This document summarises the findings from ASC's pilot project exploring remote monitoring within aquaculture certification programmes, over in-person monitoring.  Most aquaculture certification programs are reliant on in-person audits Audits occur just once a year due to cost and have been difficult to conduct because of COVID-19. Tracking improvements is time-consuming and costly with only in-person methods. Emerging technologies can address data gaps in smallholder shrimp farms and help grow farmer participation in ASC.

Through the MarinTrust Improver Programme, the Panama small pelagics fishery has realised benefits from improvement in data collection, research and monitoring, to increased demand for products and access to new markets for responsible fishmeal and fish oil.