SCS Global Services Accredited to Assess Farmed Salmon Operations under Aquaculture Stewardship Council Certification Standard

SCS Global Services (SCS), a global third-party certification body, has been accredited to conduct assessments under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standard for farmed salmon. SCS has been conducting pre-assessments for sustainably farmed seafood since 2012. Successful completion of its April 2014 assessment of Tassal Operations Pty Ltd (Tassal), the largest farmed Atlantic salmon producer in Australia, was SCS’ final step toward full accreditation under the ASC farmed salmon standard.  As a result, SCS is now authorized to offer full ASC assessments for farmed salmon production around the globe.

“Our accreditation to the ASC standard for farmed salmon is one more way in which SCS is working to support the worldwide movement toward more responsible seafood practices,” said Robert J. Hrubes, SCS Executive Vice President, noting that SCS has also been an accredited certifier under the more well-known Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification program since its inception in the late 1990s. “Innovative retailers around the world are specifying ASC certified farmed fish in increasing numbers, signaling a growing awareness of the fragility of ocean systems and marine food chains. SCS is proud to be a part of this important effort.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), more than half of all seafood produced for human consumption worldwide is supplied through aquaculture, and that figure will continue to rise.  Aquaculture has been widely criticized for polluting local ecosystems, using threatened marine species as feedstocks, and harboring pathogens amongst farmed species. The ASC standard mitigates these issues by requiring farms to adhere to seven core principles which address biodiversity preservation in the surrounding ecosystem, water quality protection, commitment to sustainable sourcing, and transparency with community stakeholders. 

“SCS will be expanding auditing capacity for ASC as demand ramps up,” said Sabine Daume, SCS’ Director of Sustainable Seafood Programs, now based in Australia. “We will be adding shrimp and bivalve assessments to the scope of our accreditation in the coming months.” 

SCS Global Services - SCS Global Services has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for three decades. Its programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in food and agriculture, forestry, green building, product manufacturing, and more.