BAP Standards

The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards address environmental and social responsibility, animal welfare, food safety and traceability in a voluntary certification program for aquaculture facilities. BAP certification defines the most important elements of responsible aquaculture and provides quantitative guidelines by which to evaluate adherence to those practices.

The BAP program outlines standards for each type of facility, from hatchery and feed mill to farm to processing plant. It currently certifies shrimp farms and hatcheries; salmon, tilapia, channel catfish and Pangasius farms; seafood processing plants and feed mills.

Drafted by technical committees with broad stakeholder representation and overseen by a Standards Oversight Committee, the BAP standards are more comprehensive than other certification systems. Although individual standards vary by facility type, all BAP standards address community and employee relations, conservation of biodiversity, soil and water management, and drug and chemical management.

Click below to view the current BAP standards and guidelines packets, which include sample audits. These documents are provided for informational purposes only. To apply for BAP certification, review the information on the Certification Process page.

BAP Seafood Processing Plant Standards
BAP Seafood Processing Plant Standards -- Guidelines Only (Mandarin)
BAP Shrimp Farm Standards
BAP Shrimp Farm Standards -- Guidelines Only (Spanish)
BAP Shrimp Farm Standards -- Guidelines Only (Mandarin)
BAP Tilapia Farm Standards
BAP Channel Catfish Farm Standards
BAP Shrimp Hatchery Standards
BAP Feed Mill Standards
BAP Pangasius Farm Standards
BAP Salmon Farm Standards