Species Extension Project: Catfish

Catfish to be added to the ASC programme

Following a 60-day consultation period between September and November 2025, numerous catfish genera will be added to the scope of the ASC programme through version 1.1 of the ASC Farm Standard. This version will be launched in November 2026 and become effective 1 February 2027.

We recieved 19 responses to the consulation, including from 9 catfish producers. Stakeholders generally agreed that the ASC Farm Standard effectively addresses catfish production impacts, including environmental, welfare, and human rights requirements.

Please see for the 2025 consultation summary report and the ASC response.

Please also see:

• The stakeholders who participated in the consultation
• Complete anonymous survey responses
• Further background information behind the consulation
• The project terms of reference
• The 2023 consultation summary report 

Contact Pierre Hyman for more information.

In 2021, the ASC Board identified and approved several species to be added to the ASC programme, including the following species of catfish:

• Claridae spp.
  • African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
  • Claresse (Hybrid of Heterobranchus longifilis X Clarias gariepinus)
  • Vundu (Heterobranchus longifilis)

• Ictalurus spp.
  • Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
• European/Wels catfish (Silirus glanis)

With the Species Extension Project: Catfish, ASC seeks to include multiple catfish species within the ASC Farm Standard, allowing for the expansion of the portfolio of species currently covered by ASC.

The inclusion of additional species in the ASC Farm Standard is a process that needs sufficient scientific data and producer input for the development of a white paper and for setting species-specific metrics according to the Metrics Methodology.