The Global Aquaculture Alliance has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Fish & Seafood and Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, in an effort to grow the availability of four-star Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) shrimp in Vietnam.
Under the MoU, approximately 800 shrimp farms in Vietnam will be encouraged to attain BAP certification.
National Fish & Seafood has committed to provide the education, support and funding necessary for the farms, which are operated by Minh Phu, to enroll in GAA’s iBAP improvement program and make the improvements necessary to apply for BAP certification as groups or as an integrated operating module (IOM).
Upon enrolling in iBAP, the farms will have 12 months to attain BAP certification. National Fish & Seafood also pledged to market the shrimp from the farms that earn and retain BAP certification. Likewise, GAA committed to providing the education and support necessary for National Fish & Seafood and Minh Phu to manage the project.
“We are delighted to announce our partnership with the GAA and Minh Phu on such a forward-thinking, innovative project to certify hundreds of small-scale shrimp farmers while preserving the sensitive, and extremely vulnerable, mangrove environment,” said Jeff Sedacca, president of National Fish & Seafood’s shrimp division.
“This initiative exemplifies a sustainable model which values environmental and social wellbeing and will provide ecological and economic returns for many years in the world’s largest intact mangrove forest. Third-party certification of this progressive farming model will open the doors to international markets, further incentivising governments, private sector and NGOs to work together to strengthen sustainable aquaculture.”
