The ASC label explained

Shopping for seafood can feel like a minefield of different buzz words and colour coded sustainability labels. You want to make the best choice for your family and the planet, but how do you know which label to look for and what they really mean?

In this blog we want to help you quieten the noise and understand exactly what the ASC label means for seafood lovers like yourself in over 90 countries worldwide.

So, every time you buy an ASC certified product this is what you should know:

🐟 We set the standard: the ASC standards are the most robust set of rules around responsible seafood farming in the world. Our goal is to promote the best industry practices for raising fish in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. We want to ensure that the industry can meet the needs of a growing global population in a meaningful and sustainable way. This includes rules around supply chains and fish feed, so you be confident that there’s fully traceable and responsible journey from farm and fork.

🐟 Our standards are created by experts: the ASC standards are the product of a series of working groups called the Aquaculture Dialogues. More than 2,000 experts in the field have contributed to building a measurable framework for responsible seafood farming, and the standards continue to evolve as new science and best practices develop.

🐟 Our label isn’t for sale: not just any farm can use our teal label! When you see the ASC label, it’s because the farm that raised your seafood completed our certification programme, adhering to all requirements to ensure that the fish, people, environment and communities involved are treated responsibly.

ASC doesn’t receive any payment from the certification process – just for use of the label once certified – and farms that participate in our programme are audited by an independent third-party. As part of this audit, the local community, public, NGOs and others are encouraged to give their feedback, which is all taken into account before a decision is reached. Farms are then regularly reviewed to make sure they are always operating at this high level.

🐟 ISEAL Code compliant: the ISEAL Code is a globally recognised framework that lays out a process for defining and measuring sustainability systems. We’re proud that ASC is the only responsible seafood farming programme that is fully ISEAL Code compliant.

This means that not only do we set the highest standards for seafood farming, but that we have established ways to monitor and evaluate the progress made by our certified farms. This helps us demonstrate that the social and environmental impact of seafood farming has been reduced due to our efforts. Part of adhering to the ISEAL Code is making sure that…

🐟 We measure our impact: we collect data on how our certification programme is promoting positive change in the seafood farming industry via third-party audits, supply chain activities and logo license agreements. Through measuring positive impacts felt by local communities, the environment and farmers via improved working conditions, we can gauge our progress towards our goals. This also helps us identify areas where we need to take further action.

🐟 We involve the public: every single farm certification, new standard or evolving standard at ASC is put to public consultation, which means that seafood lovers as well as farmers, auditors, environmental NGOs and governments can put forward their views.

This is important to us because it means our work is informed by the expertise of a much wider group. This approach also drives trust in our label because all kinds of people are involved in creating the standards we hold our farms to and this means they also feel invested in the programme’s success.

The ASC label is such an important part of our mission because we want seafood lovers to be able to easily tell if the seafood they are buying has been responsibly sourced and is traceable back to a well-managed farm that looks after its people and the environment.

It means that when you choose ASC certified seafood, you are supporting farmers who share our vision of transforming seafood farming towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility. And you’re also showing those farms who don’t that seafood lovers are concerned about responsible practices, which in turn encourages them to meet the high standards you demand by becoming ASC certified.

To find out more about the ASC label and how we’re making the seafood farming industry more responsible, follow us on Instagram.

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