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

Get on the Road to Certification

iBAP: a path to getting BAP certified

The BAP Improvers Program (iBAP) is designed to provide technical assistance and encouragement to aquaculture facilities interested in pursuing responsible aquaculture practices. Facilities that enroll in iBAP agree to a step-by-step, deadline-driven improvement plan. iBAP incentivizes facilities to make the improvements necessary to apply for BAP certification.

Chain of Custody (CoC)
This pilot standard allows facilities that re-pack or re-label farm-raised seafood products to maintain traceability of the product and carry the BAP logo through the production chain.
Chain of Custody Participants
C10001 – East Coast Seafood LLC – New Bedford MA
C10002 – East Coast Seafood LLC – Lakeville MA

iBAP: a path to getting BAP certified

The BAP Improvers Program (iBAP) is designed to provide technical assistance and encouragement to aquaculture facilities interested in pursuing responsible aquaculture practices. Facilities that enroll in iBAP agree to a step-by-step, deadline-driven improvement plan. iBAP incentivizes facilities to make the improvements necessary to apply for BAP certification.

Recognized Trainers, Consultants and Experts (RTCEs)

At any stage of certification or iBap, producers may require assistance for information, questions or clarifications about our standards or the requirements of certification to them. This online platform for BAP-recognized support resources was created to connect Recognized Trainers, Consultants and Experts (RTCEs) with those interested parties that may need their services.

Certification Enhancements

BAP is regularly upgrading certification best practices using innovative solutions to drive improvement throughout the industry. These initiatives are some examples of the continuous evolutionary cycle taking place in our program, that allow us to cast a wider net in the world or seafood assurances.

Chain of Custody (CoC)

This pilot standard allows facilities that re-pack or re-label farm-raised seafood products to maintain traceability of the product and carry the BAP logo through the production chain.

Chain of Custody Participants
C10001 – East Coast Seafood in Prospect Harbor, Maine
C10002 – Seatrade New Bedford North (MA)