Multiple certification schemes cover farmed seafood, but their welfare standards vary enormously. Understanding what different labels actually require helps consumers make genuinely welfare-positive choices.
Aquaculture certification is a complex landscape where welfare and sustainability are often conflated. Sustainability-focused schemes like ASC primarily address environmental impacts including habitat, disease, chemicals and social responsibility — their welfare requirements are frequently minimal. Welfare-focused schemes like RSPCA Assured address fish welfare directly with stocking density limits, water quality requirements, handling protocols and humane slaughter criteria. Consumers seeking welfare-positive seafood need to understand that sustainability certification does not guarantee welfare standards and vice versa. The development of comprehensive fish welfare certification integrating both environmental and welfare criteria is an important ongoing gap. Choosing RSPCA Assured or equivalent welfare-focused certification, while also considering sustainability credentials, gives the most complete picture.