AquaChile’s Costa Rica-based Rainforest Tilapia operation has received its fourth star in the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program, the coveted final step that verifies responsible practices throughout the fish farmer's entire supply chain.
The BAP certification program is managed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), and provides third-party certification that encompasses the entire aquaculture production chain, including farms, processing plants, hatcheries, and feed mills. The star system indicates the level of integration of the BAP certification along the production line, and will appear on product packaging.
“We’re very proud of earning our final BAP certification star. It’s visual proof that our sustainable aquaculture practices, on every level, are right on target and that our commitment to delivering a healthy, safe and delicious product that’s eco-friendly and socially responsible will always be of the utmost importance,” AquaChile General Manager Vicente De La Cruz said.
AquaChile started the BAP certification process after investing in its Rainforest Tilapia brand some years ago. Among its primary investments is a tilapia research center, trial facility, and feed plant in Costa Rica that the company created in partnership with fishery feed supplier BioMar, requiring an initial USD 15 million (EUR 12.8 million) investment in 2012.
The firm also opened a USD 5 million hatchery for the tilapia farming process in 2015.
