The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has officially launched its new Farm Standard, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of aquaculture certification.
Announced on 7 May 2025 at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, this new standard brings together species-specific requirements into one unified framework, aiming to simplify certification and drive stronger sustainability practices across the seafood sector.
A unified approach to certification
The ASC farm standard replaces multiple existing standards with a single, integrated system that applies across farmed species. This consolidation is designed to improve efficiency for producers, ensure greater consistency in audits, and make certification more accessible, particularly for farms with multiple species. It also reinforces key sustainability principles, including environmental protection, fish welfare and social responsibility.
According to the ASC, the new standard places greater emphasis on continuous improvement, outcome-based requirements and data-driven performance, helping certified farms demonstrate and enhance their sustainability credentials.
Transition timeline and support for producers
To support the transition, ASC has introduced a two-year implementation window, allowing farms to adopt the new standard at a manageable pace. During this time, producers can continue to certify against the previous species-specific standards while preparing to meet the requirements of the consolidated version.
The transition includes an extended deadline for compliance with the ASC feed standard, now set for October 2025. This gives farms additional time to source ASC-compliant feed from certified mills. ASC is offering detailed guidance, training materials and implementation tools to help farms and certification bodies navigate the changes effectively.
What this means for certified organisations
For certified farms and those seeking certification, the new ASC farm standard offers both opportunities and responsibilities. It provides a clearer, more coherent path to certification while raising the bar in key areas such as environmental impact monitoring, community engagement and animal health. Organisations are encouraged to begin engaging with the transition process now, using the available resources to understand the new requirements and plan for compliance.
LRQA remains committed to supporting aquaculture clients through this transition. As an approved ASC certification body, we are working closely with our clients to interpret the changes, deliver training, and ensure a smooth migration to the new standard.
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