Best Aquaculture Practices, the leading global certification system for farmed seafood, has gained Thai Union Group as its largest “four-star” aquaculture operation. Thai Union, whose widely recognized retail brands include Chicken of the Sea, Sealect and John West, is a leading producer and exporter of frozen and canned seafood.
Thai Union’s four-star status reflects the top level in the BAP program, which addresses environmental, social, food safety and traceability issues at aquaculture farms, hatcheries, feed mills and processing plants. Each of the four facility types within the aquaculture seafood production chain is designated by a star on retail packaging.
“To have a major seafood producer like Thai Union adopt BAP to this extent is helping turn GAA’s mission of feeding the world responsibly into a reality, and we thank them for their long-running commitment,” said George Chamberlain, president of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, whose BAP standards form the base of BAP certification. “Thai Union’s extensive aquaculture ventures were already operating with sustainability in mind, and this will help bring even more responsibly produced shrimp and seafood to tables across the globe.”
With their May 19 certification, Thai Union’s feed mills in Muang, Samutsakhon; and Ranod, Songkhla, Thailand, became the latest additions to the list of over 400 BAP-certified facilities. The mills produce and distribute high-quality feed for shrimp and fish under names such as Profeed, Nanami and FCR.
Thai Union has also achieved BAP certification for over two dozen shrimp farms in the regions of Satoon, Chanthaburi and Suratthani, Thailand. The Thai Union Hatchery Co., which operates in Ampher Takuatung, Phang-nga, Thailand, distributes white shrimp postlarvae to farmers.
Much of the group’s seafood output is processed by the Thai Union Seafood Co., Ltd. plant in Amphur Singhanakorn, Songkhla, Thailand. First certified in 2006, the facility expanded its cooked shrimp production facilities in 2010 and expects to increase sales of live shrimp-based products in Japan, Europe and other potential markets. Thai Union Frozen Products Public Co., Ltd. in Ampher Muang, Samutsakorn, Thailand, also processes shrimp harvested from Thai Union’s certified farms.
“The BAP four-star status fits well with Thai Union’s sustainability initiatives and core beliefs of being true stewards of the environment,” said Rittirong Boonmechote, managing director of Thai Union Frozen Products and president of Thai Union Feedmill. “This status allows us to provide the best possible product to our customers and will help us achieve sustainability through the whole supply chain.”
About BAP
The Best Aquaculture Practices program is a comprehensive, rigorous, metrics-based certification program for aquaculture – including farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills. BAP standards cover the environment, social responsibility, animal welfare, food safety and traceability. For more information on BAP, visit www.gaalliance.org/bap/.
Source: Global Aquaculture Alliance
