Best Aquaculture Practices Certifies First Pangasius Facilities
Best Aquaculture Practices has further advanced as the leading certification program for aquaculture by certifying its first facilities for Pangasius production, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to BAP.
On March 14, QVD Aquaculture's Dong Thap Food Co., Ltd. processing plant joined QVD's Tan Hoa East Pangasius Farm in the Dong Thap province of Vietnam in completing the BAP certification process. In combination they also became the BAP program's first "two-star" operation for Pangasius.
"We congratulate QVD Aquaculture for being the first Pangasius company in the industry to meet the rigorous BAP standards at both the farm and plant levels," Global Aquaculture Alliance Executive Director Wally Stevens said. "Vietnam is an important region for aquaculture development, and the leadership that QVD Aquaculture has shown will, we hope, soon be emulated by other producers in Vietnam."
BAP certification is based on the international Best Aquaculture Practices standards developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance. For Pangasius and other major farmed species, BAP requires conservation of biodiversity and effective management of soil, water, feed and effluents. In a process that includes site inspections and in-depth audits, social responsibility and traceability are additional requirements.
QVD Aquaculture is a vertically integrated business with seafood farms, factories and cold storage facilities. Its United States-based corporate team works with partners worldwide to deliver sustainably raised swai/Pangasius and other seafood products to customers around the world.
"This is a major milestone for us," QVD Aquaculture CEO Chris December said. "Sustainability is one of QVD Aquaculture's core values, and it is a passion that runs deep within the company. We view BAP standards and their independent validation as being closely aligned with our principles. Not only does BAP complement what we stand for as the gold standard in aquaculture, but BAP has also become the choice of forward-thinking retail and foodservice buyers in major markets."
About BAP
Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved global 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. For more information on BAP, visit www.gaalliance.org/bap /.