The benchmarking review was carried out by the Aquatic Life Institute (ALI).
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The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has welcomed the findings of the 2025 Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark, which identifies the organisation as the strongest performer on animal welfare among the three largest aquaculture certification schemes.
According to the benchmark results, based on an assessment carried out by the Aquatic Life Institute (ALI), ASC’s Farm Standard received a score of 7.75 out of 10.
The ALI states that the score reflects what it considers to be a technically robust and welfare-focused framework that continues to develop. The evaluation did not incorporate the assurance side of ASC’s certification, which includes audits and verification processes, because this component currently falls outside the benchmark criteria.
“As we refined this year’s Benchmark, our exchanges with ASC’s technical team were consistently constructive and rooted in a shared commitment to advancing aquatic animal welfare,” said Steffan Edward, Certification Specialist at ALI.
Edward added that the ASC Farm Standard "stands out as a rigorous and evolving framework” and described the Council’s engagement on future improvements as a positive signal for the wider sector. He said such collaboration supports progress towards “meaningful, measurable welfare gains for aquatic animals worldwide.”
ASC emphasised that, although assurance processes were not part of the benchmark score, "transparency and assurance remain central to ASC’s approach to animal welfare."
"Through ASC’s robust assurance system — including rigorous audits, verification processes, stakeholder consultation, and public reporting — ASC provides clear, demonstrable proof that welfare requirements are not only defined but consistently implemented in practice. This integrated model ensures our standards deliver credible, accountable, and tangible improvements for aquatic animal welfare," the organisation stated.
“We thank the Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) for recognising ASC Farm Standard’s robust management structure and its clear commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, and strong scientific foundations in improving aquatic animal welfare," said ASC Standards Manager for Animal Health and Welfare Maria Filipa Castanheira, via a press release. "We value the discussion and dialogue encouraged by the benchmark and appreciate the constructive engagement it fosters across the sector.”
“We continue to work towards stronger alignment with ALI’s key animal welfare principles and look forward to continued collaboration in support of shared goals for higher welfare and more responsible aquaculture,” Castanheira added.
