HQ Sustainable Maritime (HQS) on Monday announced that its tilapia grow-out and processing operations have obtained GlobalGAP certification.
The Seattle company’s Hainan Quebec Ocean Fishing Co. subsidiary is the first to earn the GlobalGAP tilapia standards certification.
“HQ Sustainable’s commitment to quality must be a part of an industry-wide effort to educate the public to the choices available,” said Norbert Sporns, HQS president and CEO. “Sustainable aquaculture practices are environmentally responsible and could help mitigate the potential collapse of ocean fisheries. Aquaculture accounts for a full 50 percent of global seafood production and all incremental growth in this sector.”
GlobalGAP introduced its farmed tilapia standards during a conference at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels in April. The organization also has standards for pangasius, shrimp and Atlantic salmon and is developing standards for sea bass and sea bream.
HQS was also the first tilapia producer to be awarded the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices certification.
