Throughout the remainder of 2026, the ASC plans to expand its scope beyond traditional fishmeal and soy

Global Aquafeed Transformation: ASC Marks Three Years of Supply Chain Impact

UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

ASC-Certified Mills Now Spanning 28 Countries as Mandatory Farm Requirements Take Effect

LONDON – The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is celebrating a major milestone this week, marking three years since the implementation of the ASC Feed Standard. As of 12 January 2026, the program has achieved significant global scale, boasting 91 ASC-certified feed mills operating across 28 countries.

Since its launch in January 2023, the certification has evolved from a voluntary framework into a critical industry requirement. These certified mills are now recognized as primary drivers of change, wielding direct influence over both upstream ingredient suppliers and downstream seafood producers to ensure transparency and ethical labor practices.

"Feed is one of the most powerful levers for change in aquaculture," said Aisla Jones, Feed Engagement and UK Markets Manager at ASC. "The progress of the ASC Feed Certification Programme over the past three years shows what is possible when collaboration sits at the centre of sustainability efforts."

Strengthening Global Integrity

The program was designed to tackle the most "hidden" risks in seafood production, including deforestation, land conversion, IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, and forced labour.

A unique feature of the standard is its improvement model for marine ingredients. By partnering with MarinTrust and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)—both ISEAL Code Compliant members—the ASC requires mills to source from increasingly well-managed fisheries over time.

Key Milestones and Future Deadlines

The latter half of 2025 served as a pivotal turning point for the program with two landmark developments:

• 31 October 2025: It became a formal requirement for all ASC-certified farms to use ASC-conforming feed sourced exclusively from certified mills.

• 19 December 2025: The organization published ASC Feed Standard V1.2 and the Feed Interpretation Manual V1.2, designed to unblock supply chain bottlenecks while maintaining rigorous data reporting.

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Looking ahead, the ASC has confirmed that from 2 February 2026, Version 1.2 will become effective and mandatory. All feed mill audits announced on or after this date must comply with these updated regulations and be audited alongside the ASC Farm and Feed CAR v1.0.

Throughout the remainder of 2026, the ASC plans to expand its scope beyond traditional fishmeal and soy. The organization is increasing engagement with producers of emerging ingredients, including insects and algae, to ensure the next generation of aquafeed meets the highest global sustainability benchmarks.

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