Aquaculture and Seafood Processing Certification (BAP)

What is this programme?

BAP certifies facilities across the aquaculture and seafood production chain: farms, hatcheries, feed mills and processing plants. As of end of 2024, the Global Seafood Alliance reported 4,168 certified facilities across 45 countries. Only the BAP Seafood Processing Standard is GFSI-recognised; the farm, hatchery and feed mill standards are not.

Who is it for?

Aquaculture farms, hatcheries, feed mills and seafood processing plants, and buyers requiring GFSI-recognised seafood processing certification specifically.

Who issues the certificate?

The certificate is issued by a certification body operating under the BAP programme owned by the Global Seafood Alliance.

What to verify before you accept it

Confirm which BAP standard applies — farm, hatchery, feed mill or processing — and do not assume GFSI recognition beyond the Seafood Processing Standard.

What triggers an assessment?

• A buyer requires GFSI-recognised seafood processing certification specifically.
• The facility is an aquaculture farm, hatchery, feed mill or seafood processing plant.
• A retailer or buyer names BAP across the seafood supply chain.

What does it not replace?

• Claiming BAP is fully GFSI-recognised is incorrect: only the Seafood Processing Standard carries that recognition, not the farm, hatchery or feed mill standards.
• It is not the same scheme as MSC, which certifies wild-capture fisheries rather than aquaculture.