The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) starts a partnership with Chinese environmental firm Qingdao Tao Ran to increase availability of ASC certified seafood in China.
Tao Ran has been contracted to lead the strategy implementation and to expand the adoption of ASC farm standards. The firm’s aquaculture staff will also work with ASC to promote the availability of ASC-certified seafood for consumers within China, and in the many countries that buy aquaculture products from China.
“Our partnership with Tao Ran is a milestone for the ASC program,” said Chris Ninnes, CEO of ASC. “The ASC has seen rapid growth across Asia, and as China is the world leader in aquaculture production and consumption, it is crucial that we position the program to meet the increased demand for certification in the country.”
In addition to an expansion of the existing work with China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA), the partnership will pursue new initiatives with Chinese public research institutes, leading producers, as well as retail and food service sectors in the region.
“Leveraging local expertise will allow the ASC to respond effectively to interest by retail and foodservice partners and the growing community of farms seeking to improve their environmental performance and social standards to meet demand from the international marketplace,” Ninnes said. “Tao Ran has the capacity to help the ASC make meaningful change in China, and will work with our global team to execute a cohesive strategy to transform aquaculture towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility.”