The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) was founded in 2009 by WWF and IDH (Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative) to become the world’s ‘leading certification and labelling programme for responsibly farmed seafood’. (Take a look at our Marine Stewardship Council page for details of their scheme which promotes responsible fishing practices). The vision of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is ‘a world where aquaculture plays a major role in supplying food and social benefits for mankind without negatively impacting the environment’, whilst they describe their mission as being ‘to transform aquaculture towards environmental and social sustainability using efficient market mechanisms which create value across the chain’.
Currently the Aquaculture Stewardship Council partners remain as WWF and IDH although they are seeking others. In addition they have a number of supporters including some well-known brands. Visit their website www.ascworldwide.org for an up to date list.
Twelve fish species groups have been chosen by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council due to factors such as their environmental impact and market forces. The species are salmon, shrimp, tilapia, pangasius, freshwater trout, oysters, mussels, clams, scallops, abalone, Seriola (amberjack) and cobia. Details on the standards expected by the ASC for the various species are being added to their website www.ascworldwide.org as they become available. These standards are accredited by an independent third-party certification organisations.
The consumer label is not yet shown on the Aquaculture Stewardship Council website but should be available shortly. This will allow consumers to buy fish products in the knowledge that the fish has been farmed responsibly and sustainably.
Source: www.ascworldwide.org 2011
