ASC certified

ASC certification is given to aquaculture businesses that meet the standards set by the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council). This certification proves that the seafood produced at the farm is environmentally and socially friendly. The seafood covered includes 12 species of marine and freshwater creatures (fish, shellfish, and crustaceans), tropical fish, and algae.

Seafood grown under responsible aquaculture management that has achieved ASC certification can bear the following seafood ecolabels:

As of 2021, there are 1,588 ASC certified farms worldwide, including 89 in Japan, and the number of ASC-labeled products worldwide is approximately 20,000. In this way, ASC certification has become a global certification system.^{※ 1}

A conformity assessment body (CAB) conducts audits to determine whether consideration has been given to the natural environment, biodiversity, and even working conditions, and determines whether the site meets the ASC standards.
The standards are based on the following seven principles:
 

1. Compliance with national and local laws and regulations
2. Preservation of natural habitats, local biodiversity and ecosystems
3. Maintaining diversity in wild populations
4. Conservation of water resources and water quality
5. Responsible use of feed and other resources
6. Proper fish disease management, antibiotic and chemical stewardship and responsible use
7. Community Responsibility and Decent Working Conditions

 
To obtain certification, a contract is signed with a certification body (CAB) that is accredited as an ASC aquaculture farm certification body, and an inspection is requested. Also, since the inspection standards differ depending on the fish species, the aquaculture farm is inspected according to each standard. The inspection takes about four months in total.

After that, in order to distribute certified seafood products, they must obtain CoC certification, which prevents contamination with non-certified seafood products and ensures traceability.

ASC certification also promotes the securing and improvement of the reliability of fishery eco-labels.GSSI (Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative)GSSI has created a global bench tool that implements the FAO guidelines, which is used to assess fishery eco-labels. GSSI was also used in the procurement guidelines for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.^{* XNUMX}

*1 November 2021 ASC Newsletter
https://jp.asc-aqua.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/11/ASC_November_2021_Newsletter_cp.pdf

*2 GSSI: What makes GSSI unique?
https://www.ourgssi.org/what-we-do/