A Brief History of
The Global Seafood Alliance
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GS_Chamberlain_750x400.png)
Humble beginnings
The Global Aquaculture Alliance was founded by shrimp farmers and aquafeed and seafood companies responding to criticism about mangrove deforestation (Pictured: Susan and George Chamberlain outside the first professional GAA office in St. Louis, Mo., USA. The original office was the Chamberlains' home.)
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Mangroves_750x400.jpg)
Fundamental principles
Published “Guiding Principles for Responsible Aquaculture” and “Mangrove Code of Practice”
Also: Published the first issue of Global Aquaculture Advocate magazine as an eight-page black-and-white newsletter; a full-color magazine would follow in 1999 and continue bimonthly until 2015 when it would shift online
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/shrimp_750x400.jpg)
Codes of practice
The qualitative predecessor to Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards, “Codes of Practice for Responsible Shrimp Farming,” is published
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GSOL2002_750x400.png)
Convening commences
The first GSOL (Global Shrimp Outlook for Leadership) conference – which would be rebranded as GOAL (Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership) in 2008 – is held in Singapore
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Belize_750.png)
BAP milestones reached
BAP certification standards for shrimp farms are finalized; auditors were trained in 2003 and the first-ever shrimp farm earns BAP certification (Belize) in 2004
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/walmart_darden_750.jpg)
Major endorsers sign on
BAP is endorsed by retail leader Walmart and Darden Restaurants, operator of the Red Lobster seafood restaurant chain
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GSA-Office_750x400.png)
Expansion begins
GAA offices are opened in Florida, Washington and New Hampshire, but ultimately consolidated in Portsmouth, N.H., USA (Pictured: The current GSA office, which opened in 2018)
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SOC_group_750x400.jpg)
SOC formed
The Standards Oversight Committee is established (Pictured: The SOC at the 2015 SOC meeting in Vancouver)
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Auditor_2009.png)
Foundation formed
GAA funds the formation of the Responsible Aquaculture Foundation (now The Center for Responsible Seafood, or TCRS), a charitable organization dedicated to research, education and collaboration
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GFSI_750.png)
First benchmark attained
BAP is benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BAP_750.png)
BAP Certification Standards Finalized
BAP certification standards for salmon, finfish, crustacean and mussel farms are finalized
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ibap_Rai_750.png)
Improver program launched
iBAP, a precursor to full BAP certification, is launched
Also: BAP-certified processing plants are officially prohibited from outsourcing shrimp processing work to third-party entities to combat labor abuse
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Three-Gs_750x400.png)
The Three Gs
BAP became the first third-party aquaculture certification program to be benchmarked by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI)
Also: BAP became the first program to achieve 3Gs status (GFSI, the Global Food Safety Initiative, GSSI and GSCP, the Global Social Compliance Program)
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Untitled-design-4.png)
Podcast launched
Launched the Aquademia podcast, the No. 1 seafood podcast, which now has more than 200 episodes to download
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BSP_750.png)
Rebranded as GSA
GAA rebranded as the Global Seafood Alliance and launched the Best Seafood Practices certification program for fishing vessels and seafood processing facilities
![)](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GAA-Team-2021_750.jpg)
Silver Anniversary
GSA celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2022!
Founding Members
![Belize Aquaculture Belize Aquaculture](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bel.png)
![Delta Blue Delta Blue logo](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/delta.png)
![Expack Seafood Expack Seafood logo](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/expack-seafood.jpg)
![Expalsa Exportadora De Alimentos S.A. Expalsa Exportadora De Alimentos S.A.](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/eee.png)
![National_Fish_and_Seafood National Fish and Seafood, Inc. logo](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National_Fish_and_Seafood.jpg)
![OSO OSO logo](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/oso.png)
![unima unima logo](https://www.globalseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/unima.png)