Transforming Aquaculture: ASC and SFP Unveil New Roadmap

In an ambitious effort to revolutionize global aquaculture, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) have launched a comprehensive new roadmap for landscape-level improvements in aquaculture.

The Vision Behind the Roadmap

This innovative document aims to provide a practical pathway toward sustainable aquaculture. By empowering stakeholders across regions, it advocates for innovative solutions and collective actions at the landscape level.

Funded by a Walmart Foundation grant, this roadmap focuses on the Indian shrimp sector in Andhra Pradesh. It is part of a larger initiative titled ‘Addressing the Carbon and Biodiversity Impacts of Aquaculture by Motivating Responsible Aquaculture Practices at Scale.’ Through on-the-ground learning and stakeholder engagement, ASC and SFP have meticulously analyzed the challenges and opportunities for promoting sustainability in shrimp farming.

Goals and Collaborative Approach

ASC and SFP’s collaboration combines their strengths and shared commitment to champion responsible seafood management. As stated by Jill Swasey, ASC’s Director of Impacts:

“Landscape approaches elevate the environmental and social performance of the region, reducing barriers and providing farmers with opportunities to drive improvements.”

Why a Landscape Approach Matters

Aquaculture’s rapid growth presents tremendous potential for sustainable food production. However, only 51% of global aquaculture is currently certified against recognized sustainability standards. The landscape approach focuses on collaboration among stakeholders—farmers, governments, NGOs, and the private sector—to enhance shared environmental and social standards.

Local Engagement: The Key to Success

A significant part of the initiative involves collaboration with local institutions. Jim Cannon, SFP CEO, emphasizes the importance of local expertise:

“Everything we do in-country should be done by local institutions; there is tremendous local capacity in Andhra Pradesh.”

Case Study: Shrimp Farming in Andhra Pradesh

The roadmap highlights the shrimp farming sector in Andhra Pradesh, which has seen surging demand, particularly in the U.S. and EU markets. With aims to scale up aquaculture from 400,000 to 1 million acres by 2030, the region faces significant ecological and social challenges.

This initiative proposes actionable strategies for sustainable growth in shrimp farming, ensuring resilience for both the environment and local communities.

A Practical and Inclusive Roadmap

The roadmap consists of several essential components:

• A Step-by-Step Framework: Offers practical guidance for the development and implementation of landscape-level aquaculture improvement projects (AIPs).
• Application Case Study: Shares lessons learned from the Andhra Pradesh initiative.
• Multi-Stakeholder and Holistic Focus: Encourages collaboration across the entire supply chain.
• Integration with Global Frameworks: Aligns with leading bodies, including the Global Sustainable Aquaculture Roadmap.

Toward Systemic Change

This initiative marks a transformative shift from isolated farm-level improvements to systemic change, recognizing the interconnectedness of landscapes and communities. By focusing on collaborative incentives and improved practices, this model offers scalable solutions for the future of aquaculture.

As Paul Bulcock, SFP Aquaculture Information Manager, noted:

“I hope the insights they shared and the foundation they’ve built will be carried forward for meaningful change.”