Colombia Embraces BAP Program Through MoU With GAA

The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federación Colombiana De Acuicultores (FEDEACUA) to ensure that Colombian farmers, processors, hatchery operators and feed manufacturers are able to access the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification program to comply with local and international market requirements.

FEDEACUA committed to provide the support and funding necessary for farms, processing plants, hatcheries and feed mills to apply for BAP certification.

The agency set aside $150,000, which will go toward BAP certification.

In exchange, GAA agreed to provide the education and training necessary for farms, processing plants, hatcheries and feed mills to apply for BAP certification, serving as an effective tool to develop broad-based sustainable aquaculture in Colombia. Additionally, GAA, through the BAP market development team, agree to promote BAP-certified facilities in Colombia to retailers and foodservice companies worldwide.

“FEDEACUA has set an excellent example of how government and the private sector can work harmoniously to improve responsible aquaculture in a country,” said Marcos Moya, BAP’s market development manager for supply chain. “This represents real change on the water for the responsible aquaculture movement.”

About GAA
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is an international, nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. Through the development of its Best Aquaculture Practices certification standards, GAA has become the leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood.

About BAP
A division of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program 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.