The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has singed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Seafood Importers Association of Australasia (SIAA), in which the two organizations wil collaborate to advance responsible aquaculture.
More than 70 percent of seafood consumed in Australasia is imported, much of it by SIAA’s 25 member companies.
In the MoU, SIAA pledged to support the concept of independent, third-party aquaculture certification by working with industry and government to strengthen their understanding of aquaculture certification and with the public to strengthen its understanding of sustainable aquaculture.
In return, GAA agreed to keep SIAA informed about updates to the BAP standards, new BAP standards in development, its accredited certification bodies and marketing activities in Australasia.
“The world, and particularly Australia, are increasingly dependent on aquaculture, as wild fisheries reach sustainable ceilings. Consumers want to be certain that farms are operating to recognized principles of environmental stewardship and socially accountability, and international standard holders such as GAA provide credible benchmarks and a pathway to independent certification,” said Norm Grant, SIAA executive chairman.
