The Sustainable Seafood Guide, recently launched in Latvia, features information about the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) program for responsible aquaculture for the first time, following the introduction of the ASC logo in the Dutch, Swedish, Indonesian, Spanish, Belgian, Finnish, and Hong Kong editions.
“We have had a very positive response to the ASC from the market. This year alone, ASC labeled products have been introduced in 40 new countries across five continents. And, since recently, ASC certified pangasius became available in Latvia as well”, said Esther Luiten, ASC’s Commercial Manager.
The Sustainable seafood guide is currently available in 18 countries and helps consumers around the world choose sustainably wild caught fish, with ASC certified products carrying an easily recognized on-pack logo. According to ASC, the certified farms “deliver a cleaner seabed, cleaner water and healthier fish, preserve the diversity of the species and wild population, adhere to strict feed requirements, avoid unnecessary use of chemicals and antibiotics, and ensure social responsibility for their farm workers and local communities.”
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Seafood Choices Alliance, and the North Sea Foundation together developed the methodology, which measures the level of sustainability of seafood species.