Aquaculture Stewardship Council Recorded Farm Improvements
The program verified nearly 7,000 improvements across thousands of certified seafood farms throughout 2025.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
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In 2025, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council logged 6,995 environmental and social improvements across 2,543 certified farms worldwide. These sites produced over 2.9 million tonnes of seafood, representing a 9 percent increase in production volume from the prior year.
Why it matters
The program helps ensure that global seafood production adheres to standardized environmental and social benchmarks. By tracking corrective actions and auditing compliance, the organization maintains oversight of intensive farming operations across 51 different countries.
Certified seafood production reached more than 2.9 million tonnes in 2025, a 9 percent year-on-year increase. During this period, the program completed 1,454 audits and suspended 28 certificates for non-conformities.
The players
Aquaculture Stewardship Council
This international non-profit organization sets standards for responsible aquaculture and manages a certification program for farmed seafood.
The details
Independent conformity assessment bodies conducted audits at 1,454 farm sites to ensure compliance with organization standards. When farms fail to meet required environmental or social criteria, they are mandated to take corrective action, or face suspension as seen in 28 cases during the year.
Timeline
Throughout 2025, the organization recorded 6,995 improvements and conducted 1,454 farm audits.
By 31 October 2025, all certified farms were required to use ASC-conforming feed.
As of the end of 2025, 21 farm sites were active in specific Aquaculture Improvement Projects.
Culture Shift
The introduction of the ASC Farm Standard in 2025 reflects a broader global shift toward tighter regulatory frameworks for sustainable food sourcing. This transition highlights a move away from voluntary guidelines toward rigorous, audit-based certification across international agricultural sectors.
Consumers purchasing certified seafood can rely on standardized audits to verify that products meet specific social and environmental criteria. These certifications impact purchasing decisions by allowing shoppers to identify food produced under stricter management guidelines.
The takeaway
Certified programs provide a mechanism for holding large-scale food producers accountable through consistent auditing and mandatory corrective actions. Shoppers looking for sustainable options can use these certifications as a shorthand for checking environmental and labor standards.
Further reading
Learn more about industry standards for sustainable sourcing on the Organic Food page.
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Do you trust that environmental certification labels on seafood reflect real changes in farming practices?
