Lubimar's farm is located in a protected area known as 'Parque Natural de la Breña y Marismas del Barbate', in the province of Cadiz, Andalusia, Spain.
Photo: Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) yesterday celebrated a global milestone in responsible aquaculture with the announcement that the world's first farm has achieved certification to the new ASC Farm Standard. This is CUPIBAR, a Spanish family-owned seabass and seabream estuary farm better known by its brand name, Lubimar, located in Barbate, Cadiz, Andalusia, in southern Spain.
Launched in May of last year at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, the new ASC Farm Standard consolidated multiple species-specific certification standards into a single, unified system. According to ASC, the new approach was designed to increase efficiency for producers, broaden accessibility, and improve accountability across the aquaculture sector.
In the specific case of Lubimar, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council highlighted that this achievement not only marks its first ASC certification, but also demonstrates the leadership and confidence of the Spanish farm in complying from the beginning with a more complete and demanding set of requirements, since, rather than transitioning from the existing species-specific ASC Standards, it chose to be audited directly against the new one.
"Choosing to be audited directly against the ASC Farm Standard was a deliberate decision for us. We wanted to demonstrate our farming credentials by being the first in the world to achieve the ASC gold standard," explained Gontrán de Ceballos, Sales Manager at Lubimar
"It required a deep and honest examination of how we operate, from environmental management to fish welfare and our responsibilities to people. The process was demanding, but it has strengthened our farm and our team. We are extremely proud to be the first to achieve this certification and to help set a benchmark for the sector," he added.
The process's demand was confirmed by Stefano Crea, Senior Vice President, Global Director Market & Industries at DNV, the certification body that assessed the farm. "This certification was awarded after a rigorous and independent audit process. The assessment involved on-site inspections, document review, and interviews with staff," he said.
"When nonconformities were identified, they were addressed through corrective actions defined according to ASC requirements. This is how the credibility and transparency of a certification program is maintained," Crea stated.
In congratulating the Lubimar team on this historic achievement, ASC CEO Chris Ninnes also emphasized the leadership shown by the Spanish farm. "Their decision to seek certification directly against the ASC Farm Standard sends a powerful signal," he said. "It shows that the standard has moved from design to delivery, and that leading farms are ready to be assessed against a single, science-based framework that sets the bar for the entire sector."
Chris Ninnes, ASC CEO, congratulates the Lubimar team on being the first farm certified to the ASC Farm Standard.
In his statements, the CEO of ASC also commented that he was recently able to visit the farm and see firsthand how it works. "The work Lubimar has done to regenerate the area and bring back habitats that support a vast array of wildlife really is impressive," he said.
"By working with its unique environment, Lubimar's operations manage fish welfare and embed responsibility into day-to-day operations demonstrating exactly the kind of practices the Farm Standard is designed to recognize and drive," Niennes continued.
Located in a protected area in the province of Cadiz, Lubimar produces around 2,000 metric tons of fish per year in a unique estuary system, built on former salt flats, operating a semi-intensive breeding system characterized by very low population densities, with a maximum of 3 kg of fish per cubic meter of water.
The certified area covers 700 hectares, but only 35% of the surface is used for fish production, while the rest is maintained as a natural area, which is fundamental to the operation of the farm.
This low-density farming model supports fish health and welfare and eliminates the need for antibiotics. In addition to seabass and seabream production, the site also supports algae cultivation and harvesting, and more recently, oyster farming.
"When we arrived, these ponds were abandoned salt pans and unsuccessful aquaculture projects," Gontrán de Ceballos explained. "Through our farming approach, biodiversity has returned, and today much of the site functions as a natural wildlife area that supports bird species such as flamingos, spoonbills and ospreys."
"Choosing an extensive, low-density model reflects our long-term approach to fish welfare and environmental responsibility. This shows how aquaculture can operate in close relationship with sensitive environments, while also playing a vital social role by providing skilled jobs in a community where employment really matters," Lubimar's Sales Manager added.
Thus, ASC highlighted that the certification of Lubimar —a widely recognized brand in Spain, which is also marketed in more than 15 countries— marks a historic moment for the aquaculture sector, demonstrating that farming fish in harmony with nature, communities, and the highest expectations of animal welfare is not only an aspiration on paper, but can be achieved in practice.
Beyond the farm's reputation for quality, according to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, this certification recognizes something deeper: a long-term commitment to responsible aquaculture that delivers measurable benefits for people, the planet, the farm, and the fish themselves.
Specifically, its CEO, Chris Ninnes, noted that the ASC Farm Standard represents a benchmark for the industry, bringing together science-based requirements within a rigorous and transparent framework. In his view, it will drive industry-wide improvements in environmental performance, social responsibility, fish health and welfare, and the management of aquaculture farms.
"This framework can be applied to different production systems and species. Lubimar's certification confirms the Standard's readiness for real-world application and highlights what is possible when farms implement it at the highest level from the outset," he stated.
As Lubimar explains on its website, the breeding of fish in "esteros" (estuaries) is something unique in the world, found only on the southern Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Its distinguishing feature is that it is fully integrated into the natural environment and has a highly beneficial impact on the surrounding terrain.
For ASC, the fact that a farm model like this has achieved certification demonstrates how its Farm Standard can be applied to diverse production systems, including extensive farms in natural parks, while maintaining the same high level of scrutiny, credibility, and assurance.
Thus, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council highlighted that Lubimar has paved the way for others to follow, and its CEO called for action for farms around the world, encouraging them to come after its example.
"By becoming certified, farms can prove their performance, contribute to positive change across the industry, and play a vital role in protecting ecosystems, supporting communities and ensuring the welfare of farmed seafood – today and for the future," Ninnes said.
"As momentum builds globally, we look forward to more farms stepping up to achieve certification and demonstrate their commitment to responsible aquaculture," the ASC CEO concluded.