BAP Certification Standards

View Current Standards...  Shrimp Farms    Shrimp Farms, Guidelines Only (Spanish)    Shrimp Farms, Guidelines Only (Mandarin) Shrimp Hatcheries Seafood Processing Plants    Seafood Processing Plants, Guidelines Only (Mandarin) Tilapia Farms Channel Catfish Farms

To promote responsible practices across the aquaculture industry, the Global Aquaculture Alliance coordinates the development of Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification standards for the evaluation of management practices from production through processing. Select from the pull-down menu above to view PDF-format copies of the current BAP standards, guidelines and audits. These documents are provided for informational purposes only. To apply for certification, download and return the electronic Application Form at www.aquaculturecertification.org.
 
The BAP standards currently address environmental and social responsibility, animal welfare, food safety and traceability in a voluntary certification program for shrimp farms and hatcheries, tilapia and channel catfish farms, and seafood processing plants. To complete the seafood value chain, GAA is developing standards for aquaculture feed mills. Standards for other fish species are also under development.
 
BAP's broad objective is to drive continued industrywide improvements via high standards that deliver significant benefits while representing realistic objectives for the majority of aquaculture operators. The BAP standards define the most important elements of responsible aquaculture and include quantitative guidelines and auditing procedures. Facilities certified in adherence to the BAP standards may use the BAP certification mark (above right) in advertising and on wholesale-level product labels. A separate mark is used for retail packaging.
 
The Best Aquaculture Standards are developed and updated via species-specific technical committees under the guidance of a Standards Oversight Committee comprised of members with broad and balanced stakeholder representation. Draft standards are posted for public comment before implementation.

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BAP Facility Certification
Aquaculture facilities seeking BAP certification must contact the Aquaculture Certification Counci (ACC), a nonprofit organization based in Crystal River, Florida, USA, and download the electronic Application Forms to apply. To establish compliance with the BAP standards, evaluators accredited by ACC carry out physical site inspections, effluent sampling and extensive procedural and record reviews. Visit the ACC website for forms and additional information on BAP facility certification.

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Global Aquaculture Alliance -- http://www.gaalliance.org
 Feeding the World Through Responsible Aquaculture
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