Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) welcomes Iceland Foods’ latest expansion of its ASC-certified seafood range, highlighting a growing movement among UK retailers to make responsibly farmed seafood both accessible and affordable for shoppers.

Launching from 10 February, Iceland’s new selection of ASC-labelled products reflects a broader shift in the retail sector, as more supermarkets recognise that sustainability and value can go hand in hand. By continuing to grow its ASC-certified offering, Iceland is responding to increasing consumer demand for seafood that is responsibly sourced and produced with care for people and the environment — without a premium price tag.

The latest rollout brings Iceland’s total ASC range to 15 products, including newly certified salmon, seabass, scallops and prawns. With several products available as part of multi-buy promotions, the range demonstrates that certified responsible seafood is no longer niche, but firmly part of the everyday shop.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has been officially classified as an Other Interest Group (OIG) and nominated to the Executive Committee of the Market Advisory Council (MAC), marking a significant step in ASC’s engagement with European Union market and policy processes.

Established under the EU Common Fisheries Policy, the MAC brings together stakeholders from across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain to provide structured, balanced advice to the European Commission and EU Member States on market-related aspects of fishery and aquaculture products. Its recommendations contribute to market policy implementation, regulatory development, and the effective functioning of the EU internal market.

ASC CEO, Chris Ninnes, said, “ASC’s nomination to the Executive Committee of the Market Advisory Council is a clear acknowledgement of our role as a credible and constructive voice in EU seafood and aquaculture markets. It gives us a stronger platform to contribute evidence-based perspectives on sustainability, market dynamics, and regulatory effectiveness. It also allows us to work closely with EU institutions and other stakeholders to support a transparent, resilient, and forward-looking European seafood market.”

ASC’s Active Role in EU Seafood Market and Policy

ASC has been an active member of the MAC for the past two years. Its nomination to the Executive Committee reflects the organisation’s recognised expertise and representative role in EU seafood and aquaculture market discussions. The Executive Committee, composed of up to 25 members representing both value chain actors and other interest groups, is responsible for guiding the MAC’s strategy, shaping its annual work programme, and preparing and forwarding its formal advice to the European Commission.

Through its new role, ASC will contribute more directly to setting the MAC’s agenda, shaping its positions, and ensuring that sustainability perspectives are reflected at the highest level of EU market governance. The appointment also strengthens ASC’s ability to engage directly and regularly with the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and to collaborate with fellow Executive Committee members from across industry and civil society, including the Marine Stewardship Council, the Environmental Justice Foundation, OCEANA and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

ASC looks forward to contributing constructively to the MAC’s work and to advancing balanced, forward-looking, and ASC-aligned solutions that support the long-term sustainability of the EU seafood and aquaculture sector.

Paris, France – Pokawa, France’s leading poké bowl brand, has reached a major milestone in its responsible sourcing. The chain is now serving 100% Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified seafood for all of its proteins, including salmon, shrimp, and tuna.

These two internationally recognised certifications—among the most rigorous in the seafood sector—guarantee full traceability and ensure that all seafood served across Pokawa restaurants comes from responsibly managed fisheries or certified responsible aquaculture farms.

Thomas Le Breton, Director of Purchasing and CSR, Pokawa, said, “We are delighted to have achieved this dual certification, which marks a significant milestone in the deployment of our responsible purchasing policy. We would like to commend the commitment of our suppliers, and in particular our partner Transgourmet, who supports us in this demanding and ambitious approach from words to action!”

Responsible aquaculture for salmon and shrimp

By earning the ASC label, Pokawa commits to sourcing salmon and shrimp from farms that meet strict requirements for environmental protection, biodiversity preservation, water quality, animal welfare, and human rights. ASC certification is widely recognised as one of the most demanding standards for responsible aquaculture, ensuring respect for ecosystems as well as for workers and local communities.

Maxime Engler, Market Development Manager France at ASC said, “ASC congratulates Pokawa for this commitment to responsible aquaculture. By becoming the first ASC-certified poké chain in France, Pokawa sets an example, asserts its leadership in sustainable seafood, and demonstrates a strong commitment that meets the growing expectations of consumers for food that respects the environment and human rights.”

Sustainable tuna fishing to protect ocean resources

For its tuna, Pokawa has obtained MSC certification—the global standard for sustainable wild fishing. This certification guarantees that the tuna is fully traceable to the point of sale and sourced from fisheries that comply with three fundamental principles: healthy fish stocks, minimal impact on marine ecosystems, and effective, transparent fisheries management.

For consumers, this means a clear and credible assurance: choosing Pokawa contributes directly to the fight against overfishing and supports the long-term preservation of marine resources.

Amélie Martinez, Head of the Commercial Division at MSC France, said “We are proud to support Pokawa. By choosing MSC-certified products, the restaurant chain gives consumers the power to support sustainable fishing every day. It’s a positive signal for the future of the oceans.”

100% certified seafood across the menu

With the simultaneous achievement of ASC and MSC certifications, Pokawa now guarantees that all of its seafood ingredients meet internationally recognised best practices for sustainability. This positions the brand among a small group of French restaurant players able to offer fully certified marine proteins across their menus.

This achievement also reflects Pokawa’s commitment to collaboration, highlighting the essential role of partners who share the same values of responsibility, innovation, and transparency throughout the supply chain.

More broadly, this milestone marks a decisive step in Pokawa’s long-term strategy. Pokawa proves that modern, flavourful cuisine can also be responsible. By making sustainable food choices accessible without sacrificing taste or quality, the brand continues to actively contribute to the food transition.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is celebrating three years since the implementation of the ASC Feed Standard. Since January 2023, ASC has seen growing global uptake and strong engagement across the aquafeed sector with 91 ASC-certified feed mills across 28 countries, and a further 29 mills in audit – as of 12 January 2026.

These feed mills are driving industry change through having a direct influence on upstream suppliers and downstream customers, through greater transparency and responsibility, as well as continuous improvement across feed supply chains.

Aisla Jones, Feed Engagement and UK Markets Manager at ASC, said, “Feed is one of the most powerful levers for change in aquaculture. The progress of the ASC Feed Certification Programme over the past three years shows what is possible when collaboration sits at the centre of sustainability efforts. From feed mills to ingredient producers, fisheries and certification partners, the programme is helping align expectations and create credible pathways for improvement across complex global supply chains.”

The ASC Feed Certification Programme is a cornerstone of the ASC vision of driving positive impact across aquaculture. It was developed to ensure that environmentally and socially responsible practices are embedded all the way back to the feed ingredients, and key challenges such as deforestation and land conversion, IUU fishing, overfishing, forced labour and more are addressed.

ASC requires the use of responsibly produced ingredients in aquafeeds, and for marine ingredients the Standard contains a unique improvement model that requires feed mills to source from increasingly well managed fisheries over time. MarinTrust and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), both full ISEAL Code Compliant members, play a crucial role in this mechanism and form the key steppingstones for improvement.

The second half of 2025 saw two major milestones for the ASC Feed Certification Programme:

• On 31 October 2025, it became a requirement for ASC-certified farms to use ASC-conforming feed from ASC-certified mills, strengthening integrity and transparency across supply chains.
• On 19 December 2025, ASC Feed Standard V1.2 and Feed Interpretation Manual V1.2 were published, with changes that reflect the complexity of ingredient sourcing, unblock ingredient supply and support global uptake of ASC Feed Certification. Transparency, data reporting, and improvement expectations continue to be the most robust, maintaining integrity of the standard.

The ASC Feed Standard and ASC Farm Standard are integral parts of the broader ASC Certification Programme, ensuring that responsible farming is underpinned by responsible feed and reinforcing ASC’s holistic approach to transforming seafood farming across the value chain. From 2 February 2026, ASC Feed Standard V1.2 becomes effective and mandatory; any feed mill audits announced on or after this date must be conducted against this version and audited in conjunction with the ASC Farm and Feed CAR v1.0, further strengthening alignment between feed and farm requirements.

Throughout 2026, ASC will continue to focus on engagement, collaboration and alignment with a wide range of feed ingredient manufacturers, raw material producers, certifiers and supply chain actors across marine, plant and emerging ingredient sources, including insects, algae and others.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is proud to announce that St. Andrews has become the first mussel producer in Chile to achieve ASC multisite with management system (MS with IMS) certification. St. Andrews is one of the world’s largest mussel growers, overseeing more than 1,500 hectares of cultivation and producing around 60,000 tonnes of mussels each year. The new certification spans seven mussel farms across its operation.

ASC Programme Assurance Director Efrain Calderon applauded the achievement, saying, “St. Andrews has reached an impressive milestone that oodemonstrates its deep commitment to sustainable aquaculture, responsible sourcing, community engagement, and the integration of small producers into the ASC programme. Their leadership is a powerful signal to the industry that strong environmental and social practices can align seamlessly with efficiency, growth, and expanded market access.”

The ASC MS with IMS certification provides producers with a framework to uphold rigorous sustainability practices while streamlining operations and reducing costs — a win for the environment, for producers, and for the communities whose livelihoods depend on aquaculture.

Eduardo Ferrari, Regional Manager at St. Andrews said, “This achievement demonstrates that sustainability depends on commitment, not on size. A big company can grow alongside its suppliers without losing its humanity or its connection to the community.”

Multisite Model Delivers Efficiency, Savings, and Stronger Compliance

Ferrari highlighted the clear advantages of MS with IMS certification over single-site certification. By assessing a centralised management system and auditing only a sample of sites, audit costs are significantly reduced, and preparation time is cut as documentation, procedures, and records are managed collectively.

Ferrari added, “Together, these efficiencies make the multisite approach a more streamlined and cost-effective option, enabling faster coordination and smoother operational management across all participating sites.”

Under the ASC MS with IMS programme, the farms introduced a more organised document-management system, embedding environmental and social requirements into daily operations. This not only improved efficiency and long-term oversight but also helped suppliers gain a deeper understanding of regulatory requirements—from environmental and social standards to quality and government obligations. The result is strengthened compliance, a culture of continuous improvement, enhanced customer trust, and broader access to international markets.

Strengthening Operations, Safety, and Community Engagement

Operational, infrastructure, and community improvements have been introduced to support certification compliance. Waste management was enhanced through the installation of recycling points, temporary collection areas, and waste segregation systems, alongside improved handling of hydrocarbon waste. Worker health and safety measures were strengthened with protective equipment, clearer signage, evacuation routes, first aid kits, upgraded facilities, and regular training.

On the community front, local groups were identified and engaged through meetings and activities, improving communication and transparency. St. Andrews’ team provides ongoing support, while the Multisite Certification Lead reinforces standards, conducts routine visits, inspections, and internal audits to each site to verify compliance, address gaps, and monitor progress on improvement actions.

Chile’s Mussel Industry and St. Andrews’ Role

Chile is the world’s leading mussel exporter, shipping roughly 100,000 tonnes of finished product annually, and growing about 400,000 tonnes of mussels, second only to China, which produces more but exports less. About half of Chile’s mussel production comes from small artisanal farms, some of which St. Andrews has helped certify under the ASC multisite programme. As Chile’s largest mussel producer, St. Andrews alone exports around 25,000 tonnes of finished product annually, 80,000 tonnes of raw material equivalent, highlighting its central role in the country’s growing mussel sector.

Mussel production has a relatively lower impact than other animal proteins because mussels naturally filter-feed without needing land, freshwater, or external feed, making them one of the most resource-efficient animal proteins.

ASC marked a landmark year in 2025, advancing its certification programme, forging new partnerships and championing responsible aquaculture across global supply chains.

A major milestone was the launch of the ASC Farm Standard at Seafood Expo Global in May — the most significant development in ASC certification to date. The new Standard brings together ASC environmental, social and welfare requirements into a single, coherent framework, empowering stakeholders to prove the sustainability of their seafood through independently measured, verified and publicly available information. Throughout 2025, ASC supported producers and auditors in preparing for transition with tailored training, guidance materials, mock audits and direct engagement, helping ensure a smooth move to the new system.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is pleased to announce that Humpty Doo Barramundi, based in the Northern Territory, has achieved ASC certification. This marks the first time an Australian barramundi farm has met the globally recognised ASC standards for responsible aquaculture.

Ellie Dixon, ASC Market Development Manager Australia said. “Humpty Doo Barramundi has demonstrated that Australian producers can meet the highest standards for responsibly farmed seafood. This is a proud moment for Australian aquaculture. Humpty Doo Barramundi’s certification is more than a national first, it represents the future of aquaculture, this achievement sets a precedent for the industry and ensures that consumers in Australia and beyond can access responsibly farmed barramundi. This certification is an important step forward for the sector and a powerful example of the positive change ASC aims to drive across global aquaculture.”

To meet ASC standards, farms undergo a rigorous third-party assessment, where they must demonstrate a comprehensive commitment to responsible farming that protects the environment, safeguards fish welfare, and supports the wellbeing of surrounding communities.

This includes maintaining excellent water quality, minimising waste, protecting local biodiversity, social, welfare and health management practices. Farms are also required to show full traceability of feed and engage transparently with local stakeholders. Together, these measures reflect a holistic approach to sustainable seafood farming that balances productivity with environmental and social responsibility.

Dan Richards, owner and CEO of Humpty Doo said “We are proud to be the first Australian barramundi farm to achieve ASC certification. Strong environmental practice and high-quality aquaculture have guided our family business for more than 30 years and this certification confirms that our approach meets the world’s most trusted benchmark for responsible farming.

This globally recognised milestone supports our strategy of partnering with the world’s leading retailers, chefs and ethically motivated foodservice operators to grow the market for our high-quality, sustainably produced Australian barramundi. It also marks an important step for Australian aquaculture, demonstrating what responsible barramundi production can look like.”

Humpty Doo Barramundi’s innovative saltwater wetland wastewater treatment system is a cornerstone of the farm’s commitment to sustainable practice and is one way that it ensures it meets ASC standards. Designed to mimic the natural tidal and mangrove environments in which barramundi thrive, the system recirculates and treats water through a closed loop wetland network, resulting in low impact to natural waterways while transforming nutrients into plant and algal growth for onsite use rather than pollution. This nature-based solution supports fish health, production efficiency, and ecosystem protection, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to innovation, improvement and responsible environmental farming practices.

With the continued growth of the aquaculture industry, achieving Australia’s first ASC certified barramundi farm positions Humpty Doo Barramundi as a national leader, demonstrating that Australian seafood can be produced in a way that protects ecosystems, strengthens communities, and upholds the highest global standards for environmental and social responsibility.

• Australians consume more than 350,000 tonnes of seafood each year, 65% of which is imported (ABARES, 2024).^[1]
• The Australian barramundi sector produced approximately 12,000 tonnes in 2023/24, representing a 13% growth since 2023, and the industry aims to reach a national production target of 20,000 tonnes by 2025.^[2]

What this means for the seafood sector

• Retailers and foodservice operators can now source ASC certified Australian barramundi for the first time, supported by independent, internationally recognised verification
• ASC certification helps supermarkets and suppliers meet growing consumer expectations for transparency and responsible sourcing
• The achievement sets a new benchmark for Australian aquaculture and strengthens Australia’s contribution to the global shift toward responsibly farmed seafood

“ASC certification is a rigorous process that requires a significant commitment from farms to achieve. Our audit team, comprising both an environmental and a social auditor, conducted a thorough document review, engaged directly with stakeholders, and completed an onsite audit to observe production, verify environmental impacts, and interview staff across all levels of the operation. The auditors were particularly impressed by the strong emphasis placed on environmental responsibility and workplace culture at Humpty Doo Barramundi. What stood out most was the farm’s genuine and ongoing engagement with its community and stakeholders.” bio.inspecta

A uniquely Northern Territory farm appreciated by chefs across Australia

Located on the floodplains of the Adelaide River halfway between Darwin and Kakadu National Park, the farm is shaped by its tropical environment. A long-term commitment to responsible farming has earned the company strong support from chefs who value provenance, flavour and responsible production.

“Seeing Humpty Doo Barramundi achieve ASC certification feels like a real win for Australian seafood. For me as a chef, it means I can put barramundi on the plate knowing it’s not only delicious, but also raised with respect for Country, community and the environment. Humpty Doo Barramundi is showing the kind of leadership our industry needs, choosing a path that reflects the values we should all be striving for.” Mindy Woods

^[1]  Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), Australian fisheries and aquaculture statistics 2024, DAFF, September 2025

^[2] Barramundi Farmers Association, Industry Overview, 2025, Industry | Australian Barramundi Farmers Association

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has launched a new Online Farm Mapping Tool (OFMT) designed to make the submission and validation of farm boundary data faster, clearer, and more transparent for certificate holders and Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).

The new tool allows certificate holders to draw and submit polygon drawing data directly within the platform, while CABs can review and verify farm locations and boundaries with greater precision and transparency. Integrated automatic validation checks help streamline audit preparation, reduce potential errors, and strengthen the integrity of site boundary information across ASC programmes.

Transparency is at the heart of ASC’s work, ensuring our commitment to responsible aquaculture is visible, verifiable, and accountable.

ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said, “Our new farm mapping tool brings many new innovations and developments to greatly enhance the ability of farms to easily enter farm polygon data. The many data layers available in this tool also allow CABs to confirm the location of the farm relative to protected areas and proximity to critical habitats such as mangroves and sea grass beds and whether these have changed over time. It is intuitive to use and provides easy access to information relevant for our certification processes.

This tool, a distant pipedream for many years, clearly illustrates how ASC is adapting technology to make life easier for farm clients and their CABs. Even better, it was developed in-house, and I know the team are already working on how this tool will support more powerful opportunities into the future.”

The OFMT also improves the user experience by enabling direct submission from within the application, reducing the workload by removing the need for downloading, renaming, and manually transferring files. Once a farm’s details are submitted, they appear instantly on the ASC certification portal (MyASC), allowing for a more dynamic and responsive mapping process.

While spatial data improves accuracy, on-site audits remain the definitive step in certification.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) welcomes the results of the 2025 Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark, which identify ASC as the leading organisation 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 recognising 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.

ASC is celebrating a major leap forward in responsible aquafeed production, with three new feed mills achieving ASC Feed Certification – marking a milestone for sustainable aquaculture in France and New Caledonia. 

BioMar has received France’s first ASC Feed Certification for its Nersac mill, while SICA and Provenderie Saint Vincent in New Caledonia have also earned certification, increasing the availability of responsible feed to the Pacific region. Together, these achievements mark a powerful shift toward transforming aquaculture from the very beginning of the supply chain – the feed that fuels it. 

Maxime Engler, Market Development Manager France at ASC, said, “From France to New Caledonia, feed producers are proving that sustainability isn’t limited by geography, it’s driven by commitment, transparency, and a shared vision for change. More producers across those regions can now access ASC-conforming feed, making it easier than ever to deliver responsible and traceable seafood.” 

At BioMar’s Nersac facility in France, certification under the ASC Feed Standard confirms its leadership in sustainability and innovation within European aquaculture. 

Luis García Romero, Managing Director of BioMar Western Mediterranean Europe and Africa, said, “This certification strengthens our ability to support ASC-certified farmers at every production stage. By offering ASC-conforming feed, we help our customers meet evolving market expectations and build value across the full value chain in the western mediterranean region.” 

Meanwhile in New Caledonia, SICA and Provenderie Saint Vincent’s certifications reflect the local shrimp sector’s growing commitment to sustainability. The certification process has driven tangible changes in their practices; from diversifying origins of raw materials, exploring innovative ingredients and phasing out unsustainable inputs, to formalising supplier criteria, enhancing environmental monitoring and embedding continuous improvement across all production stages. 

Yves Jean-Baptiste, Managing Director of Provenderie Saint Vincent, said, “ASC Feed Certification provides an internationally recognised framework, consistent with the growing expectations of consumers, distributors, and NGOs. It enables the New Caledonian industry to position itself on the global market.” 

Christine Colomina, Head of QHSE and R&D at SICA, added, “The ASC Feed Standard aligns perfectly with New Caledonian strategies to protect biodiversity, support the local economy, and enhance product credibility internationally, in line with territorial priorities for sustainability and a more responsible industry.” 

With these certifications, New Caledonia is becoming a hub for responsible feed production and signifying the start of a cultural shift towards greater responsibility for the region’s shrimp sector. 

Each new certification is further proof of the movement behind choosing ASC for change: the unifying call to action connecting every part of the aquaculture value chain to real, measurable impact. 

About the ASC Feed Standard

The ASC Feed Standard is the first of its kind to set binding global requirements for all feed ingredients – from fishmeal and fish oil to plant-based ingredients such as soy, palm oil, and wheat. Companies must demonstrate that these are sourced from responsibly managed fisheries or sustainable agricultural sources.