Find what you are looking for

Go directly to content

Why ASC?

We set the standard for seafood. If you see the ASC label on pack, you can be sure that your seafood was farmed with care.

our impact

By choosing ASC labelled seafood, you are making a proven, positive impact on people and the planet.

Get involved

Which seafood will you choose for dinner? We've got some suggestions.

Popular links

Follow us and stay up to date:

Certification

Join the most recognised certification programme as proof of your responsible farming practices to a global audience.

Our impact

ASC creates measurable positive change in global seafood farming.

Find out more

The ASC programme is successful because of all producers and partners involved. Read our reports and stories.

Certification

Join the most recognised certification programme and benefit from trading ASC certified seafood.

Our impact

ASC creates measurable, positive change in global seafood farming.

After certification

In addition to accessing our global network of secure and flexible supply, ASC partners benefit from marketing their ASC certified seafood.

Completed projects

Metrics and Methodology

ASC’s [new] Metrics Methodology

The ASC has embarked upon a Metrics Methodology project to create transparency and consistency into the ‘metric’ standard-setting dimension of the ASC standards. The ‘Baseline’ Methodology document published in November 2020 was issued for a 62-day public consultation period in March–May 2020 (see the documents below). It is applicable to all species-specific metrics and aims to provide minimum requirements for setting and/or revising metrics within any of the ASC standards. The ASC Metrics Methodology will also be applicable to the ASC Farm Standard once the Alignment Project is completed.

The March-May 2020 Metric Methodology public consultation was also linked to that of the Shrimp Revision ; which included documents also referring to specific ‘metrics’.

ASC particularly sought stakeholder feedback on two dimensions of the ‘Baseline’ Methodology document (listed below). Furthermore, stakeholders were encouraged to provide any general feedback which they deemed fit.

i) ‘Relevant Data’…

Data from certified farms (where applicable), non-certified farms and research studies will be consulted for revision and/or setting of new metrics.

  • Is there any other type of data that should be considered as relevant for this purpose or do you consider any of the mentioned types of data as irrelevant? If so, please provide an explanation as to why you think that a certain type of data should not be included in the metric setting approach

ii) Statistical Analysis

The draft ASC Metrics Methodology stated that “data will be checked for normal distribution and homogeneity of variance” although a Gauss distribution can not necessarily be expected, especially for survival rates in highly technical systems. However, homoscedasticity is assumed to determine the sample size for non-certified farms (within revision of metrics, based on data from certified farms and literature).

A revised version of the Metrics Methodology ‘Baseline’ document was published in November 2021 (see below).

For more information, contact Kathrin Steinberg, PhD, ASC Performance Data Coordinator.

[Last updated 12.11.2021]

Other documents

Public Consultation, March 2 – May 2, 2020

RAS Module development

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

Certification of aquatic products from open and semi-closed systems such as sea-cages, ponds or flow-through systems was the initial focus of the ASC standards. In recent years, however, the number of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) has significantly increased. Therefore ASC has developed a RAS module to adapt the ASC standards to ensure that the main impacts from RAS operations are assessed.

Contact person:  Kathrin Steinberg, PhD, Head of Research, Standards and Science.

This module development is now complete. In addition to changes made following public consultation included, additional consultation with stakeholders engaged previously was undertaken to refine the definition of RAS to determine applicability of this module. Details can be reviewed here.

RAS Module – Public Consultation (Complete)

The ASC sought feedback on the proposed RAS Module, with a focus on its auditability and applicability. Suggestions for any additional considerations which should be included in RAS assessments were also welcomed.

An additional targeted consultation on the scope of the RAS Module was held in November 2021. The summary can be found here.

Further information

  • Watch the webinar, narrated by Kathrin Steinberg (Head of Research, Standards and Science) who leads the RAS Module project:

[Last updated 22.04.2022]

Public Consultation, August 3 – September 4, 2020

ASC RAS Module (August 2020)

Summary – RAS Module – August 2020 Public Consultation

Other documents linked to Public Consultation

RAS Module – Public Consultation Comments

 

Review – Shrimp
Review – Freshwater Trout
Review – Pangasius

Public Consultation III

Consultation period: Aug. 21 – Oct. 21, 2017
Status: Closed
ASC Pangasius Standard – Operational Review
Pangasius review paper
Received feedback
Feedback formFeedback – Operational Review Consultation

Feedback – Public Consultation III

Public Consultation II

Consultation period: Dec. 6 2016 – Feb. 21, 2017

Status: Closed

ASC Pangasius Standard_Operational Review

Public Consultation I

Consultation period: Nov. 5 – Dec. 20, 2015

Status: Closed

Operational Review (three papers) – Stakeholder Submissions

Public consultation ToR

Consultation period: March 16 – April 15, 2015

Status: Closed

Terms of Reference v1.0

Feedback Pangasius – Operational Review

Review – Salmon – Smolt

Public Consultation I

Consultation period: Aug. 21 – Oct. 21, 2017

Status: Closed
ASC Salmon Section 8 – operational review

Received feedback

Feedback form

Feedback – Public consultation I

Feedback Fisheries Management Scotland – Public consultation I

ToR Consultation

Consultation period: April 16 – May 16, 2015

Status: Closed
Terms of Reference v1.0
Received feedback
Feedback ToR – operational review
Feedback Salmon – Operational Review

Governance Documents

Terms of reference v1.1 (updated June 2016)

Review – Salmon – PTI

Public Consultation II

Consultation period: Sep. 21 – Oct. 21, 2017
Status: Closed

ASC Salmon Criterion 5 & Appendices – Operational Review

ASC Salmon PTI Consultation Paper – Operational Review

Received feedback

Feedback form

Feedback – Public Consultation II

Feedback – SeaChoice – Public Consultation II

Public Consultation I

Consultation period: Nov. 5 – Dec. 20, 2015
Status: Closed
Salmon Standard, Parasiticide Treatment Index (PTI)Feedback – PTI – Public Consultation I

ToR Consultation

Consultation period: March 16 – April 16, 2015

Status: Closed

Terms of Reference V1.0

Feedback Salmon – Operational Review

Governance documents

Terms of references V1.0

Confidental Infomation