SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [by John Sackton] — April 22, 2014 — Monterey Bay's seafood watch program is widely seen by chefs and some consumers as a highly credible authority on the environmental sustainability of seafood. In the past that program had been criticized by industry for being less than transparent, and not scientifically based.
The Aquarium made changes to their program, including a more transparent peer review, and a willingness to accept credible scientific evidence about various seafood items. At the same time, a number of fisheries engaged with the aquarium to understand and address significant sustainability issues. As a result, they have taken a number of species off their 'red'or avoid list, including Atlantic cod and Antarctic toothfish to name just two.
They also worked with their major corporate partners, like Aramark, to address buyers needs for good sourcing options on products like shrimp.
Now Seafood Watch has identified BAP certiifed farmed shrimp as a 'good alternative', recognizing that a huge portion of the global production of farmed shrimp is truly sustainable when raised in a responsible manner.
The Aquarium says that BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) Shrimp that meets the two star standard will recieve a yellow “Good Alternative” rating from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® program. Seafood Watch will recommend that consumers, chefs and businesses consider farmed shrimp assessed under the BAP standards as a “buy” option.
The determination came after an extensive evaluation of BAP farm standards for finfish and crustaceans conducted by the Seafood Watch science staff. The process of benchmarking existing eco-certification programs against Seafood Watch criteria began more than two years ago when Seafood Watch business partners sought guidance in navigating a marketplace of proliferating global eco-certification programs.
In order to meet the Seafood Watch “Good Alternative” recommendation bar, the GAA strengthened its certification requirements for habitat mitigation, water discharge and escapes.
“This is a landmark recognition for the BAP certification program,” said Peter Redmond, BAP vice president of market development. “We have strived for years to deliver high-quality seafood to the marketplace that is farmed in a responsible way.”
“We are very pleased with this positive benchmarking by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and would like to thank all those involved in making this happen,” Redmond added. “We are proud of the association with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program, and hope to build on this relationship for years to come.”
Completed in March 2013, the BAP farm standards for finfish and crustaceans address environmental and social responsibility, food safety, animal welfare and traceability more rigorously than the standards they replaced, including the BAP farm standards for shrimp.
“Seafood Watch has benchmarked more than 30 fisheries and aquaculture eco-standards developed under robust eco-certification programs,” said Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly, director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program. “We strongly support the concept of independent eco-certification programs to identify sustainable seafood options. Our benchmarking assessment is a way to recognize the growing number of robust programs in the marketplace.”
“Seafood buyers can have confidence that BAP-certified farmed shrimp is raised in an environmentally responsible manner,” said Kemmerly.
The designation of farmed shrimp certified to BAP two-star, three-star and four-star standards as equivalent to a Seafood Watch “Good Alternative” significantly increases the volume of farmed, warmwater shrimp in the marketplace that is a more environmentally responsible option for consumers and businesses.
The stars in the BAP program refer to farms, processing plants, hatcheries and feed mills. Most two star programs involve certified farms and certified processing plants; while three and four star programs add certified hatcheries and feed mills.
At the end of 2013, the annual output of BAP-certified shrimp farms totaled 132,000 metric tons.
“Today, more than 100,000 business locations in North America rely on Seafood Watch science to inform their seafood purchasing decisions,” said Kemmerly. “Benchmarking the many robust eco-certification programs against Seafood Watch criteria means these businesses have hundreds more options to choose from.”
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.