Indicator 2.10.2

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Feed Dependent

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Indicator 2.10.2

by Contact on 8 October 2026

Requirement

The UoC shall calculate the feed and farm-related GHG emissions of production following the method outlined in Appendix 9 (9.4).

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Consistent and transparent measurement of GHG emissions following a life cycle assessment approach is necessary to underpin effective GHG reduction and management and to inform broader efforts to understand and reduce the GHG impact of global food systems.

  • This indicator ensures that all ASC certified sites undertake this important first step in contributing to efforts to combat climate change.

  • ASC does not require the use of any particular GHG calculation framework or tool or conformance with any particular GHG methodology or standard. However, some methodological requirements are stipulated in Appendix 9 to ensure a sufficient level of consistency, completeness and accuracy of GHG calculations.

  • Certificate Holders should consider the reporting format of the ASC Farm Standard GHG Data Submission Template in undertaking their calculations.

  • This includes the characterisation of GHG emissions in three distinct ways:

    • By scope (based on Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 GHG emissions as defined in the GHG Protocol),

    • By category (e.g., land use change emissions, if known; if unknown, emissions may be characterised as ‘unspecified’), and

    • By input (e.g., broad categories of feed ingredients, energy inputs, etc.).

    • To the extent possible, Certificate Holders are encouraged to calculate GHG emissions specific to the certified site. However, in some cases, this may be difficult to do. For example, fuel purchased may be used to supply vessels servicing many sites, potentially both certified and non-certified sites, or even multiple sites or companies.

      • In these cases, a portion of the overall input may be allocated to the certified site based on a logical allocation basis.

        • For example, dividing energy inputs between sites based on the relative number of vessel trips or using the site’s relative share of production among the group of sites serviced.

        • For feed inputs, because the certified site’s feed use records are needed for certification, data used for GHG calculations should be specific to the certified site.

    • GHG profiles from hatcheries are not required.

      • The hatchery or juvenile stage of the aquaculture supply chain typically accounts for a very small percentage of overall GHG emissions, and due to the varied nature of sourcing juveniles, requiring their inclusion in calculations could result in confusion and unnecessary burden.

        • Instead, sites may account for juvenile inputs as described in Appendix 9.

      • GHG calculations may optionally still include hatchery-specific data, and efforts to reduce GHG emissions at the hatchery stage may also be included to demonstrate efforts in the site’s GHG management plan for Indicator 2.10.4.

    • GHG emissions should first be calculated relative to live weight production, as kg CO~2~-equivalent (CO~2~e) emissions per tonne of live weight production. As a final step, emissions are converted to an edible weight basis.

      • This step is facilitated by the ASC Farm Standard GHG Data Submission Template.

      • By default, the muscle fraction of the animal is the conversion factor, such that a muscle fraction of 0.5 results in an edible weight GHG value double that of the live weight basis value.

      • If, however, a portion of the non-edible fraction of the animal is used for other purposes (e.g., by-product meal), a portion of emissions may be allocated to the non-edible product.

        • In these cases, the allocation is undertaken directly within the ASC Farm Standard GHG Data Submission Template following both allocation methods: dividing emissions between edible and non-edible product on the basis of their relative mass, and on the basis of their relative economic value as expressed by their revenue generation.

      • This allocation step is not applicable to bivalve and abalone shells; for these species, the muscle fraction alone is used for converting results to an edible weight basis.

Evidence of Implementation

  • GHG profiles for feeds used, specific to the feed supplier and species or species group and updated on an annual basis, as required to be shared by the feed supplier according to Criterion 1.21 of the ASC Feed Standard and using the format of the ASC Feed Standard GHG Data Submission Template.

  • For marine salmonids only: GHG profiles for any supplying grow-out site(s) as required to be shared by the previous grow-out site(s).

  • Documentation of the source of any GHG emission factors used.

  • This may be documentation of calculation tools (e.g., the ASC GHG Calculator) or documentation of specific emission factors and their source if calculating emissions manually.

  • Documentation of the input variables used (e.g., quantity of electricity).

  • Inputs of energy should reflect those calculated in Indicator 2.10.1. All input variables should be supported by evidence such as invoices or feed use records if requested.

  • Documentation of conversion factor and, if applicable, allocation factors, used to convert GHG calculations from a live weight basis to an edible weight basis.

  • Documentation of power purchase agreements, if applicable, to demonstrate use of electricity from specific dedicated sources rather than the national or regional electricity grid.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Records of GHG profiles from feed suppliers and (for marine salmonids) prior grow-out sites are available.

  • GHG emissions are calculated in kg CO~2~e relative to live weight production and edible weight product and recorded using the ASC Farm Standard GHG Data Submission Template.

  • If using a tool other than the ASC GHG Calculator, documentation showing how the tool conforms to the methodological requirements outlined in Appendix 9;

  • This may be a signed declaration from the tool provider or highlighted elements in the tool’s user documentation.

  • Values input into the ASC GHG Calculator, another tool, or manual calculations are supported with evidence (e.g., fuel purchase invoices).

  • If undertaking calculations manually, demonstration of the calculations undertaken, including the use of GHG data from feed suppliers and (for marine salmonids) prior grow-out sites in conformance with the requirements of Appendix 9.

  • The scope of included activities reflects the requirements outlined in Appendix 9.

  • GHG emissions are not adjusted using carbon credits or offsets.

Useful Resources

  • Certificate Holders are encouraged to use the ASC GHG Calculator, available at https://ghg.asc-aqua.org, to ensure compliance with regards to calculation scope, methods, data sources and reporting format. Use of this tool is voluntary; other tools, consultants, or internal procedures may be used if documentation is available to demonstrate compliance with the requirements in Appendix 9.

  • Recommended factors for converting GHG emissions from a live weight basis to an edible weight basis may be sourced from supplemental material of Gephart et al. (2021). Other conversion factors may be used if they reflect the actual edible yield (i.e., muscle fraction) of the animal.

  • A range of methodological frameworks and standards are available to guide life cycle assessments and GHG accounting. Use of any of these is optional, provided that calculations are still in compliance with the requirements of Appendix 9. Examples include:

    • General life cycle assessment methods in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044

    • The GHG Protocol from the World Resources Institute

    • ISO 14067 and marine fish product category rules in ISO 22948

    • The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) marine fish product category rules

    • PAS 2050 and seafood product category rules in PAS 2050-2