The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) is an international, non‐profit trade association, registered in the USA, that promotes advancement in environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. The GAA has developed Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification standards for aquaculture products.
The GAA promotes aquaculture species as being healthy and environmentally friendly, by reducing the pressure on wild capture fisheries. The BAP certification standards cover aquaculture production, of shrimp farms, catfish, tilapia, hatcheries, processing plans and repacking plants. They are not involved with capture fisheries.
Products meeting the GAA BAP standards assure the customer that the product has been produced with minimal environmental impact.
| Sub-Category |
Private Sector
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| Standard for |
aquaculture products
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| Focus |
certification program for shrimp farms and hatcheries, tilapia and channel catfish farms, and seafood processing plants
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| Structure |
Standards of the BAP certification program reflect program points in four primary areas: Community, Environment, Food Safety and Traceability . For each area specific requirements are assigned for each standard (Processing Plant Standards, Shrimp Farm Standards, Catfish Standards, Tilapia Standards, Shrimp Hatchery Standards).
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| Conformity Requirements |
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| Auditing System |
The non‐profit Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC) certifies aquaculture facilities including seafood processing plants, hatcheries and growout enterprises according to GAA’s BAP standards. The ACC was created by the GAA and is the body that accredits evaluators who carry out physical site inspections, effluent sampling and extensive procedural and record reviews. The role of ACC is being changed in 2009 from a certification agency into a BAP programme manager; the role of certification will be delegated to fully independent, ISO 65‐accredited certification bodies.
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| Geographic Focus |
international
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| Website |
http://www.gaalliance.org/bap/standards.php
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