The Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia 2026

We are pleased to announce the categories for the 2026 Sustainable Seafood Awards. The annual Sustainable Seafood awards are organised by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council in partnership with the Marine Stewardship Council. The Awards recognise organisations and individuals who make significant contributions towards responsible aquaculture and sustainable fishing practices.  

The awards are open to ASC and MSC partner organisations registered and based in Australia as well as individuals based in Australia who have made a significant contribution to the ASC vision and mission and/or the MSC vision and mission.  

The ASC Awards 

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia are the highest recognition of excellence in responsible aquaculture. Each award celebrates leadership, innovation, and commitment to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s mission: transforming aquaculture towards the highest standards of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. 

To be recognised with an ASC Award is a mark of prestige and credibility, signalling to industry, peers, and consumers that you are shaping the future of responsible seafood. 

Winners will receive 

• Award trophy & Certificate 

• A unique marketing claim 

• Awards digital graphics for use on winning products, POS, banners, social channels and websites. 

• PR and marketing support to communicate your win 

• Speaking engagements and preferential marketing opportunities

How to enter 

• Applications now open enter here

• A Guidance Document will be made available with links for applications published on the website.  

• All award enquiries: ascaustralia@asc-aqua.org 

 Key dates 

• Awards announcement and criteria available on Thursday 25th September 2025 

• Applications open 4th December 2025 

• Entries close EOD Friday 30th January 2026 

• Judges announced end of January 2026 

• Award winners announced at an in-person event in March 2026 at the Sustainable Seafood Awards 

ASC Sustainable Seafood Awards Categories 

Best Responsible Seafood Retailer Award 

Celebrating leadership in making responsible seafood available.
Retailers are the critical bridge between producers and consumers. By combining strong sourcing policies with clear labelling, they set the benchmark for industry leadership and consumer trust. This prestigious award recognises a retailer that demonstrates excellence in responsible sourcing and labelling of ASC-certified seafood. 

 Criteria Summary: 

• Sourcing policies: Comprehensive commitments prioritising ASC-certified seafood. 

• Labelled range: Breadth and visibility of ASC-labelled products across the portfolio. 

• Communications: Clear, impactful messaging that builds consumer trust and amplifies ASC’s mission. 

• Consumer engagement: Transparent communication that champions ASC’s mission and empowers responsible choices. 

By application
Eligibility: Open to retailers.
Judged by: Expert panel. 

 

Best Responsible Producer 

Honouring excellence in responsible aquaculture.
Celebrates a producer achieving exemplary performance under ASC certification. Producers are the foundation of responsible seafood. Their practices safeguard ecosystems, respect communities, and set the bar for the industry. 

Criteria Summary: 

• Environmental stewardship and innovation in farming practices. 

• Commitment to social responsibility and community impact. 

• Demonstrated continuous improvement. 

• Innovation 

By application
Eligibility: Open to ASC-certified producers.
Judged by: Expert panel. 

 

Best Responsible Product 

Showcasing the best of taste and responsibility.
Recognises an ASC-certified product that delivers on quality, flavour, and sustainability. Products shape consumer experience. This award highlights innovation that proves responsibility and culinary excellence go hand in hand. 

 Criteria Summary: 

• Product quality and culinary excellence. 

• Sustainability storytelling and impact. 

• Visibility and prominence of the ASC label. 

By application
Eligibility: Open to ASC labelled products.
Judged by: Panel of chefs and ASC Ambassadors. 

Making Waves  

Acknowledging commitment to responsible Aquaculture.
Awarded to a new partner who has made an outstanding entry into ASC certification. Newcomers bring momentum and signal growth. Their leadership encourages others to take the first step in joining the ASC movement. 

Criteria Summary: 

• Demonstrated early commitment to ASC’s mission. 

• Initial communications and consumer engagement. 

By application or nomination
Eligibility: Open to new ASC partners.
Awarded by: ASC. 

 

Best Responsible Brand 

Recognising a brand that embodies responsibility at its core.
Brands shape identity, aspiration, and loyalty. By embedding responsible sourcing and labelling, they inspire confidence and set the tone for industry leadership. This award honours a brand that integrates ASC certification throughout its identity and operations.  

Criteria Summary: 

• Sourcing policies: Comprehensive commitments prioritising ASC-certified seafood. 

• Labelled range: Breadth of ASC-certified labelled products across the portfolio. 

• Communications: Clear, impactful messaging that builds consumer trust and amplifies ASC’s mission. 

By application
Eligibility: Open to brands with ASC-certified labelled products.
Judged by: Expert panel. 

ASC Champion 

Honouring a voice of advocacy.
This award recognises an individual or organisation that goes above and beyond in championing ASC’s mission. Champions amplify the movement, using their influence to shift perceptions and inspire positive change. 

Criteria Summary: 

• Demonstrated public advocacy for responsible aquaculture. 

• Engagement with new audiences and communities. 

• Visible leadership in supporting ASC values. 

By nomination
Eligibility: Open to individuals or organisations demonstrating exceptional advocacy.
Judged by: Panel of ASC representatives and experts. 

ASC Change Maker Award 

Celebrating commitment to change.
Suppliers and partners are the vital connectors from farm to consumer. Their leadership, collaboration, and innovation accelerate the reach and impact of responsible aquaculture. Open to suppliers, traders, distributors, processors, restaurants and Chain of Custody licence holders, this award recognises those who play a pivotal role in expanding ASC-certified seafood across the supply chain. 

 Criteria Summary: 

• Commitment to ASC Chain of Custody Certification 

• Impact: Tangible results in making ASC seafood more widely accessible. 

• Innovation & Leadership: Initiatives that drive awareness or uptake of ASC-certified seafood. 

• Collaboration & Communication: Active partnerships that strengthen supply chains and support certified farmers and communities. 

By application or nomination
Eligibility: Open to suppliers, traders, distributors, processors, restaurant chains. Must hold ASC Chain of Custody licence.
Judged by: Expert panel. 

Young Person in Aquaculture 

Recognising the future of responsible seafood.
The next generation will define the industry’s future, and this award celebrates their energy, innovation, and dedication. This award honours a young leader demonstrating vision, creativity, and commitment to aquaculture sustainability. 

Criteria Summary: 

• Leadership and initiative within aquaculture. 

• Contribution to sustainability and responsible practices. 

• Positive community or sector impact. 

By nomination
Eligibility: Open to young people (under 35) working in any sector of aquaculture in Australia on ASC certified sites.
Judged by: Expert panel. 

Entry & Judging Framework 

Each ASC Sustainable Seafood Award is determined either by application, by nomination, or awarded directly by ASC.  

Applications are carefully reviewed by an expert judging panel assessed against a scoring system to ensure fairness, integrity, and alignment with the ASC mission. 

Your entry or nomination must arrive before the closing deadline of 5 pm Friday 30th January 2026 

For MSC awards 

 

Judging details 

The ASC will assess the applications to fact check any claims. A judging panel of industry peers will then score the applications. The judges are looking for authenticity, innovation, impact, inspiration, and an ongoing commitment to sustainability. 

Get in touch 

We welcome any questions you may have if you are thinking of applying. Please do not hesitate to contact us. For more information please get in touch with us. Email: ascaustralia@asc-aqua.org 

Terms and conditions 

Disqualification may occur if your entry does not meet these terms and conditions.  

By entering the Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia (the Awards), you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. The Marine Stewardship Council and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (the Organisers) are the joint organisers of the Awards. 

1. The Awards are open to partners of the Organisers who are registered and based in Australia as well as individuals who are based in Australia who have made a significant contribution to the vision and mission of the Organisers. Each category will state if it is for an organisation or an individual. 
2. The criteria for each award category is listed with its description on the awards web-page for ASC https://au.asc-aqua.org/campaigns/the-sustainable-seafood-awards-australia/
3. Your entry must be factually correct. Upon reviewing your application, the Organisers will fact check against its own records. Only factually correct applications will be submitted to the judging panel for judging. 
4. To enter the Awards you must complete the entry form and submit online or by email to ascaustralia@asc-aqua.org before the closing date and time. Late entries will be accepted at the discretion of the Organisers.
5. You may apply to enter more than one category, but you must submit a separate form for each category.
6. Your entry must relate to a relevant activity that took part during the 2025 calendar year. Supporting evidence should be supplied.
7. You agree that your application and supporting evidence can be shared with the relevant judges.
8. Entry submissions open on 3rd November 2025 and close on January 30 2026 at 5 pm (AEST) for the ASC awards. The winners will be announced and announced in March and listed on the ASC website and can start communicating their award win after the announcement in March 2026
9. There is no entry cost for the Awards.
10. Each entry must have a single contact person for all communication with the Organisers. 
11. You agree to provide supporting evidence including but not limited to imagery, video, weblinks and data in the format requested by the Organisers.
12. You agree to the Organisers using any or all of your application and supporting evidence in any media, marketing, and promotional activities associated with the Awards without prior consent.
13. Some award categories will be judged. Awards judges cannot be entered in the category they are judging.
14. If any awards judge has a conflict of interest regarding an entry, that judge will not judge that entry and may be removed from judging the category in which that entry is entered. The Organisers will decide whether there is a conflict of interest and welcome any information you might have to support this decision. Once the decision has been made it will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15. Judges will judge based on a scorecard. Each category will have at least two judges assessing the entries. Scores will then be averaged per entry. The entry with the highest average score will win. Where relevant, runner up positions will be based on the next highest scores. In the event of a tie, the Organisers will take a deciding vote. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
16. If evidence emerges at any time that shows misconduct such as (but not limited to) influencing the judges or falsifying evidence, then the Organisers reserve the right to remove an application or award at any time.
17. The Organisers reserve the right to change the dates or cancel the Awards or to amend these terms and conditions, without prior notice.
18. You (individual or organisation) must not be under investigation by any Australian or international statutory body during the application process.
19. If there are zero applications for a category, or if the only applications entered do not meet the criteria, then there will be no award for that category. The Organisers will use their discretion and any decision is final with no correspondence entered into. The Organisers will do their best to encourage entries.
20. The Organisers accept no responsibility for failed delivery of an application. You are welcome to check that we have received it by ascaustralia@asc-aqua.org
21. These terms and conditions are governed by and will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Courts of the Commonwealth of Australia will have exclusive jurisdiction.
22. Privacy: The Organisers may collect personal information from you (such as your name, home/business address, and email) for the purpose of facilitating your participation in the Awards. It may be provided to the Organisers partnered delivery agents to assist with the public communications of the Awards. If you wish to opt out of this, please indicate the personal information you would like to withhold within your application. 
23. Data controller: The Aquaculture Stewardship Council is the data controller and will store and process your data in line with its privacy policy on behalf of the Organisers.