The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has just put up its latest set of Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards for public comment.
The BAP is an international certification program for farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills. The program promotes environmentally or socially responsibly food production.
A draft of the new standards is available on the GAA’s website, at www.gaalliance.org/bap/comments.php. Comments can be submitted using the electronic form there or sent by e-mail or fax to BAP Standards Coordinator Daniel Lee -- [email protected], +44-1248-716729. Interested parties must submit comments by Jan. 31, 2013.
The most notable difference in the new draft is a wider scope, compared to the more species-specific standards tailored to shrimp, tilapia, pangasius and catfish.
"A combined farm standard that addresses aquaculture by culture system rather than species is a logical progression for BAP," GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens said. "It opens up the program to an even greater range of farmers and creates a consistent set of global performance targets. Incorporation of issues learned through individual species standards development also adds additional robustness to the new farm standards."
All comments will be published, receive responses and be referred to the GAA’s Standards Oversight Committee.
