Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

certification

On 17 September 2018 The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) has provided formal recognition of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Certification for the scope of Aquaculture.

GSSI’s recognition shows that their Salmon Standard v1.3 (July, 2019) and their Shrimp Standard v1.0 (March 27, 2014) is in alignment with all applicable Essential Components of the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool (version 1.0, 8 October 2015). The Tool is underpinned by the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification and consists of performance areas related to scheme governance, operational management (including chain of custody) and applied aquaculture farm audit standards.

Scheme Owner

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

Date of Recognition

31 August, 2018
Read the news release

Scope of Recognition

Aquaculture Certification
(Aquaculture Facility Certification for Salmon Farms (Version 1.0, April 2017) [Initial Recognition]

Aquaculture Certification (Aquaculture Facility Certification for Shrimp Farms (Version 1.0, March 2014) [Scope Extension]

Steering Board Liaison

Hugo Byrnes, Vice President Product Integrity, Ahold Delhaize

Independent Experts
  • Sarah Ogston-Gray, Ogston-Gray Food Consulting
  • Dr. John Hargreaves, Independent Consultant, Aquaculture Assessments LLC
Benchmark Committee Members
  • Josie Foster, Director, J Foster Consulting LTD
  • Nigel Peacock, Director, Napfisheries & Aquatic Environment
  • Rebecca Clarkson, Environment Manager, Aquaculture New Zealand
  • Lee Cocker, Aquaculture Manager, SEAFISH
  • James Baros, Director of Sustainability, Sunnyvale Seafood Inc. (division of Guolian Aquatic China)
  • Gregg Small, Adjunct Faculty, Washington State University Food Science Innovation Center
Public Consultation

April 24 – May 25 2017 [Initial Recognition, Salmon Standard]

October 23 – November 21 2019 [Scope Extension, Shrimp Standard]

Monitoring of Continued Alignment (MOCA)

Date of MOCA Completion: August 2, 2021

The Monitoring of Continued Alignment (MOCA) procedure is a periodic review process where the Scheme provides a full overview of any changes in the Scheme’s ownership, management or the standard itself. This report on the Scheme’s continued implementation is reviewed by Independent Experts, who make a recommendation on continued recognition of the Scheme.

ASC’s MOCA process was completed on the 2nd of August, 2021 and continued recognition was approved. Read the overview here.

The Independent Experts were:

Sarah Ogston-Gray, Ogston-Gray Food Consulting
Dr. John Hargreaves, Independent Consultant, Aquaculture Assessments LLC

The Benchmark Committee members were:

Josie Foster, Director, J Foster Consulting LTD
Nigel Peacock, Director, Napfisheries & Aquatic Environment
Lee Cocker, Aquaculture Manager, SEAFISH
Gregg Small, Adjunct Faculty, Washington State University Food Science Innovation Center

Governance

Operational Management

(including chain of custody)

Aquaculture Certification Standard

(Salmon Farms)

Aquaculture Certification Standard

(Shrimp Farms)