly enriching experience. I gained valuable insights into salmon, aquaculture, and sustainable farming, and I’m truly grateful for the warm hospitality, excellent organisation, and the chance to see the entire process up close. A special thanks to the ASC team for their tireless support and to everyone who made this journey so memorable.”

Retail and Seafood Representatives Join Tour 

The delegation included senior executives from some of Europe’s foremost seafood retail and production companies.

Over the course of the tour, participants explored how ASC standards are implemented on farms, from environmentally responsible operations, fish welfare, and feed sourcing to traceability and community impacts. At the feed facility, discussions focused on how innovation in feed contributes to both sustainability and product quality.

Laetitia Rosing, ASC Norway Market Development Manager, said, “ASC is expanding its engagement with the industry through our second Discovery Tour of Norway’s salmon farms, giving stakeholders the chance to see responsible aquaculture in action and the impact of our certification up close. This is a special opportunity to connect producers, processors, and buyers, while showing the growing demand for ASC certified salmon.

“Experiencing first-hand what responsible aquaculture looks like is more important than ever, especially with ASC’s recently released Farm Standard raising the bar for the entire industry. Sharing the story behind the ASC label — with its strict requirements, independent verification, and full traceability from farm to store shelf — is essential to keeping market demand strong. That demand is what ultimately encourages more farms to adopt and uphold our standards.”

Why This Matters 

Aquaculture is growing globally to meet increasing demand for seafood. Yet with growth comes responsibility. The ASC Discovery Tour aims to deepen understanding of what it takes to farm seafood in a way that safeguards ecosystems, respects welfare, and supports local communities. 

Touring certified farms face-to-face enables partners in sourcing and retail to see the practical realities behind standards, reinforces commitments to responsible supply chains, and helps advance best practice across regions. 

About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

ASC drives the world’s leading farmed seafood certification programme, accelerating progress towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility.  

Our vision is a world where aquaculture plays a major role in supplying food and social benefits for humanity whilst minimising negative impacts on the environment.  

The Standard is Changing … for fish, farm, planet and people.   

The ASC Farm Standard addresses all key impacts of seafood farming, setting the standard for the industry globally and providing the highest assurance, integrity and transparency throughout the supply chain. 

Our standards ensure that seafood with the ASC label has been farmed with care. 

Choose ASC for Change.