BAP Evaluator Courses Help Prepare For Salmon Standards

In anticipation of the release of the Best Aquaculture Practices certification standards for salmon farms later this year, the BAP program will host two training courses for evaluators that will qualify candidates to be considered by certifying bodies to perform BAP audits.

The first intensive, seven-day course is scheduled for June 6-12 in Seattle, Washington, USA.
A similar course will be held in Ireland in August.

The “full evaluator” courses – which are also open to observers – will cover a range of material related to the certification of aquaculture farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills. The programs will include reviews of standards and guidelines, social and community issues, compliance criteria, protocols and procedures. The courses will end with examinations.

To be considered for the evaluator courses, candidates must have knowledge of industry codes of practice, legal requirements and industry guidelines. They also must have at least five years of experience in aquaculture and/or food safety, and completed multiple facility audits within the last two years. To audit processing plants, candidates must additionally have had lead auditor training and completed a seafood HACCP course within the last three years.

Since companies in several parts of the world have already expressed interest in BAP’s salmon farm certification, a jump in the number of audits is expected. The new salmon standards are approaching the final phase of completion: approval by the Standards Oversight Committee.

“When the new salmon standards are completed, we want to be sure the certifying bodies we work with have sufficient staff to accommodate the farms that have already contacted BAP, as well as the many additional farms that are coming on board,” BAP Executive Director Jim Heerin said.

For further information on the courses, call the BAP office at +1-352-563-0565 or e-mail bap@gaalliance.org. To be considered for the courses, candidates must log in and complete the evaluator application form at www.aquacert.com/login.aspx.

About BAP
Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved global performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain – farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills – that assure healthful foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means. For more information on BAP, visit www.gaalliance.org/bap/.

Source: Global Aquaculture Alliance