Rationale 1.5

The impacts of aquaculture extend beyond the final grow out site, as the production of many species relies on upstream supply chain stages, such as hatchery and nursery production, which often occur across multiple sites. A key challenge in addressing these impacts is the diversity of production practices, both between and within species, together with the need for effective information sharing between the various sites. Managing these impacts throughout the upstream supply chain and enabling the transfer of batch-specific information is essential to ensuring that the industry operates responsibly as a whole.

This Criterion requires ASC-certified sites to source aquatic animals from supplier sites that address key impacts at the relevant production stages.  

Intent – The aquaculture industry sources from responsibly operated suppliers.