Best Aquaculture Practices

What We Do

A Program with
Integrity

We've structured our program to ensure the highest level of integrity, with a team of staff members dedicated to ensuring that independent, third-party certification bodies (CBs) and auditors as well as BAP-certified aquaculture facilities are in compliance with program requirements.

Program Integrity Library

GSA Standards Development Structure & Process

To promote broad stakeholder involvement, consensus and transparency in the standLogoards development process, GSA delegates the primary guidance and oversight for the process to a Standards Oversight Committee (SOC).

Issue 3.1 - 18 Jan 2023

BAP Group Program

The GSA Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) policy for Farm and Hatchery Group Programs.

Issue 1.0 - 13 Dec 2018
Amendment

Amendment 1A to Rules Concerning Adding Members to Groups

Issue 2.0 - 10 Oct 2024

BAP

The GSA Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) policy for Farm and Hatchery Group Programs.

Issue 1.0 - 13 Dec 2018

BAP Cluster Program

The GSA Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) programs & requirements for Certification of CLUSTER Farms and Hatcheries.

Issue 1.2 - 29 Mar 2019

Policy on Supplementary Audits

The BAP Policy on Supplementary Audits.

Issue 5.2 - 04 Jun 2024

CB Requirements

Requirements for certification bodies offering certification against the BAP standards.

Issue 14.11 - 7 Oct 2024

Certification Body Application Package

Requirements for certification bodies offering certification against the BAP standards.

Issue 1.0 - 29 Sep 2022

Auditor Competency & Course Approval Requirements

The BAP conducts several Auditor Training Courses each year, in different regions around the world, teaching seven possible auditor competencies. Participants include New Auditor Candidates, Returning Auditors, and Observers. Qualifications for auditor training must be met and maintained according to the requirements of the standard.

Issue 11.4 - 13 Jun 2022

Unannounced Audit Policy for Enhanced Social

Issue 1.0 - 19 Aug 2024

BAP Logo Requirements

All BAP-certified producers or other companies who use the BAP label must adhere to these requirements.

Issue 2.7 - 29 Aug 2023

BAP Logo Requirements

使用要求

Issue 2.7 - 29 Aug 2023

Complaints, Appeals & Disputes

Complaints, appeals and disputes regarding certification brought to the attention of BAP are handled by BAP or referred to the CB involved, depending on the nature of the complaint.

Issue 1.2 - 23 Sep 2024

GSA Bylaws

The GSA bylaws are available upon request by contacting programintegrity@globalseafood.org

Please add "GSA Bylaws Request" to the subject of your request email.

 

GSA Unannounced Audit Policy

 

Issue 3.0 - 24 Oct 2024

GSA Standards Development Structure & Process

To promote broad stakeholder involvement, consensus and transparency in the standards development process, GSA delegates the primary guidance and oversight for the process to a Standards Oversight Committee (SOC).

Issue 3.1 - 18 Jan 2023

BAP Group Program

The GSA Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) policy for Farm and Hatchery Group Programs.

Issue 1.0 - 13 Dec 2018
Amendment

Amendment 1A to Rules Concerning Adding Members to Groups

Issue 2.0 - 10 Oct 2024

BAP Cluster Program

The GSA Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) programs & requirements for Certification of CLUSTER Farms and Hatcheries.

Issue 1.2 - 29 Mar 2019

Policy on Supplementary Audits

The BAP Policy on Supplementary Audits.

Issue 5.2 - 04 Jun 2024

CB Requirements

Requirements for certification bodies offering certification against the BAP standards.

Issue 14.11 - 7 Oct 2024

Certification Body Application Package

Requirements for certification bodies offering certification against the BAP standards.

Issue 1.0 - 29 Sep 2022

Auditor Competency & Course Approval Requirements

The BAP conducts several Auditor Training Courses each year, in different regions around the world, teaching seven possible auditor competencies. Participants include New Auditor Candidates, Returning Auditors, and Observers. Qualifications for auditor training must be met and maintained according to the requirements of the standard.

Issue 11.4 - 13 Jun 2022

Unannounced Audit Policy for Enhanced Social

Issue 1.0 - 19 Aug 2024

BAP Logo Requirements

All BAP-certified producers or other companies who use the BAP label must adhere to these requirements.

Issue 2.7 - 29 Aug 2023

BAP Logo Requirements

使用要求

Issue 2.7 - 29 Aug 2023

Complaints, Appeals & Disputes

Complaints, appeals and disputes regarding certification brought to the attention of BAP are handled by BAP or referred to the CB involved, depending on the nature of the complaint.

Issue 1.2 - 23 Sep 2024

GSA Bylaws

The GSA bylaws are available upon request by contacting programintegrity@globalseafood.org

Please add "GSA Bylaws Request" to the subject of your request email.

 

GSA Unannounced Audit Policy

 

Issue 3.0 - 24 Oct 2024

Certification Bodies

To be recognized by BAP, CBs must be accredited under ISO/IEC Guide 17065 by an International Accreditation Forum-member accreditation body and a Multilateral Recognition Arrangements signatory to another internationally recognized scheme. The CBs below are active and recognised by BAP and all have a scope of activities that includes the Seafood Processing Standard. To view the scope of activities of our approved Certification Bodies, please click on the corporate logo below to view their most recent certificate of accreditation.



Auditor Competency &
Course Approval Requirements

Interested in attending a course?

Logo Policing

The BAP logo employs a star system to signify the levels of BAP certification along the aquaculture production chain. These stars are displayed on the BAP logo and appear on packaging for a variety of farmed seafood products worldwide.

We maintain a logo-approval and logo-policing process to ensure that the BAP logo is being used appropriately with the help of Field Agent, a mobile market research and auditing firm.

Logo Policing

The BAP logo employs a star system to signify the levels of BAP certification along the aquaculture production chain. These stars are displayed on the BAP logo and appear on packaging for a variety of farmed seafood products worldwide.

We maintain a logo-approval and logo-policing process to ensure that the BAP logo is being used appropriately with the help of Field Agent, a mobile market research and auditing firm.

Questions about logo use?

Download the BAP Logo Requirements to ensure the you're using the BAP logo appropriately and that any claims associated with GSA or BAP are accurate.