The Aquaculture Stewardship Council has decided to exit the Chinese market.

“Over the past 18 months, ASC has undertaken a strategic business review of internal operations and current and future operational regions and markets. As a result of this business review, ASC has decided to phase out program operations and cease investment in China. This will allow ASC to focus and invest in the coming years in regions, markets and activities where we believe we can have the greatest impact through effective use of our limited resources. Our position may change following future business reviews,” said Sophia Balod, global press and PR manager at ASC.

The move comes after criticism of the organization for failing to identify Uyghur and North Korean forced laborers in Chinese seafood processing plants reported by Outlaw Ocean published in The New Yorker magazine.

Currently, there are around 50 ASC-certified farms in China mainly producing mollusks, tilapia and shrimp. Goulian (Yiyang) Crayfish Breeding Biotechnology Co. Ltd. for crayfish farm and fish-farming ship Conson No. 1 for yellow croaker were some of the latest ASC certified companies in China.