Aquaculture has revolutionized the seafood industry, innovating how we cultivate fish and aquatic species for consumption. Although aquaculture can be a solution to overfishing, more must be done to address and solve current industry issues effectively.
From environmental hazards with water-based fish farms to improper animal welfare, industry-wide changes are required to ensure responsible aquaculture production.
Learn how the Global Seafood Alliance’s BAP certification provides resources for aqua farms and facilities to elevate their production standards and sustainably meet global nutrition needs.
What is BAP Certification?
BAP stands for best aquaculture practices. Its third-party certification is created by the Global Seafood Alliance. They’re a globally recognized international non-profit trade association dedicated to strengthening sustainable aquaculture standards for each step of the production chain.
Benefits of BAP-Certified Aquaculture: Why It’s Crucial to Sustainably Meet Global Nutrition Needs
BAP aquaculture certification is not only beneficial for the industry, but it’s also necessary for the planet. Here’s how the BAP program is shaping the future of aquaculture through environmentally conscious standards.
BAP is the Only End-to-End Aquaculture Certification Program
BAP is the only end-to-end aquaculture certification program available. It verifies a farm or facility’s best aquaculture practices for the entire production chain, including hatcheries, farms, feed mills, and processing plants.
BAP certification provides a more meaningful impact on the aquaculture industry’s production processes because it doesn’t start and end at a farm or facility. Multiple partners and operations are involved in cultivating fish and aquatic species. Verifying each step in the process ensures that an aquaculture company has complete ethical and sustainable production.
Hatchery BAP Standards
The first step in the BAP’s standards is reviewing an aquaculture farm or facility’s hatchery. These early stages are evaluated for best breeding, egg hatching, and aquatic animal rearing practices per BAP guidelines.
The BAP’s hatchery standards include:
- Environmental Preservation: Not blocking access to natural, public water sources and treating water appropriately to prevent erosion or sedimentation from effluent, feed, and waste discharge
- Broodstock & Eggs Source Control: Conducting internal audits to better control the sources of broodstocks and eggs with written supplier records showcasing they weren’t treated with toxic preservatives, like formalin
- Hatchery Escape Limitation: Investing in hatchery escape systems to prevent the introduction of diseases and pests from non-native species
Aquaculture Farm BAP Standards
Once fish and aquatic species grow to harvest size, they’re transferred from the hatchery to an aquaculture farm or facility. BAP guidelines will review its processes based on its aquaculture systems for sustainable and ethical cultivation.
The BAP’s farm standards include:
- Proper Animal Welfare: Proper monitoring of fish and aquatic species for their water quality, behavior, and physical health to ensure they’re treated humanely
- Food Safety Risk Prevention: Conducting self and third-party risk assessments for potential human food safety risks associated with farming operations
- Farm Supply Storage & Waste Management: Storing aquaculture chemicals safely away from farm supplies and properly disposing of waste to prevent environmental contamination
Feed Mill BAP Standards
Feed mills produce the food that aquaculture farms provide their farmed species. However, not all feeds are BAP-approved. Some feeds have potential ingredients that are harmful to the environment once disposed of from water and waste discharge. Additionally, some feeds don’t meet the nutritional needs of their fish and aquatic animals.
The BAP’s feed mill standards include:
- Feed Ingredient Sourcing: Using BAP-approved feed ingredients and excluding the use of antibiotics to meet the nutritional needs of the species farmed
- Feed Quality Control: Implementing dedicated systems and staff for sampling, inspecting, supervising, and testing of feed ingredients and finished products
- Feed Traceability: Obtaining declarations from suppliers on the origins of their feed ingredients and finished products to ensure it doesn’t harm the environment during waste disposal
Aquaculture Processing Plant BAP Standards
Once the fish or aquatic species have been harvested from the aquaculture farm, they’re sent to processing plants for product distribution. Aquaculture processing plants typically involve flavoring, fileting, freezing, cooking, and packaging.
The BAP’s processing plant standards include:
- Compliant Labor Laws: Providing clean working conditions for all staff with fair treatment per labor laws and fair wages
- Product Processing Inspections: Reviewing for proper sanitation, product handling, and transportation for distributing
- Safe Chemical Supply Storage & Waste Disposal: Properly labeling, storing, and disposing of fuel, lubricants, plant chemicals, and potentially dangerous compounds often used in processing plants safely
Consumers Can Better Access Responsibly Produced Seafood
BAP-certified products provide transparency to consumers, ensuring their seafood is produced responsibly and ethically. They can easily recognize BAP seafood at grocery stores with the certification label on its packaging. That way, people can better access seafood without compromising nutritional integrity and environmental responsibility.
BAP Certification Promotes Sustainable & Healthy Seafood Production
Global seafood consumption has significantly grown over the years, with projections for this to increase by nearly 80% in 2050. With almost half of the seafood consumed produced by aquaculture, now, more than ever, it is crucial to address industry challenges.
BAP aquaculture certification allows farms and facilities to meet rising consumer demands sustainably and prevent overfishing.
BAP Certification FAQs:
What Does BAP-Certified Mean?
BAP-certified means that an aquaculture farm or facility meets the best aquaculture practices per the Global Seafood Alliance’s standards. It showcases their commitment to ethical and sustainable seafood production.
How Long Does it Take to Become BAP-Certified?
It takes 150 to 180 days to become BAP-certified.
The BAP certification steps and timelines are:
- BAP Application
- Audit Fee (1 to 2 days to process)
- Audit Schedule– Certification Body (CB) will call to schedule (within 14 days)
- Audit
- Program Fee Billed
- Corrective Action Evidence Due–accepted by CB (within 35 days)
- CB Technical Review (up to 60 days from onsite audit completion)
- Pay Program Fee
- BAP Certification Issued
How Can I Assure My Aquaculture Farm Becomes BAP-Certified?
The Global Seafood Alliance’s BAP standards for certification look at four key areas:
- Environmental Responsibility
- Animal Health & Welfare
- Food Safety
- Social Accountability
While each aquaculture farm and facility will differ in BAP requirements based on their unique systems and production processes, your application will include an audit with corrective actions to help you become BAP-certified.
Is BAP Certification Legit?
Yes. The Global Seafood Alliance is globally recognized for its BAP program and improved aquaculture production in 39 countries. They also use third-party certification bodies (CBs) and auditors as a testament to their program’s integrity.
Advocate for Sustainable Aquaculture with SIAA: Support Our Mission Today
At SIAA, our missions include safeguarding aquaculture while preserving biodiversity for future generations. We partner with the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) to advocate for stronger policy changes in the aquaculture industry and legal measures to protect farmed species.
And with your support, you can help protect aqua farms and global ecosystems long term.
Giving a one-time donation or becoming a SIAA member contributes directly to our legislative and conservation efforts.
Let’s make a meaningful change in the way we produce seafood together.
