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.

The Smart Assurance project, supported by the ISEAL Innovations Fund (September 2023 to July 2024), developed and tested a new type of oversight process that combines the use of satellite data, analytical methods, and ground verification supported by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) with assessment practices to provide enhanced oversight both at scale and with a new level of granularity.

The Smart Assurance project, supported by the ISEAL Innovations Fund (September 2023 to July 2024), developed and tested an approach which leverages Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and drone technology to create cutting-edge insights for assurance systems that ensures accuracy, efficiency, and transparency. This documents the key benefits of the approach, and use cases in two sectors - forestry and aquaculture.