The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has announced that more than 1000 products carrying the ASC logo are now available across 37 countries, just two years after the ASC logo was introduced.
“Since we launched the logo in April 2012, our partners have worked tirelessly towards making the ASC programme a success in the global seafood market. It is wonderful to see their efforts pay off,” said Chris Ninnes, ASC’s CEO.
The three ASC labelled products pushing the number over the thousand mark were Marine Harvest Boulogne’s Carrefour Filets de pangas sans arêtes décongelé 240g farmed by Vinh Hoan, Sainsbury’s lightly dusted basa fillets 265g, and Anova Seafood’s product sold by EDEKA, Pangasius Rückenfilets 250g.
“Edeka is committed to responsible aquaculture and welcomes the growing range of ASC certified seafood. The ASC programme is an important step in transforming the aquaculture sector towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility,“ said Rolf Lange, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications & Public Affairs EDEKA AG.
Hendrik Colpaert, Unit Manager Marketing & Retail Anova Seafood said: “Anova is very pleased with the support that Edeka is giving to the ASC logo. Our colleagues from the Ho Chi Minh office have worked closely with the farmers to get their farms certified. The enthusiasm of a retailer such as Edeka to work with us to develop and introduce this fantastic value-added product has a lot to do with the confidence that the ASC-logo gives everybody within in the supply chain, including the end-consumer.”
According to Ninnes: “It has been hugely encouraging to see our figures increase steadily. The support of major retailers such as Carrefour in Belgium, Sainsbury’s in the United Kingdom and Edeka in Germany’s is of utmost importance in driving the improvements in aquaculture.”
The majority of the ASC certified fish products are pangaisus with 63 per cent, followed by salmon at 23 per cent, and 14 per cent are tilapia products.