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Aquaculture & Seafood Certification

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council is an independent, international not-for-profit organization that administers the world’s leading certification and labeling program for responsible aquaculture.

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    Build Trust. Meet Buyer Requirements. Access Global Markets.

    More Than Just Compliance

    Access global seafood markets

    Simplify compliance

    Meet buyer and retailer requirements

    Demonstrate responsible production and sourcing

    Strengthen traceability and product claims

    Find the Right Certification for Your Business

    From farm and fishery to processor, trader and retailer, different certifications address different needs across the seafood value chain.

    Use this overview to understand where each program fits.

    Certification
    ASC
    MSC
    BAP
    GLOBAL.G.A.P Aquaculture
    MSC / ASC Chain of Custody
    BRCGS
    SMETA
    Canadian Organic
    Designed for
    Aquaculture farms
    Wild-capture fisheries
    Hatcheries, farms, feed mills & processors
    Aquaculture farms
    Processors, traders, importers, distributors & retailers
    Processing facilities
    Farms, processors & facilities
    Aquaculture producers & processors
    Main focus
    Responsible aquaculture
    Sustainable fishing
    Responsible aquaculture across the value chain
    Farm assurance & responsible production
    Traceability & certified claims
    Food safety & quality
    Social & ethical compliance
    Organic Production

    Get Certification Guidance

    Tell us a little about your operation and what you’re looking to achieve. Our aquaculture certification team will review your information and contact you to help identify the certification options that may be right for your business.

    Get Started Download the Aquaculture Certification Guide
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    Your Certification Journey

    From understanding your objectives to demonstrating compliance, Control Union guides you through a clear and structured certification process.

    Start your certification

    Understand Your Objectives

    We begin by understanding your operation, target markets and certification needs.

    Define the Right Scope

    Together, we determine the most appropriate compliance pathway for your business.

    Independent Assessment

    Qualified auditors evaluate your operation against the applicable requirements.

    Continue with Confidence

    Ongoing verification helps support continued compliance as your operation and market opportunities evolve.

    Not sure which options are relevant to your operation?

    Download the Aquaculture & Seafood Certification Guide and compare the major certification programs available across the seafood value chain.

    Inside the guide:
    ✔ Understand ASC, MSC, BAP, GLOBALG.A.P. and other key programs
    ✔ See how certifications fit across the seafood value chain
    ✔ Compare certification options side by side
    ✔ Understand typical certification timelines and requirements
    ✔ Navigate your certification journey

    Download the Certification Guide
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    Why Control Union

    From responsible aquaculture and sustainable fisheries to traceability, food safety and social compliance, Control Union brings multiple certification capabilities together through one global network.

    Access an international certification network supported by auditors who understand local operations and market requirements.

    Work with one certification partner across sustainability, traceability, food safety, organic and social compliance programs.

    Certification expertise across farms, fisheries, processing facilities, traders, importers, exporters and other supply-chain operators.

    Where programs allow it, coordinated audits can help reduce duplication, complexity and disruption to your operation.

    FAQs About Aquaculture & Seafood Certification

    Find Your Certification

    The right certification depends on your role in the supply chain, whether your products are farmed or wild-caught, your target markets and your customers’ requirements. For example, ASC applies to responsible aquaculture production, while MSC focuses on sustainable wild-capture fisheries. Other programs address traceability, food safety, organic production and social compliance.

    ASC focuses on responsibly farmed seafood, while MSC applies to sustainable wild-capture fisheries. BAP covers multiple stages of the aquaculture production chain, including hatcheries, farms, feed mills and processing facilities. The most appropriate program depends on your operation and buyer requirements.

    Production certifications such as ASC or MSC assess how seafood is produced or harvested. Chain of Custody certification focuses on what happens afterward, ensuring certified products remain identifiable and traceable as they move through processing, trading and distribution.

    If your business handles MSC- or ASC-certified seafood and wants to sell or make claims about those products as certified, Chain of Custody certification is generally required to maintain traceability through the supply chain.

    It depends on your customers and markets. Many retailers, foodservice companies and other buyers require suppliers to hold certification against a GFSI-recognized food safety program. Programs relevant to seafood operations can include BRCGS and certain BAP or GLOBALG.A.P. scopes.

    In some cases, yes. Where certification program rules and audit scopes allow it, Control Union can coordinate multiple audits to help reduce duplication and operational disruption.

    Timelines vary considerably depending on the certification program, scope, number of sites and readiness of your operation. Some programs can be completed within several weeks, while more complex assessments—such as fisheries certification—can take considerably longer.

    Certification costs depend on the selected program, operation size, number of sites, audit scope and complexity. Our team can review your requirements and provide a tailored proposal.

    Yes. Tell us about your operation, products, customers and target markets, and our team can help you understand which certification pathway may be most appropriate.

    Ready to Take the Next Step?

    Whether you’re responding to a buyer requirement, entering a new market or strengthening your sustainability and traceability credentials, we’ll help you identify the right certification pathway for your business.

    Talk to an Aquaculture Certification Expert
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    Strengthen the Social Side of Your Supply Chain

    SMETA helps seafood businesses demonstrate responsible practices across labor standards, health & safety, environmental practices and business ethics.

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