AquaGAP: New standard for Good Aquaculture Practices

Good Aquaculture Practices can now be certified for all species raised in aquaculture systems worldwide. “The AquaGAP standard and label was developed on customer request, with many retailers taking the decision to only source seafood from certified suppliers from 2009 onwards”, said Michèle Stark, Head of the Department Fisheries and Aquaculture at IMO. “Immediate action is required to bring farmers and processors, feed companies as well as hatcheries up to the standard of internationally recognized levels.” The programme is not limited to individual species or specific regions. By placing the AquaGAP label on products, quality seafood from all regions can be recognised by importers/retailers and most importantly, the final consumer.
 

Besides the main section on improved management practices, ensuring the good health of the surrounding environment as well as the species under production, this standard includes aspects of social accountability and food safety. A crucial part of the implementation is traceability, including all units in the chain, from the farm to the final consumer. Within the first 3 years of certification, conversion must be completed to only source quality feed containing fishmeal and fish-oil from identified sustainable sources, as well as quality larvae/fry from controlled hatcheries.
 

From many retailers and producers requesting certification, 10 companies are currently under assessment. All certified operations will be listed at the new AquaGAP website. The AquaGAP standard is open for public consultation until February 28th 2009 and has been put forward to undergo the benchmarking procedure according to the WWF guidelines for good seafood standards in order to ensure the high quality and high marketability of label products. Interested stakeholders and individuals are invited to actively participate in the consultation process and to contribute to the improvement of the AquaGAP certification programme by email public-consultation@aquagap.net.

http://www.aquagap.net