Aquaculture certification schemes like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council are improving, but significant gaps remain in welfare coverage for many species and production stages.
The development of explicit welfare standards in aquaculture certification is genuine progress, but the gap between certification and assured welfare is still large for many species. Shrimp welfare at slaughter, salmon pre-slaughter handling, and many non-salmon farmed species are still inadequately covered by existing schemes. Consumers who believe that ASC certification guarantees high welfare are often receiving less than they expect. More transparent communication about what certification does and does not cover - and development of stronger, enforceable welfare criteria - would close the trust gap between consumer expectation and reality.