Guidelines

The ASC Standards set strict requirements for responsible farming, which encourage seafood. The standards define criteria designed to validate the environmental sustainability and social responsibility of the aquaculture sector. These standards have...

The following Best Aquaculture Practices Standards apply to all aquaculture hatchery and nursery facilities that produce eggs and/or juvenile aquatic animals for live transfer to other aquaculture facilities and to all species for which BAP farm...

This factsheet provides data and information to facilitate the assessment of aquaculture growth potential in Italy. It relies on official data and statistics readily available to the public. Some important dimensions such as aquaculture’s...

ASC is transitioning the way in which farm-related data are submitted. The new procedures will improve quality of data, require producers to act as stewards for their own data and permit accessibility for CABs to verify submissions. One of these key...

This publication presents guidelines to improve the social acceptability of the aquaculture sector in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Specifically, it identifies the governance, environmental, economic, social and ethical aspects that could...

This publication presents guidelines on streamlining licensing and leasing processes for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea aquaculture sector. Specifically, it proposes common definitions, concepts, standards and reference documents that contribute...

Many forms of aquaculture, particularly shellfish farming, are beneficial to the planet. They create new marine ecosystems and capture carbon, alongside many other benefits.
To ensure the sustainability credentials of ASC certified seafood, the ASC...

The elaboration of this guide on welfare of fishes in Spanish aquaculture is important to fix concepts, establish common bases and develop the first consensual guidelines on animal welfare. This document provides information on the state of...

Biodiversity for food and agriculture comprises all the components of biodiversity that contribute to crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture – both wild and domesticated, and at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. It is...

Stringent environmental restrictions to minimize pollution from hatcheries and land-based aquaculture facilities in northern European countries have sparked the rapid technological development, investment and innovation in recirculation systems in...

Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible aquaculture practices through advocacy, education, and demonstration. Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) is the world’s most comprehensive...

Climate change is having a significant impact on the biology and ecology of fish stocks and aquaculture species and will affect the productivity within seafood supply chains in the future. The challenges are further amplified when actors within the...

The global COVID-19 pandemic which started in 2020 has undoubtedly had a large impact on fisheries and aquaculture communities. There are other, less dramatic challenges that can also create real difficulties for these communities, such as...

As of 2021, over forty-five countries worldwide are either implementing or approving marine spatial plans – and dozens more laying the foundation – moving away from isolated sectoral management to an integrated planning framework for their maritime...

This guide sets out the basic rules for farmers and processors on how to display the ASC logo on non-consumer facing (NCF) packaging. Non-consumer in this context means products sourced from an ASC certified producer that is packaged in bulk, sold as...

The GFCM 2030 Strategy for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea offers a common vision and guiding principles to achieve sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the region, federating efforts to deliver on...

In 2018, the EU-28 ranked 6th in the top 15 fisheries-producing countries in the world, with a total production of 6.6 million tonnes. This position is mainly based on the catches of the commercial fishing sector, where the EU-28 has the same ranking...

This document is the outcome of an update of the first edition of the Joint FAO and WHO Technical guidance for the development of the growing area aspects of Bivalve Mollusc Sanitation Programmes published in 2018. FAO has worked jointly with the FAO...

This guide has been revised and updated in order to be adapted to the EU Implementing Regulation 2019/627. This work was carried out under the coordination of the EURLMB together with an advisory group of independent experts in microbiological...

Acknowledging the need to build more sustainable aquatic animal health systems, the OIE launched its first Aquatic Animal Health Strategy in May 2021, at the occasion of its 88th General Session. This Strategy will improve aquatic animal health and...