ASC Farm Standard ASC Certification and Accreditation Requirements (CAR) ASC Group Certification Requirements

Farms: Get ASC Certified

Get in front of buyers already choosing ASC-certified seafood – considered the most robust certification in seafood farming.

Ready to start? See what certification involves, step by step.

See the Steps

Why Farms Choose ASC

Open Markets: Reach global markets that ask for ASC certification, meet demand and strengthen your standing with buyers.
Prove Your Performance: Put certification requirements into practice: better productivity, managed risk, and greater resilience for your farm.
Get Support: Access ASC expertise, tools and resources to understand requirements, preparing for and retaining your certification.
Keep Improving: Stay ahead as science, regulation and industry expectations evolve, with standards and assurance evolving too.

Ready for Certification? Check your farm against every indicator and see where you’re already compliant, and where there’s work to do.

Start Self-Assessment

Empowering Proof

Your ASC certification is proof that your farm is protecting habitats, working on cutting emissions, upholding animal welfare and treating workers fairly – the proof buyers are looking for.

More About ASC

Getting ASC Certified in Seven Steps

Get to know your relevant standard.

Compare and source an accredited, independent CAB.

ASC publishes the audit date before your assessment begins.

Check your practices against the standard, make any changes needed.

CAB conducts your audit, processes findings and sends draft report to ASC.

Initial report published on the ASC website, so stakeholders can comment.

CAB makes the decision; final audit report is published. If positive – celebrate!

When your certificate is online, you are officially ASC certified.

Online access to all relevant ASC Farm Certification Programme documentation.

Find out more

“Since certification, we’ve also seen new market opportunities. We are now able to supply to global hotel chains and have seen enthusiastic uptake for certified abalone by domestic retailers, leading to stable deliveries.”

Jiyeon Wi, CEO of Chungsanbada, South Korean supplier of ASC-certified abalone

Which Certification is Right for my Farm?

Join 2,640 farms already benefiting from being ASC-certified. Whether you’re farming from one site or multiple locations, and whichever species you farm, we have a certification route for you.

Single-Site

One site, one certificate:

If you farm from one site – this is the certification for you. Any farm producing an eligible species qualifies. Any location, any scale, anywhere in the world.

Multi-Site

Many sites, one system:

Looking to certify several sites? This certification applies across multiple sites with a management system in place. All sites are certified in one go and only a sample get audited each year.

Multi-Site

Many sites, no system:

You’re farming across multiple sites without an internal management system? No problem, this certification brings multiple sites under one ASC certificate, all in one go – without the need for internal audits or extra software.

Group

Smaller farms, better together:

Small or mid-sized farm? Get ASC certified alongside others like you, share the cost and workload, and meet the full standard, together.

Helpful documents

Need our help?

The ASC Certification Toolbox

All the official paperwork: the standards and requirements – easy to navigate and filtered to match your operation.

Your hub for submission templates, supporting documents and helpful resources all in one place – saves you digging for elusive forms.

A few questions to clarify where you already meet ASC requirements – and where you don’t, yet.

A step-by-step guide to certification – in one download.

A glossary of terms used across the ASC standards, defined clearly, so nothing gets lost in translation.

Whatever the question, you won’t be the first to ask. See how ASC has ruled on real cases before, through submitted Variance Requests (VR) and Questions for Interpretation (QA).

Find a CAB

Certification companies, also known as Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), are independent of the ASC.

CABs must demonstrate to Assurance Services International (ASI) that they have the skills to undertake assessments of our standards. Auditors are also required to participate in standard specific training, including a mandatory exam that they must pass.

To start your certification journey, compare CABs on the ASI website.

Compare CABs

Meet Farmers Like You

Read their stories – and see the difference ASC certification is making to their operations, worldwide.

See All Stories

Find Certified Farms, Feed Mills and Suppliers

Every ASC-certified farm, feed mill and seafood company certified to the Chain of Custody Standard is on the record, searchable by name, right across the network.

ASC Certification Q&A

Quick answers to help you on your certification journey.

How do I contact someone for help?

Reach out to your local ASC representative, you’ll find their contact details here.

Where can I find out about single-site, multi-site and group certification options?

You can find more information about the different ASC farm certification options here.

Where can I find more information about choosing an ASC-accredited CAB?

As you begin your ASC journey, it is up to you to choose an independent Conformity Assessment Body (CAB). You can compare certifiers and contact them here.

How do I know if I’m ready for certification?

Use the ASC Self-Assessment Tool to see where you already meet ASC requirements, and where there is still work to do – giving you a clear indication of how ready you are to start the certification process.

What if I’m not ready for certification yet?

Our Improver Programme by ASC supports those working toward certification through an Aquaculture Improvement Project, whatever your starting point.

Where do I find the right ASC certification for my business?

Explore certification routes for farms, feed mills and seafood supply chain businesses to find the one that applies to you – learn more about each of them here.

Does ASC conduct my audit?

No. ASC does not conduct audits or make certification decisions. Audits and certification decisions are carried out by accredited, independent Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).

How long does the on-site audit typically take?

It varies by operation, but an on-site audit typically takes around three days.

How do I know when I’m ASC certified?

Your CAB will confirm its decision. Once your certificate is published in the ASC database, you’re officially ASC certified.

Got Questions? Let’s Talk…

Complete the form below; we’ll get back to you. We’re happy to help.

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Farms: Get ASC Certified

Why Farms Choose ASC

Empowering Proof

Getting ASC Certified in Seven Steps

1. Read the documents

2. Choose a CAB

3. Audit date published

4. Prepare for audit

5. Getting audited

6. Report published

7. Getting certified

Congratulations!

Which Certification is Right for my Farm?

(with Internal Management System)

(without Internal Management System)

The ASC Certification Toolbox

ASC Programme Centre

ASC Resource Hub

ASC Self-Assessment Tool

ASC Quick Start Guide

Vocabulary Portal

VR Platform

Find a CAB

Meet Farmers Like You

Meet Rosie, ASC-Certified Salmon Farmer in Scotland

Meet Omarsa, First ASC-Certified Shrimp Farm in the World

Meet Lubimar, First Farm Certified to the ASC Farm Standard

Find Certified Farms, Feed Mills and Suppliers

Find a Farm

Find a Feed Mill

Find a Supplier

ASC Certification Q&A

Got Questions? Let’s Talk…