Colombian tilapia farm Piscícola El Rosario has received a second star under the Global Aquaculture Association’s Best Aquaculture Practices scheme.
The latest certification for the company reflects the approval of the certification body of sustained incorporation of best practices at its processing facility, located nearby the farm in Antioquia, Colombia, according to a press release from Piscícola El Rosario partner Tropical Aquaculture Products, located in Rutland, Vermont, U.S.A.
“Certifying the plant in BAP shows that Piscícola El Rosario is focused on the safety and quality of its products, and it also demonstrates the company's ability to process tilapia in a way that consumers can trust,” Tropical said in a press release. “Company culture at Piscícola El Rosario embraces core values of the local community and makes sure that its practices are socially responsible. According to the auditor, their values declare that they hold the highest respect for employees, referring to them as collaborators. The company is the largest employer in the area and strives to provide human development support and opportunity to employees and the local community.”
Piscícola El Rosario was founded in 2009. Today, the company employs about 140 workers. The farm also has certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Foundation and the Marine Stewardship Council’s Chain of Custody. The proximity of the company’s processing plant to its tilapia ponds allows it to harvest, process and pack the fish in a minimal amount of time, enhancing food safety, the company said.
Piscícola El Rosario was incorporated into Tropical's tilapia cooperative in 2012 as part of the company’s effort to expand its cooperative of farmers and processors in order to ensure geographic diversity and continuity of its fish supply year-round.
