Transforming Seafood: Insights from ASC’s 2024 Impacts Report
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has released its 2024 Impacts Report, showcasing significant advancements in sustainable aquaculture. This report highlights the ongoing commitment to improving environmental and social standards in seafood production globally.
Key Highlights of the 2024 Impacts Report
- Expanded Certification: 2,265 ASC-certified farms across 52 countries, a nearly 10% increase from the previous year.
- Environmental and Social Advancements: 3,981 improvements in environmental sustainability and 3,250 enhancements in social responsibility.
- Seafood Production: 2.69 million metric tonnes of ASC-certified seafood sold worldwide, marking a 32% increase from 2023.
- Consumer Choices: 28,426 ASC-labelled products available for consumers, up by 12% from last year.
- Feed Certification: 22 feed mills certified under the ASC Feed Standard in 9 countries, with 24 more in assessment.
- Active Projects: 14 active Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs) supporting 139 sites aiming for improved practices.
- Community Engagement: 660 stakeholder responses received to improve ASC programmes.
Why Responsible Aquaculture Matters
With aquaculture now supplying a greater portion of global seafood than wild capture, responsible growth in the industry is essential. In 2024, ASC intensified its commitment with a notable increase in farm certification and the successful launch of the pioneering ASC Farm Standard.
Expert Insights
ASC’s Chief Technical Officer, Ally Dingwall, stated, “2024 was a pivotal year for ASC as we emphasized feed in responsible aquaculture. The active participation from feed mills to retailers has driven sustainable change across the value chain. ASC-certified sites showed significant performance improvements by conserving biodiversity, combating climate change, and enhancing community welfare.”
The Future of Seafood Certification
Celebrating 15 years of transformative efforts in the seafood sector, ASC has introduced a comprehensive framework by uniting 11 species standards. This initiative aims to enhance consistency, strengthen requirements, and promote ongoing advancements in responsible farming practices.
Our clear commitment is to empower ASC-certified producers with better tools, training mechanisms, and collaborative pathways. This will boost global awareness and demand for responsibly farmed seafood.
To explore the full details and findings of the 2024 Impacts Report, click here.
Image credit: Aquaculture Stewardship Council
