Founded in 2019, Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the suffering of the trillions of aquatic animals farmed and caught annually for human consumption. With a team based across the Americas and Europe, and supported by a global network of more than 170 organizations through the Aquatic Animal Alliance, ALI works internationally with NGOs, research institutions, policy-makers, and industry actors.
What makes ALI unique is our singular focus on the often-overlooked area of aquatic animal welfare, and our ability to bridge scientific rigor with actionable policy and industry solutions.
Since our founding, ALI has grown into a leading advocate for aquatic animal welfare, producing science-based recommendations and facilitating cross-sector collaboration.
Why GDST?
ALI joined GDST in 2022 to align seafood transparency and traceability with emerging animal welfare considerations. We were inspired by GDST’s collaborative, interoperable approach, which matches our mission to drive systemic change across the seafood supply chain.
Why Digital Seafood Traceability Matters
Robust traceability is essential for accountability in complex global seafood supply chains. For ALI, digital and interoperable systems create the foundation for progressive companies to demonstrate leadership, respond to evolving regulatory expectations, and ensure that buyers and consumers make informed choices that include welfare considerations.
How GDST helps to Address Challenges
ALI supports the seafood sector through science-based research, policy recommendations, and practical tools to integrate welfare into operations. We convene multi-stakeholder dialogues that highlight the intersection of animal welfare, human welfare, and environmental issues. GDST’s framework allows us to amplify these efforts, giving the industry a globally-recognized platform to embed animal welfare data into traceability systems.
Contributing to the GDST Standard
ALI is collaborating with GDST on an extension framework for aquatic animal welfare. By convening diverse stakeholders and gathering feedback, we are helping define the key data elements relevant for traceability in aquaculture and fisheries. We also ensure that our advocacy with policy-makers, certification schemes, and industry aligns with these evolving standards, ensuring practicality and broad adoption.
Impact of GDST on the Business
GDST has provided ALI with a credible, global framework to advocate for welfare in seafood supply chains, placing it alongside other critical industry priorities such as sustainability and food safety. It has opened doors for constructive engagement with stakeholders and created a pathway for welfare to become part of mainstream traceability systems.
Long-Term Goals
Our long-term goal is to see animal welfare fully integrated into GDST as a widely adopted extension framework. Success means seafood companies reporting welfare data consistently, improving year over year, and demonstrating that high welfare is an integral part of sustainable seafood production. We envision GDST’s welfare framework becoming a model for other global standards to follow.
Advice for Potential GDST Partners
We encourage others to see partnership with GDST as an opportunity to be part of a collective movement that is shaping the future of seafood traceability. Together we can build robust, transparent systems that benefit industry, consumers, the environment, and aquatic life.
You can learn more about the Aquatic Life Institute at: ALI Website
Explore the benefits of GDST partnership at: GDST Get Involved