The Global Aquaculture Alliance's shrimp certification program is minimizing and eliminating the social injustices allegedly associated with shrimp farming and processing in Asia, said Wally Stevens, executive director of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Solidarity Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit workers' rights organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO, released a report claiming that Asian shrimp workers are abused and subjected to dangerous working conditions.
"We're a fact-based, science-based group," said Stevens. "If [what's in the report] is true, then the [abusive] facilities will not participate in our program. If it is not true, then it shows our program is working."
The GAA established the Best Aquaculture Practices to minimize and eliminate the social and environmental impacts of shrimp farming. Since 2003, the independent Aquaculture Certification Council of Kirkland, Wash., has trained and accredited inspectors to audit shrimp hatcheries, farms and processing facilities against the standards.
"As market demand [for BAP-certified shrimp] increases, more producers will seek certification," said Stevens. "Not all applicants to our program get certified, and not all participants in the program get re-certified."
CNN interviewed Stevens yesterday about the report, "The Degradation of Work: The True Cost of Shrimp."
"CNN was intrigued by our program and by the effectiveness of our program," said Stevens.
"We hold our shrimp suppliers to the highest safety and quality standards, including maintaining processing plants and packaging facilities that meet or exceed BAP standards set by the GAA," said Deisha Galberth of Promote Communications in a statement on behalf of Wal-Mart. "Although we have not seen the Solidarity Center's report, we are working with our suppliers to investigate the allegations shared by CNN."
In a letter to GAA members, Stevens wrote, "Our approach is to work with many organizations to find common ground and solutions to the challenges that face a young industry such as aquaculture. We prefer a solutions-oriented approach rather than one that creates headlines and a climate of fear, uncertainty and doubts."
The sustainable seafood movement is taking off and increasing awareness of both the social and environmental effects of shrimp farming and aquaculture in general, noted Stevens.
"The train has left the station, and it's running down the track," he said, referring to the movement.
One-quarter of global shrimp production goes through a BAP-certified farm or processing facility; one-third of all U.S.-consumed shrimp goes through a BAP-certified facility; and 40 percent of Thai shrimp exports go through a BAP-certified facility (Thailand is the world's largest farmed shrimp producer and the United States' No. 1 shrimp supplier).
"We spend more time walking the walk than talking the talk," said Stevens.
Additionally, the GAA released the final certification standards for channel catfish on Wednesday and expects final standards for tilapia to be out in the next two months.
Steven Hedlund reporting from the European Seafood Exposition
