The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has been officially classified as an Other Interest Group (OIG) and nominated to the Executive Committee of the Market Advisory Council (MAC), marking a important step in ASC’s engagement with European Union market and policy processes.
Established under the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the MAC brings together stakeholders from across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain to provide structured, balanced advice to the European Commission and EU member states on market-related aspects of fishery and aquaculture products.
MAC’s recommendations contribute to market policy implementation, regulatory development, and the effective functioning of the EU internal market.
“ASC’s nomination to the Executive Committee of the Market Advisory Council is a clear acknowledgement of our role as a credible and constructive voice in EU seafood and aquaculture markets,” ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said. “It gives us a stronger platform to contribute evidence-based perspectives on sustainability, market dynamics, and regulatory effectiveness. It also allows us to work closely with EU institutions and other stakeholders to support a transparent, resilient, and forward-looking European seafood market.”
ASC has been an active member of the MAC for the past two years.
The Executive Committee, composed of up to 25 members representing both value chain actors and other interest groups, is responsible for guiding the MAC’s strategy, shaping its annual work programme, and preparing and forwarding its formal advice to the European Commission.
Through its new role, ASC will contribute more directly to setting the MAC’s agenda, shaping its positions, and ensuring that sustainability perspectives are reflected at the highest level of EU market governance.
The appointment also strengthens ASC’s ability to engage directly and regularly with the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and to collaborate with fellow Executive Committee members from across industry and civil society, including the Marine Stewardship Council, the Environmental Justice Foundation, OCEANA and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
