Perth, Australia-based Seafarms Group Ltd. has become the first prawn company in the country to achieve four-star status under the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s (GAA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program.
One of Australia’s largest prawn producers, operating out of four locations in the northern part of the country, Seafarms’ Queensland facilities – including its hatchery at Innisfail, its farms at Cardwell and Ingham, and its processing plant at Cardwell – are now all BAP-certified. The company also sources its feed from a BAP-certified feed mill, rounding out its four-star designation, the highest achievable under the BAP program.
“We on the BAP team are very excited to partner with Seafarms to bring Seafarms into our responsible aquaculture program as the very first Australian prawn farmer to offer product certified across their entire production chain,” BAP Market Development Manager in Australia and New Zealand Kent Inglis said.
Seafarms, which annually produces around 1,500 tons of its signature Crystal Bay Prawns for distribution and domestic sale, said its BAP certification status helps to provide consumers with sustainability assurances they can count on.
“This certification is recognition of Seafarms commitment to sustainability throughout our supply chain and enables consumers of Crystal Bay Prawns to enjoy our delicious prawns, knowing that they have been safely and sustainably grown to the highest international standards,” Seafarms Chief Operating Officer Dallas Donovan said.
GAA President George Chamberlain said the Seafarms certification stands as a milestone for the company and beyond.
“This is an important milestone, not only for Seafarms and Australia, but for consumers and the planet. Markets all around the world, including in Australia, are now implementing responsible seafood sourcing policies and Seafarms is showing that they are ready and willing to meet that growing market demand,” Chamberlain said.
Through March 2020, there were 2,344 BAP-certified facilities worldwide, including 407 BAP-salmon farm sites and 40 BAP-certified salmon processing plants, GAA confirmed in a press release.
Photo courtesy of Seafarms Group
