New data from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) shows record growth in ASC certification uptake in the UK from 2022.
Forty farm sites are now ASC certified in the UK – covering finfish and shellfish, and representing a 100 percent increase since February 2022. A further 18 farms are in initial audit stage, with a view to being certified by the end of the year.
From January 2022 to January 2023, 16 more companies became ASC Chain of Custody holders and there are now 139 UK Chain of Custody holders.
“We are delighted to see such an increase in the number of farms and companies in the UK joining the ASC programme or becoming ASC Chain of Custody holders. We know that market demand is driving this increase and we expect even more farms and companies to take up this opportunity over 2023 and beyond, ” said Lorraine Gallagher, ASC UK and Ireland market development manager, in a press release.
ASC standards include requirements covering the potential impacts of the farms on the environment, workers, animal health and the surrounding communities.
Rising interest from shoppers in responsibly sourced seafood products is key to more and more farms becoming ASC certified, and more suppliers making commitments to ASC.
In the UK alone, demand for ASC labelled consumer products rose by 62 percent in 2022. The UK is trending above the global average, which sits at a 14 percent year-on-year increase.