The Western Australian Government has chosen the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) as the standard of choice for certifying the performance of aquaculture producers in the State.
"Sustainability in our seafood sector is a key priority for us," said Fisheries Minister Ken Baston. "The ASC applies a third-party certification system, meaning that certification of fish farms and fish product suppliers will be done by independent certifiers.
"For our wild-capture fisheries, WA has embraced independent sustainability certification through the Marine Stewardship Council and has been supporting our commercial fisheries to undertake the necessary assessments.
"We have also been moving to expand aquaculture opportunities in the State and the ASC has a metrics based and transparent assessment program.”
Chris Ninnes, ASC's chief executive officer, said the Western Australian Government had shown great leadership in its commitment to a sustainable seafood industry, and that he was delighted the ASC certification program was chosen as independent verification of the responsible management of the State's aquaculture.
