Nongovernmental private organizations have used certification as a governance instrument to advance the socioenvironmental and ethical sustainability of industrial aquaculture. Though started by organic pioneers, the landscape of aquaculture certification has rapidly altered since the late 1990s with the emergence of nonorganic initiatives accelerated by socioeconomic and environmental crises affecting aquaculture production. However, evidence regarding when, how, and why various schemes have emerged and evolved is scarce. Informed by the path-dependence perspective, this study chronicles the emergence and evolution of four organic and six nonorganic transnational nongovernmental aquaculture certification schemes. Drawing on archival records, this study notes that the dynamics of markets, politics, and ideas have played a decisive role in the creation and proliferation of schemes, species-specific standards, and certification programs. By dividing the evolutionary period into two timescales, 1970–1999 and 2000–2021, this study documents the intense competition among certification agencies spurred by the demand for farmed seafood in international markets. A nonorganic certification scheme was dissolved because of a credibility crisis and criticisms, whereas other schemes continue to thrive. However, the recent consolidation of major nonorganics and their growing involvement in the wild fishery industry put the aquaculture certification field in a state of uncertainty. This study provides important insight into the advancement of program-level harmonization initiatives and how the limits of those measures can be overcome to resolve confusion and duplication of certification schemes.

非政府私人组织已将认证作为一种治理工具，以促进工业水产养殖的社会环境和伦理可持续性。尽管由有机先驱者发起，但自 1990 年代后期以来，随着影响水产养殖生产的社会经济和环境危机加速了非有机倡议的出现，水产养殖认证的格局发生了迅速变化。然而，关于各种方案何时、如何以及为何出现和演变的证据却很少。根据路径依赖的观点，本研究记录了四种有机和六种非有机跨国非政府水产养殖认证计划的出现和演变。根据档案记录，本研究指出，市场、政治、和想法在计划、物种特定标准和认证计划的创建和推广中发挥了决定性作用。通过将进化时期分为两个时间尺度，1970-1999 年和 2000-2021 年，本研究记录了国际市场对养殖海产品的需求引发的认证机构之间的激烈竞争。由于信誉危机和批评，非有机认证计划被解散，而其他计划继续蓬勃发展。然而，最近主要无机物的整合及其对野生渔业的日益参与使水产养殖认证领域处于不确定状态。