A mollusc farm in Baja California Sur, Mexico has become the first in the country to join the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s improver program.
The company, based in Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur, engages in regenerative cultivation of a number of different bivalve molluscs, including oysters, Catarina scallops, chocolate clams, and pen shell, according to the ASC. Established in 2018, the company works to create a positive impact on the ecosystem in the areas it operates while also producing sustainable seafood.
“We are delighted to welcome Bendito Mar as the first farm in Mexico to join the Improver Program by ASC,” ASC Latin America Governance Manager Patricia Bianchi said. “Bendito Mar’s regenerative approach demonstrates the important role aquaculture can play in restoring ecosystems while providing nutritious food and creating opportunities for coastal communities.”
ASC announced its Aquaculture Improver Program in October 2018, targeting smaller seafood farmers that are not ready to achieve certification but who are interested in improving practices and mitigating environmental impacts. Initially, the program had a focus on small-scale shrimp farmers in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
ASC CEO Chris Ninnes told SeafoodSource during the 2026 Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain that the organization has continued to work on the improver program and is working to role out a pathway to better management practice.
Bendito Mar will, through its participation, start an Aquaculture Improvement Project which ASC said will strengthen both the environmental and social performance of its oyster production, and bring it toward alignment with ASC certification.
“Their commitment to continuous improvement and responsible production makes them an excellent partner for the Improver Program by ASC,” Bianchi said. “We look forward to working alongside Bendito Mar as they strengthen their environmental and social practices and progress on their journey towards ASC certification.”
Bendito Mar General Director Alan Antonio Espinoza Gorozave said discovering the improver program was a “turning point” for the small-scale company.
“It showed us that the path to certification does not necessarily have to begin at the finish line. Instead, it offers a structured route that allows us to evaluate where we are today, identify the areas where we need to improve, build the right team and systems, and move forward step by step,” he said.
ASC said the cooperative works to create local employment while simultaneously use oysters natural capacity to filter water to aid local ecosystems.
“We are deeply proud to be the first cooperative in Mexico to join the ASC Improver Program,” Gorozave said. “For us, it is not only recognition of what we have built so far, but also a responsibility to continue raising our standards and to show that Mexico can also build aquaculture models that are responsible, transparent, and capable of generating positive impact."
