The Global Aquaculture Alliance’s (GAA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program is again expecting year-on-year growth, in terms of the number of BAP-certified facilities and the volume of product originating from BAP-certified facilities.
Up until 31 October 2014, the total number of BAP-certified facilities is up 11% from 1 January 2014, to 729 BAP-certified facilities, including an additional 61 BAP-certified farms.
Again, much of the growth in 2014 is due to salmon. The total number of BAP-certified salmon farms reached 85 farms up until 31 October, up 53 farms from 1 January, while the annual output from BAP-certified salmon farms has more than tripled, to approximately 588,000 metric tons.
The annual output from BAP-certified processing plants is holding firm at 1.41 million metric tons as of 31 October, up 1% from 1 January. The total number of BAP-certified processing plants stood at 261 on 31 October, up 4% from 1 January.
Progress has also come in the form of standards development in 2014, with additional growth anticipated for the BAP program in 2015. In September, the BAP program expanded its coverage with the completion of new BAP hatchery and nursery standards for finfish, crustaceans and mollusks, which will allow companies to pursue four-star designation for all species covered by the BAP program, not only shrimp. Currently, there are 29 BAP-certified shrimp hatcheries.
