Thousands of improvements made at ASC-certified farms last year
Nearly 7,000 verified environmental and social improvements were recorded at Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified farms around the world in 2025, according to the ASC’s newly published 2025 Impact Report.
The report also reveals there were 2,543 ASC-certified farms across 51 countries operating last year, and that more than 2.9 million tonnes of ASC-certified seafood was produced, up 9% year-on-year.
The number of ASC-certified feed mill sites reached 91, up from 22 in 2024, and there were 30,236 ASC-labelled products available globally.
“Impact needs evidence. The nearly 7,000 environmental and social improvements recorded at ASC-certified farms give us tangible proof of change happening on the ground,” said ASC chief executive Chris Ninnes.
“As ASC marks its 15th anniversary, our programme is also reaching further across the systems behind farmed seafood – from feed ingredients to farms, supply chains and markets. That gives us greater opportunities to identify risks, drive improvement and provide credible evidence of progress.”
Farm Standard
ASC said a defining milestone in 2025 was the launch of its Farm Standard, bringing requirements covering farm management, environmental performance, human rights, and animal health and welfare into a single framework spanning species and production systems.
Feed certification grew rapidly during 2025, and from October 31 last year ASC-certified farms were required to use ASC-conforming feed – connecting farm certification more closely with feed mills and the ingredients underpinning aquaculture production.
Meanwhile, the Improver Programme by ASC continued to provide structured pathways for producers to make verified, time-bound environmental and social improvements. By the end of 2025, 21 farm sites across five countries were active in Aquaculture Improvement Projects, while two successfully completed projects had achieved ASC certification.
Audits and suspensions
In 2025, 1,454 farm audits were completed across 51 countries. Independent Conformity Assessment Bodies assess farms against ASC requirements, with audit reports and certification decisions publicly available.
Where requirements are not met, farms must take corrective action, with 28 certificates suspended during 2025 following unaddressed non-conformities.
“Change requires practical pathways to improve, systems that measure progress and independent mechanisms that provide confidence in what has been achieved,” said Ninnes.
“As aquaculture continues to grow, our focus is on working with producers and partners across the supply chain to scale measurable environmental and social improvement – and provide the proof behind that progress.”
