About

Why AquaGAP?

An increasing demand for sustainable seafood is currently confronted by restricted supply. The availability of sustainable seafood from fisheries is on the decrease, and it is becoming more and more important to structure the rapid growth in aquaculture and to challenge and implement good management practices.

The AquaGAP label was developed on customer request, with many retailers taking the decision to only source seafood from certified suppliers from 2009 onwards. Immediate action is required to bring farmers and processors, feed companies as well as hatcheries up to the standard of internationally recognized levels.

 
AquaGAP assures:

• transparency of origin
• quality at each stage of production
• good aquaculture farming to maintain or improve the health of surrounding ecosystems
• principles of corporate social responsibility and commitment towards local communities

 
AquaGAP opens a wide range of new possibilities for farms implementing good practices and companies wishing to confirm quality by using this label on the international market.
 

Main objectives

The aim is to bring farming practices to an internationally recognized level and ensure consumer trust in quality seafood products. This programme is not limited to individual species or specific regions. By placing the AquaGAP label on products, quality seafood from all regions can be recognised by importers/retailers and most importantly, the final customer. Besides the main section on improved management practices, ensuring the good health of the surrounding environment as well as the species under production, this standard includes aspects of social accountability and food safety. A crucial part of the implementation is traceability, including all units in the chain, from the farm to the final consumer. Within the first 3 years of certification, conversion must be completed to only source quality feed containing fishmeal and fish-oil from identified sustainable sources, as well as quality larvae/fry from controlled hatcheries.
 

Background

AquaGAP was developed by IMO and is owned by the non-profit Swiss Bio-Foundation ensuring the controlled production and the good quality seafood products. After many years of consultation with farmers, NGOs, government organizations and other stakeholders, Good Aquaculture Practices can now be certified for all species worldwide.
From many retailers and producers requesting certification, the first farm has successfully run through all required improvements and received AquaGAP certification.
The AquaGAP standard underwent a public consultation process - we thank for the constructive contributions.

The AquaGAP Standard

The AquaGAP standard underwent a public consultation process - we thank for the constructive contributions. Now it is our aim to further improve the AquaGAP standard. Please find here the actual version of the standard as well as the older versions and the >> documentation of the changes done. You are invited to contribute to the improvement of the AquaGAP certification programme by sending us your feedback via email to info@aquagap.net.

Coming soon

AquaGAP Standard, Version 3: Currently, chapter 3.3 “Source and Quality of Feed, application of AquaGAP standards to the feed mills” is under review.

Actual version

>> AquaGAP Standard: Version 2, 22. July 2009. (Most changes can be found in Chapter 7 “Post Harvest Handling and Processing” and Chapter 8 “Marketing”.)

Earlier Versions

>> AquaGAP Standard: Version 1, 01. April 2009. (AquaGAP V1 was completed on 01.04.2009, all changes are based on the comments and dialogs we received during the public consultation period on AquaGAP V0.)
>> AquaGAP Standard: Version 0, 31. December 2008.
 

Certifier

Currently, there is only one certifier active for AquaGAP, however, 2 applicants are being processed (see below). Certification bodies and individual inspectors/auditors are approved by the standard owner Biostiftung.

Requirements for approval:

• AquaGAP training (where applicable; this is decided on a case by case basis, depending on the experience and training in similar standards) and,
• successful completion of accompanied audits (where applicable; this is decided on a case by case basis, depending on the experience and training in similar standards).

In order to apply for approval, please contact aquagap@biostiftung.ch.

Approved certification bodies

Institute for Marketecology (IMO)
Weststr. 51
8570 Weinfelden
Switzerland
Tel: +41 71 626 0 626 (general)
Tel: +41 71 626 0 624 (direct)
Fax: +41 71 626 0 623 (fax)
Contact: Michèle Stark, mis@imo.ch
IMO is one of the most experienced international agencies for inspection, certification and quality assurance of aquaculture products. The special IMO Group structure, with local offices and representatives active in more than 90 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, thus allows worldwide inspection and certification services for the entire supply chain from the farm to the consumer.  

Applicant certification bodies

Currently, 2 applicants are being processed.