Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is driving the world’s leading certification programme for responsibly farmed seafood. ASC is leading the transformation of the seafood farming industry towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility by setting the most robust standards and providing the highest assurance, integrity and transparency throughout the supply chain.
ASC works with hundreds of farmers around the world to ensure seafood is responsibly farmed, from oyster farms in France to seaweed farmers in South Korea and mussel farmers in Devon. The robust seafood assurance provided by ASC certification helps minimise negative impacts of seafood farming on the environment, and Orca Scan is proud to play a part in this industry transformation.
Read how we’ve helped the ASC assurance team improve efficiencies and data quality by bringing the power of barcodes to crucial sample tracking 👇
The challenge: Collecting consistently accurate sampling data across the globe
One of the key focus areas for the ASC assurance team is collecting a variety of different sample types to check that certified producers, products and partners are meeting ASC standards, especially when it comes to the use of antibiotics. These samples may include seafood such as shrimp or fish at certified farms, feed or water used at farms, or consumer-facing products with the ASC logo, available in retailers. It is crucial that data from these samples are recorded accurately so that the assurance team can track the collection and testing of samples at accredited labs and link the test results with the correct certificate holders.
Before discovering Orca Scan, ASC was limited to only using conventional systems like pen-and-paper checklists and manual data entry. These methods are not only time-consuming but also have greater risks of human error. Manual data entry also means there is often a significant delay between the sample collection and the assurance team gaining access to sample information as it may be stuck in email chains or saved to devices - making it challenging to have access to the data they need when they need it.
People collect a lot of data for each sample, and it’s usually first recorded on a paper form. And, I’ve found that people don’t always record things consistently or accurately or there may be other impediments to data collection such as bad weatherJaco BarendseSenior Supply Chain Assurance Manager- Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Similarly, with team members in different parts of the world, consistency in collecting and storing data is needed. Collecting accurate sample data and being able to link test results with a specific sampling location and certificate holder is very important, as detecting non-conforming producers or products can have significant ripple effects on the supply chain. Maintaining a fully digital sample data trail enhances reliability and ensures full visibility in the assurance process.
Faced with these challenges, ASC recognised the need for a digital solution that would give the assurance team real-time access to sample data from each location. This solution had to be accessible to designated samplers worldwide while integrating with existing data collection procedures.
A little bit of context: Meet Jaco Barendse, Senior Supply Chain Assurance Manager
In 2010, the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative IDH and WWF Netherlands partnered to create ASC to make aquaculture more sustainable. Since then, ASC has set the standards for seafood with support from their partners and producers worldwide for greater access to global market demand whilst operating responsibly, which is in line with the highest standards in aquaculture.
We spoke with Jaco, a specialist in seafood assurance and certification with a background in marine ecology and over 20 years of experience in project and program management in marine, coastal, and island ecosystem settings. Jaco is responsible for implementing sampling and testing in the ASC programme assurance team and using Orca Scan.
I knew there had to be a better way of having a sampling procedure and then giving people the tools to implement the procedureJaco BarendseSenior Supply Chain Assurance Manager- Aquaculture Stewardship Council
His team collaborates with assurance partners, including third-party certifiers, to ensure proper sample collection and verify that partners adhere to ASC’s strict standards. These standards encourage farmers to care not only for marine animals but also for the environment and the people working on the farm.
The Solution: how Orca Scan improved sample data collection
Since 2024, we have supported ASC by tracking sample collections from locations around the world to improve the accountability and validity of data collection. Thanks to Orca Scan, each sample now has a QR code label that is scanned at the point of collection, saving its precise GPS location and other essential information to the cloud on their Orca Scan sheet.
Once collected, the sampler captures a photo of the bagged sample and uploads this into their Orca sheet. The date, time and location are automatically captured by Orca Scan, populating their sheet with all necessary data. This is then visible immediately to Jaco and the ASC assurance team.
It’s really important to be able to maintain chain of custody of the sample with data from the locations where it was collected and where it was subsequently analysedJaco BarendseSenior Supply Chain Assurance Manager- Aquaculture Stewardship Council
This gives the team in the office access to live data upon collection, which they can check, export and share with other relevant teams. Our customer success team have supported Jaco in building several workflows for different types of sampling that collects crucial information with every scan. They’ve also explored capturing new types of data, such as the signatures of collectors and the GPS location of each subsequent scan.
If anything happens to the conventional ‘paper’ data forms, at least you have some records and evidence of key dataJaco BarendseSenior Supply Chain Assurance Manager- Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Has the solution been successful?
Orca Scan has helped enable participating samplers to collect sample data in a standardised way; meaning they each follow the same steps for collections to ensure consistency, accuracy and visibility for every collection.
I log in, and I can immediately go to the sheet and see that the sample was collected in a warehouse as plannedJaco BarendseSenior Supply Chain Assurance Manager- Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Ultimately, this solution means that Jaco and the assurance team have much greater visibility over the entire process and have clear, documented proof of each step of sampling and testing. In fact, in 2024, Jaco’s team collected more than 80 samples from nearly 40 different sites using Orca Scan, and they now have the capability for real-time monitoring, photographic evidence and accurate location data for every sample to ensure they can do the necessary assurance checks required to ensure conformity of certified producers and products.
The fact that I can use Orca here in Vietnam while collecting samples means the assurance team can work together with colleagues in Europe, India, Thailand, or anywhere by getting Orca Scan downloaded to their phones and uploading sample data to HQ. It’s really easyJason DinhProgramme Assurance Coordinator in VietnamAquaculture Stewardship Council
Thank you
A big thank you to Jaco and his team at ASC for sharing your customer story with us, and we’re delighted to hear that Orca Scan is helping you set the standards for seafood 🐋🙏
