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Programme Improvements
At ASC, we regularly review and develop our Standards and the certification programme. Engaging with our stakeholders is crucial to ensure the Programme stays relevant and effective.
To ensure development and revision of ASC’s certification programme is rigorous and credible, this work is:
- Guided by ASC’s Programme Development and Revision Procedure and the ASC Metrics Methodology
- In line with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems
- Overseen by ASC’s Technical Advisory Group
We are proud to be an ISEAL Code Compliant member, committed to improving our systems by using the ISEAL Code as our framework.
Open stakeholder consultations
No stakeholder consultations are currently open.
Upcoming stakeholder consultations
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) within the ASC Farm Standard
Past stakeholder consultations
2024
2023 and before
For past stakeholder consultations from 2023 or before, please see
Contact us
For further information about our programme improvements and stakeholder consultations, please contact us.
Aquaculture in Protected Areas
ASC conducted a preliminary consultation as part of our Aquaculture in Protected Areas project. This project aims to clarify how aquaculture can operate within protected areas and to ensure that ASC certification requirements are aligned with globally recognised conservation frameworks.
The results of the consultation and next steps will be shared soon.
This consultation ran from 9 March to 9 April 2026.
We sought stakeholder input on:
- The project objectives, outcomes, scope, justification, timeline, governance and stakeholder engagement plan (Terms of Reference)
- Key risks, challenges, and regional considerations that should be addressed as we develop our approach to protected areas
- Additional protected areas governance frameworks to be considered
- Specific questions for CABs and auditors
The following slide deck contains key background information about the project and the preliminary consultation. It is available in English and Spanish:
- Protected areas consultation deck (English)
- Protected areas consultation deck (Spanish)
Further resources were available for this stakeholder consultation:
If you have any questions, please contact dan.auwkit@asc-aqua.org.
Background and objective
With both global aquaculture and protected areas systems expanding, there is an urgent need to clarify how aquaculture can operate responsibly within or near PAs and coexist with conservation objectives.
Aquaculture has become the world’s largest source of aquatic animal production, surpassing capture fisheries in 2022. At the same time, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commits countries to protecting at least 30% of land and marine areas by 2030 as well as to effective management and governance.