Aquaculture certification schemes vary widely in their welfare standards, with some focused primarily on environmental sustainability and others incorporating animal welfare measures. Understanding what different certifications cover helps welfare-conscious seafood buyers.
Aquaculture certification is a rapidly evolving field where welfare standards are improving but remain incomplete relative to what fish welfare science recommends. The most widely recognised certification — ASC — was designed primarily with environmental sustainability in mind, and while it includes animal health requirements, it does not yet require the welfare-specific standards that fish welfare researchers advocate, including stocking density limits, enrichment provision, and welfare-centred slaughter methods. RSPCA Assured salmon certification goes further on specific welfare metrics and represents the highest welfare floor currently available from a mainstream certification scheme. Consumer demand for stronger welfare integration in aquaculture certification is the primary market driver for improvement, alongside the efforts of welfare researchers and advocacy organisations to raise standards across the sector.