The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) joined the leaders of the global industry at the Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) 2025. The forum brought together producers, merchants, scientists, and non-governmental organisations to discuss the future of one of the fastest-growing seafood industries in the world. The talks, which covered everything from tariffs to technology, highlighted the opportunities and difficulties influencing shrimp aquaculture’s next ten years. ASC is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in guiding the sector toward sustainable expansion.
Nutreco CEO Bastiaan van Tilburg opened the meeting by stating that “sustainability fuels profitability,” highlighting the unbreakable relationship between environmental and economic advancement. Alison Hutchins, Director of Innovation at ASC, explained this concept when she introduced TraceASC, the council’s digital traceability initiative. The program ensures that smallholder farmers are not left behind in the transition to digitalisation while assisting seafood producers in reducing paperwork, demonstrating sustainability with validated data, and reaching new markets.
Sepp van Dijk, an 18-year-old food influencer known as “The Twisted Chef,” emphasised during the session that the future generation prefers sustainable seafood that is presented in forms that are simple to prepare and conveyed through accessible, genuine narrative. This underscored the growing importance of younger consumers. The effectiveness of such participation has previously been demonstrated by campaigns like Hope in the Water, which increased retail sales in the US by 27%.
Producers from Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia were given a platform at ASC-sponsored workshops that addressed inclusive supply chains and continual development. To support the success of small and mid-scale shrimp producers, these discussions emphasised the necessity of improved access to funding, clear data, education, and cooperation. With perspectives from Indian feed producers and Fisheries Improvement Projects, feed source and sustainability were also highlighted.
During a meeting devoted to the ASC Farm Standard, ASC leadership presented the implementation plan, addressing important topics such as illness prevention, animal welfare, and antibiotic reduction. To facilitate long-term improvements throughout the industry, the focus was on education and consistent messaging.
As the forum concluded, ASC reaffirmed its commitment to guiding shrimp aquaculture through its next era, focusing on transparency, collaboration, and inclusivity. “The Global Shrimp Forum showed that the next decade is about collaboration, transparency, and supporting farmers and supply chain partners to achieve more sustainable practices,” said ASC CEO Chris Ninnes.
Given the growing need for shrimp, especially in Europe, ASC is poised to serve as a growth partner for the sector, helping stakeholders in securing investment, fostering consumer confidence, and ensuring that shrimp farming contributes to the world’s sustainable food supply.
