Chinese Processor First To Offer One-Star Pompano

July, 2013

The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) in late July applauded Guangdong Gourmet Aquatic Products Co. Ltd. for earning Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification.

Guangdong Gourmet Aquatic Products’ processing plant in Wuchuan, Guangdong, China, attained BAP certification on July 8. The facility processes farmed shrimp, tilapia and golden pompano.

With BAP certification, Guangdong Gourmet Aquatic Products is the first company approved to offer one-star pompano. Pompano and a number of other farmed seafood species — including sea bass, sea bream, cobia, seriola, barramundi, trout, perch and carp — became eligible for one-star designation when the new BAP standards for finfish and crustacean farms were completed in late April. Product handled at a BAP-certified processing plant is deemed one-star.

The new BAP multi-species farm standards apply to all types of production systems for finfish and crustaceans (excluding cage-raised salmon), replacing the previous BAP farm standards, which were separately tailored for shrimp, tilapia, Pangasius and catfish.

Guangdong Gourmet Aquatic Products produces about 20,000 metric tons of farmed shrimp, tilapia, golden pompano and other farmed seafood species annually. The company’s products are sold to retail and foodservice customers primarily in Australia, the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The company said BAP certification will help give it access to new retail and foodservice markets.