A tilapia farm in Belize, run by Fein Catch, is the first farm of its kind the country to gain ASC certification.
The ASC programme has certified nearly 2000 farms across 23 countries in the past year, with almost 100 more currently in assessment.
Chris Ninnes, CEO of ASC, said: “I would like to congratulate Fein Catch on their certification. This is a great example of the diversity of the farms engaged in our programme.”
He continued: “This year, we have seen the ASC programme grow rapidly and we look forward to more producers in Central America and beyond coming on board and making a commitment to responsible aquaculture."
In 2016, 95% of Belize shrimp farmers gained ASC certification, a trend which is hoped to spread across tilapia and other aquaculture species in 2016.
Mauricio Mejia, programme officer of aquaculture for the Mesoamerican reef programme, said: “It's encouraging to see the farmed seafood sector in countries such as Belize make strides towards environmental and social stewardship."
“WWF-Belize, together with IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative which provided the necessary funding to support this tilapia farm, will continue to help farms developing better management practices so that they comply with the ASC standard,” he concluded.
