January 22, 2014

Experiencing robust growth in terms of the number of BAP-certified facilities and the volume of product from BAP-certified facilities available in the marketplace, the Global Aquaculture Alliance's (GAA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification programme had a fruitful 2013.

Last year, the BAP programme experienced a 31% increase in the number of facilities certified, a 29% increase in the volume of product originating from BAP-certified processing plants and an impressive 57% increase in the volume of product originating from BAP-certified farms.

As of December 31, 2013, the annual output from BAP-certified processing plants totalled 1.392 million tonnes, up from 1.076 million tonnes at the end of 2012 - a 29.4% increase. The number of BAP-certified plants jumped from 210 at the end of 2012 to 248 at the end of 2013.

Meanwhile, the annual output from BAP-certified farms totalled 751,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2013, up from 478,000 tonnes at the end of 2012 - a 57.1% increase.

The number of BAP-certified farms jumped from 248 at the end of 2012 to 352 at the end of 2013. Additionally, the number of BAP-certified hatcheries and feed mills totalled 28 and 21, respectively.

In 2013, much of the growth within the BAP programme came from salmon. Last year, the output from BAP-certified salmon farms more than doubled, to more than 439,000 tonnes, while the output from BAP-certified salmon processing plants more than tripled in 2013, to more than 453,000 tonnes.

Progress also came in standards development in 2013. In April, new BAP finfish and crustacean farm standards were completed, opening up the BAP programme to a number of species not previously covered, including sea bass, sea bream, cobia, trout and barramundi.

In August, new BAP mussel farm standards were finalised and will be used as a template to develop broader mollusk farm standards for clams, oysters, scallops, abalone and other species. The hatchery and nursery standards for finfish, crustaceans and mollusks are also expected to be completed this year.

A division of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification programme based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain -- farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills -- that assure healthful foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means. BAP certification is based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with the BAP standards developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance.