Aquaculture

Aquaculture Welfare Certification: Standards Compared

Multiple aquaculture certification schemes vary significantly in their welfare requirements, making consumer navigation of labels important.

Key Facts

ASC certification focuses primarily on environmental impact with limited welfare provisions
RSPCA Assured sets higher welfare-specific standards including stocking density and slaughter
Soil Association Organic requires outdoor access for some species and prohibits certain treatments
Label claims including sustainable do not necessarily include welfare requirements

Welfare Considerations

The proliferation of aquaculture certification schemes with different emphases creates consumer confusion. Environmental certification does not equal welfare certification. Choosing the most rigorous welfare-focused certification available requires knowing which schemes address welfare outcomes rather than just environmental or production processes.

What You Can Do

Prioritize RSPCA Assured or equivalent welfare-focused certification over environmental-only labels
Ask retailers which certification they use for farmed fish and what welfare requirements it includes
Support development of unified aquaculture welfare standards that simplify consumer choice
Advocate for welfare to be a required element of all aquaculture certification schemes