ASC-certified feed now mandatory across all certified farms

GLOBAL – The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has made the use of ASC-certified feed mandatory for all its certified farms as of October 31, 2025, a move that cements feed responsibility at the heart of sustainable aquaculture. 

The new rule requires every certified farm to source feed exclusively from mills that meet the ASC Feed Standard, ensuring traceability, environmental protection, and social accountability across the entire aquaculture supply chain.

The Feed Standard, first introduced in 2021, sets out stringent requirements on responsible ingredient sourcing, transparency, and social responsibility. 

Certified feed mills must now source ingredients that are deforestation- and land-conversion-free, while maintaining clear traceability records and adhering to fair labor practices.

The deadline for transition to ASC-approved feed came after an extended adjustment period, during which many leading global feed manufacturers, including BioMar, Alltech, and Skretting, secured certification for their facilities. 

The move, ASC says, is a defining step toward achieving full supply chain accountability “from feed to farm.”

“2024 was a pivotal year for ASC as we brought feed to the forefront of responsible aquaculture,” said ASC Chief Technical Officer Ally Dingwall. 

“With the ASC Feed Standard in its first full year of adoption, we saw commitment across the value chain, from feed mills to retailers, driving meaningful change far beyond the farm gates.”

Growth and impact highlighted in 2024 report

The rollout of the feed mandate coincides with the release of ASC’s 2024 Impacts Report, which highlights another year of global expansion and measurable environmental and social progress. 

The organisation reported that the number of ASC-certified farms grew by 10% to 2,265 across 52 countries, while ASC-labelled products available to consumers rose by 12% to 28,426.

Certified farms achieved 3,981 environmental and 3,250 social improvements in 2024, while ASC-labelled seafood sales climbed by 32% year-on-year to reach 2.69 million metric tonnes. 

Feed certification also accelerated, with 22 mills certified across nine countries and another 24 undergoing assessment, covering feed for seven species groups.

Dingwall noted that ASC-certified operations also made tangible progress in biodiversity protection, climate action, fish health and welfare, and community well-being. 

“We’re seeing aquaculture producers take responsibility across the full value chain, not just at the farm level,” he said.

15 years of progress and a new unified standard

As the organisation celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025, ASC has also unveiled its new Farm Standard, which consolidates 11 species-specific standards into one cohesive framework. 

The comprehensive standard focuses on four core principles: legal compliance and business management, environmental stewardship, human rights protection, and responsible animal health and welfare.

Producers will have a two-year transition period before the Farm Standard becomes mandatory in May 2027. 

According to ASC, this unified approach aims to strengthen consistency and drive continuous improvement across global aquaculture.

Looking ahead, ASC plans to build on its momentum by expanding producer support, training, and collaboration throughout the value chain, while continuing to raise global awareness and demand for responsibly farmed seafood.

The full ASC 2024 Impacts Report is available on the organisation’s website.

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