Best Aquaculture Practices

What We Do

Certification

Certification is verification that producers are following best practices to deliver farmed seafood safely and responsibly. Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) is a seafood-specific certification program that addresses the four key areas of responsible seafood—environmental, social, food safety, and animal health & welfare—at each step of the aquaculture production chain.

New to BAP?

Why Choose BAP Certification?

Comprehensive

Covers the entire aquaculture production chain, including processing plants, farms, hatcheries and feed mills

Responsible

Encompasses environmental responsibility, social accountability, food safety and animal health and welfare

Benchmarked

Benchmarked by internationally recognized third parties

Trusted

Recognized and trusted by 150+ retail and foodservice companies worldwide

Helpful

Provides access to BAP Marketing Toolkit, which includes specific assets for producers

Resourceful

Gain GSA membership status as part of your certification with access to a wealth of tools and resources from both BAP & GSA

Comprehensive

Covers the entire aquaculture production chain, including processing plants, farms, hatcheries and feed mills

Responsible

Encompasses environmental responsibility, social accountability, food safety and animal health and welfare

Benchmarked

Benchmarked by internationally recognized third parties

Trusted

Recognized and trusted by 150+ retail and foodservice companies worldwide

Helpful

Provides access to BAP Marketing Toolkit, which includes specific assets for producers

Resourceful

Gain GAA membership status as part of your certification with access to a wealth of tools and resources from both BAP & GSA

Testimonials

Certification Timeline

Average completion time: 150 - 180 days

Submit Application

Complete BAP Application & Submit

Pay Audit Fee

Pay Audit Fee

Payment is processed in 1 - 2 days

Schedule Audit

Schedule Audit

Certification Body (CB) will call to schedule (within 14 days)

Audit Starts

Audit Starts

Audit Complete

Audit is Complete

Program Fee

Program Fee Billed

Nonconformity report is issued followed by a Program Fee invoice

Corrective Action

Corrective action evidence due

Evidence due in 28 days — accepted by CB within 35 days

CB Review

CB Technical Review

May take up to 60 days from the completion of the onsite audit

Pay Fee

Pay Program Fee

Final report/certificate issued by BAP

BAP Certificate Issued!

Official member of GSA

Gain access to marketing materials & resources and other benefits from GSA

Become part of the BAP community!

Access tools, resources, marketing materials, and connections to the international marketplace