Financing Sustainability - ASC International

The world’s oceans are under growing pressure, and the financial sector is waking up to the risks that nature loss poses to economies, supply chains, and long‑term stability. Yet banks and investors still lack credible, consistent, and comparable data to assess seafood‑related sustainability risks — limiting their ability to reward responsible practices and scale positive impact.

At the same time, the blue economy is expanding rapidly. New financial instruments such as blue loans and blue bonds are emerging, but only a fraction currently reaches sustainable seafood. With global demand for transparency rising and frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature‑related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) reshaping expectations, the moment is right to embed credible sustainability signals into capital markets.

A new “blue” economy

Money has the power to change how industries act. In recent years, we have seen the rise of “the blue economy”: the use of ocean resources for economic growth needs to be balanced with the health of the ocean. New financial instruments such as blue loans and bonds have emerged to fund marine sustainability projects.

However, too little funding is reaching the sustainable seafood sector. Among other issues, banks and investors lack the kind of data they need to assess the risks involved and to offer rewards.

The power of certification

This is where the ASC (for farmed seafood) and the MSC (for wild seafood) come in. Our certification programs provide the kind of benchmarks investors need. Certification offers:

Scientific standards: These provide a consistent “scorecard” supported by robust data.
Independent checks: Third-party experts assess and audit fisheries, farms and supply chain businesses.
Long-term tracking: Progress is monitored over many years, emerging issues are addressed and continuous improvement is expected.

All of which can reduce risk.

What we are doing

The ASC and the MSC are working together to connect responsible seafood producers with responsible finance. We want certification to be a “green light” to help money flow towards businesses that protect the ocean.

The first phase of our work targets the US, Europe, and Japan. We are also starting work in Indonesia and Mexico.

Interest is growing. Deutsche Bank has announced it will lend only to ASC certified aquaculture. This shows increasing confidence among mainstream financial institutions.

We are also engaging with other major financial institutions as well as environmental NGOs and standard setters.

Building a data tool to support financial institutions

To support financial institutions’ need for credible and comparable risk data, we are developing a prototype dashboard. This will translate certification data into clear indicators designed for financial decision makers.

The initial project ends in August 2026, but we will continue to refine and advance the concept.

This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.

Looking ahead

By engaging with investors, banks, and finance policymakers, we are helping to build understanding of the real-world impact of certification.

The resilience of the seafood sector is directly linked to the resilience of our ocean. In recognition of this we expect to see more financial products linked to ASC and MSC certification, with wider integration of certification into financial risk management.