Best Aquaculture Practices

Program Standards

The Best Aquaculture Practices is the only third-party aquaculture certification program that encompasses the entire production chain, including the processing plant, farm, hatchery and feed mill.

BAP Standards & Guidelines

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Standards & Guidelines — Audits must use the listed issue number

Seafood Processing Standard

To apply for SPS 6.0, please reach out to programintegrity@globalseafood.org.

Issue 6.0

1: Seafood Processing Standard - Core

05 November 2025

2A: Social Responsibility Module

05 November 2025

2B: Enhanced Social Module

05 November 2025

3: Ready to Eat Module

05 November 2025

4: Animal Welfare Module

05 November 2025

5A: Effluent Discharge Module

05 November 2025

5B: Environmental Module for Remote Isolated Wild-Capture Processors

05 November 2025

6: Low Acid Canned Foods Module

05 November 2025

7: Outsourcing Module

05 November 2025

8: Product Identity Preservation Module

05 November 2025

9: Finished Product Testing Module

05 November 2025

10: SPS 6.0 Annex 1 Finished Product Testing Operational Guidance

05 November 2025

Seafood Processing Standard

Issue 5.1

16 Nov 2020
Amendment

Amendment to SPS 5.1 A4 Finished Product Testing for Wild Species

Issue 1.0

14 July 2021

GSA - Guidelines for Seafood Processing Standard (SPS) Outsourcing

Issue 1.0

27 February 2023

GSA - Guidance for SPS 5.1 Clause 6.2.9

Issue 1.0

25 August 2021

GSA - Guidelines for Seafood Processing Standard 5.1 Clause 5.6.5

Issue 1.0

01 May 2024

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Farmed

Issue 2.2

16 May 2023

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Wild

Issue 2.0

16 January 2021

Farm Standard

Issue 3.1

07 February 2023

Guidance to Meeting BAP Farm Standards 3.0/3.1 Section 3E

Issue 1.0

27 February 2023

Guidance to Meeting BAP Farm Standard 3.0 FIFO Requirements for Black Tiger Shrimp

29 October 2021

Mollusk Farm Standard

Issue 1.2

07 February 2023

Salmon Farm Standard

Issue 2.4

07 February 2023
Amendment

BAP bans use of Critically Important Antimicrobials

7 August 2019

Hatchery Standard

This standard will be live for all applicants as of April 4, 2023.

Issue 2.1

30 January 2023

Hatchery Standard 2.1 Clause 3.7 Guidance

Guideline for Hatchery Standard Issue 2.1 Clause 3.7

Issue 2.1

10 October 2023

Decision Tree for Facilities Seeking Certification

This standard will be live for all applicants as of April 4, 2023.

Issue 2.1

31 January 2024

Feed Mill Standard

Issue 3.2

09 Dec 2024

Feed Mill Standard

Issue 3.1

31 May 2022

Seafood Processing Standard

To apply for SPS 6.0, please reach out to programintegrity@globalseafood.org.

Issue 6.0

1: Seafood Processing Standard - Core

05 November 2025

2A: Social Responsibility Module

05 November 2025

2B: Enhanced Social Module

05 November 2025

3: Ready to Eat Module

05 November 2025

4: Animal Welfare Module

05 November 2025

5A: Effluent Discharge Module

05 November 2025

5B: Environmental Module for Remote Isolated Wild-Capture Processors

05 November 2025

6: Low Acid Canned Foods Module

05 November 2025

7: Outsourcing Module

05 November 2025

8: Product Identity Preservation Module

05 November 2025

9: Finished Product Testing Module

05 November 2025

10: SPS 6.0 Annex 1 Finished Product Testing Operational Guidance

05 November 2025

Seafood Processing Standard

Issue 5.1

16 Nov 2020
Amendment

Amendment to SPS 5.1 A4 Finished Product Testing for Wild Species

Issue 1.0

14 July 2021

GSA - Guidelines for Seafood Processing Standards (SPS) Outsourcing

Issue 1.0

27 February 2023

GSA - Guidance for SPS 5.1 Clause 6.2.9

Issue 1.0

25 August 2021

GSA - Guideline for Seafood Processing Standard 5.1 Clause 5.6.5

Issue 1.0

01 May 2024

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Farmed

Issue 2.2

16 May 2023

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Wild

Issue 2.0

16 January 2021

Farm Standard

Issue 3.1

07 February 2023

Guidance to Meeting BAP Farm Standards 3.0/3.1 Section 3E

Issue 1.0

07 February 2023

Guidance to Meeting BAP Farm Standard 3.0 FIFO Requirements for Black Tiger Shrimp

29 October 2021

Mollusk Farm Standard

Issue 1.2

07 February 2023

Salmon Farm Standard

Issue 2.4

07 February 2023
Amendment

BAP bans use of Critically Important Antimicrobials

7 August 2019

Hatchery Standard

This standard will be live for all applicants as of April 4, 2023.

Issue 2.1

30 January 2023

Hatchery Standard 2.1 Clause 3.7 Guidance

Guideline for Hatchery Standard Issue 2.1 Clause 3.7

Issue 2.1

10 October 2023

Decision Tree for Facilities Seeking Certification

This standard will be live for all applicants as of April 4, 2023.

Issue 2.1

31 January 2024

Feed Mill Standard

Issue 3.2

09 Dec 2024

Feed Mill Standard

Issue 3.1

31 May 2022
Certificación de Instalaciones Acuícolas — Las auditorías deben usar este número

Norma para Procesamiento de Pescados y Mariscos

Número 5.1

09 Feb 2022
 
 

Norma para Procesamiento de Pescados y Mariscos

Número 5.1

09 Feb 2022
Standards & Guidelines — Audits must use the listed issue number

Sertifikasi Fasilitas Akuakultur

Standar BAP Budidaya

Edisi 3.1

18 Juli 2023

Sertifikasi Fasilitas Akuakultur

Standar BAP Budidaya

Edisi 3.1

18 Juli 2023
标准和指南文件 — 审核时必须使用该版本

BAP 饲料厂标准

版本3.1

2022年5月31日

SPS 水产品加工标准

版本5.1

2020年11月16日

BAP 养殖场标准

版本3.1

2023年4月4日

BAP 软体动物养殖标准

版本1.2

2023年4月4日

BAP 饲料厂标准

版本3.1

2022年5月31日

SPS 水产品加工标准

版本5.1

2020年11月16日
標準とガイドライン — 監査では、リストされている問題番号を使用する必要があります
Standards & Guidelines — Audits must use the listed issue number

BAP Standards
Development Process

The Standards Oversight Committee (SOC) is comprised of members with broad stakeholder representation — one-third conservation, one-third academia, and one-third industry. After review by the SOC, standards are modified, if necessary, and published for 60 days of public comment. The committee's consideration of comments leads to a final draft that must be approved by the SOC and GSA Board of Directors before implementation.

The SOC from time to time has membership vacancies in one or more stakeholder categories. We would like to invite the public to suggest nominees from any of the these categories who would be willing to serve a three-year term as members of the SOC.

Standards Oversight Committee Nominations

Thanks for your feedback!

For any standards related questions, comments, or concerns please contact the GSA Manager of Standards Oversight david.dietz@globalseafood.org.

Stakeholder Feedback Form

Thanks for your feedback!


Birgitte Krogh-Poulsen

Independent Social Development Consultant

David Dietz

Manager of Standards Oversight
1-603-317-5000 x115
david.dietz@globalseafood.org

Braddock Spear

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

Kathy Janiga

FSQ Mark Foods, Inc

Ken Corpron

Global Seafood Alliance

Lukas Manomaitis

U.S. Soybean Export Council

Patrick Blow

Marks and Spencer

Dr. Simon Bush

Wageningen University

Tyler Isaac

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted

Worldfish

Dr. Hiroe Ishihara

University of Tokyo

Duncan Leadbitter

Fish Matter

Mike Park

Scottish Whitefish Producers Association

Toby Middleton

Marine Stewardship Counsel

Birgitte Krogh-Poulsen

Independent Social Development Consultant

David Dietz

Manager of Standards Oversight
1-603-317-5000 x115
david.dietz@globalseafood.org

Braddock Spear

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

Kathy Janiga

FSQ Mark Foods, Inc

Ken Corpron

Global Aquaculture Alliance

Lukas Manomaitis

United States Soybean Export Council

Patrick Blow

Marks and Spencer

Dr. Simon Bush

Wageningen University

Tyler Isaac

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted

Worldfish

Dr. Hiroe Ishihara

University of Tokyo

Duncan Leadbitter

Fish Matter

Mike Park

Scottish Whitefish Producers Association

Toby Middleton

Marine Stewardship Counsel

Public Comments

All comments received during the public comment process are carefully considered for inclusion in the final draft, and all properly submitted comments will be acknowleged. Outside of defined public comment periods, interested parties may submit comments to any member of the Standards Oversight Committee for consideration.


View past public comments

BAP Farm Standard 3.0

 

BAP Mollusk Farm Standards

 

BAP Salmon Farm Standards

 

BAP Pangasius Farm Standards

 

BAP Tilapia Farm Standards

 

RAS - Public Comment Responses Issue 1.0

 

BAP Finfish, Crustacean & Mollusk Hatchery & Nursery Standards

 

Minority Report, SOC Response to BAP Salmon Farm Standard

 

BAP Feed Mill Standards

Issue 3.0

BAP Feed Mill Standards

Issue 2.1

BAP Standards Development

 

BAP Finfish & Crustacean Farm Standards

 

BAP Mussel Farm Standards

 

BAP Channel Catfish Farm Standards

 

GAA response to comments received for the Seafood Processing Standard

 

Hatchery 2.0

 

BAP Mollusk Farm Standards

 

BAP Salmon Farm Standards

 

BAP Pangasius Farm Standards

 

BAP Tilapia Farm Standards

 

BAP Finfish, Crustacean & Mollusk Hatchery & Nursery Standards

 

Minority Report, SOC Response to BAP Salmon Farm Standard

 

BAP Feed Mill Standards

Issue 3.0

BAP Feed Mill Standards

Issue 2.1

BAP Standards Development

 

BAP Finfish & Crustacean Farm Standards

 

BAP Mussel Farm Standards

 

BAP Channel Catfish Farm Standards

 

GAA response to comments received for the Seafood Processing Standard

 

Hatchery 2.0