About the ASC
ASC is the acronym for Aquaculture Stewardship Council, an independent not for profit organisation. The ASC was founded in 2009 by WWF and IDH (Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative) to manage the global standards for responsible aquaculture, which are under development by the Aquaculture Dialogues, a programme of roundtables initiated and coordinated by WWF. Currently the ASC is in its business development phase. The ASC is expected to be in full operation by mid 2011.
What the ASC will be
The ASC will be the world's leading certification and labelling programme for responsibly farmed seafood. The ASC will be a global organisation working with aquaculture producers, seafood processors, retail and foodservice companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote the best environmental and social choice in seafood.
The ASC's aquaculture certification programme and seafood label will recognise and reward responsible aquaculture.
What the ASC will do
Working with partners, the ASC will run an exciting and ambitious programme to transform the world's seafood markets and promote the best environmental and social aquaculture performance. Our standards seek to increase the availability of certified sustainable seafood. The ASC will launch a credible consumer label that assures compliance and will make it easy for everyone to take part.
What the ASC will achieve
More than a standards holding body, the ASC will be a global transformation system for aquaculture, that will achieve:
Credibility: the standards are developed according to ISEAL guidelines, multi-stakeholder, open and transparent, science-based performance metrics.
Effectiveness: minimising the environmental and social footprint of commercial aquaculture by addressing key impacts.
Added value: connecting the farm to the marketplace by promoting responsible practices through a consumer label.
Dr. Philip Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the ASC: ‘Consumers want products that are responsibly produced and they need to be able to trust that suppliers, retailers and foodservice providers understand their messages, and are making the best possible decisions for them. That is what the ASC offers through its label that will create significant market pull through. I believe responsible aquaculture producers will realise this is the only way forward for the continued growth and success of their industry Together we can make it happen.'
