It is expected that the new BAP farm standards will go live in the spring of 2013, following further technical scrutiny by the Standards Oversight Committee. Currently, the comments -- which were received from fish farmers, academics and NGOs from Australasia, Asia, Europe and America -- are being reviewed and will be published, along with the BAP responses and any changes to the standards, on the GAA website.
Logistics aside, the new BAP farm standards tackle the issue of social responsibly much more rigorously than the previous BAP farm standards, which were separately tailored for shrimp, salmon, tilapia, Pangasius and catfish. According to the GAA the new BAP farm standards apply to all types of production systems for finfish and crustaceans, excluding cage-raised salmonids, for which separate BAP farm standards exist.
Awareness of social responsibility -- and the need to ensure that workers on farms and in processing plants are safe and treated fairly -- has increased significantly in the decade since the first BAP farm standards for shrimp were created, said BAP Standards Coordinator Dan Lee.
In fact, the new BAP farm standards contain 33 clauses relating to worker safety and employee relations, compared to just 12 clauses in the BAP farm standards they are replacing.
"If you consider that the BAP shrimp farm standards were launched almost a decade ago and how the industry has progressed, it’s easy to understand that the consensus on best practices for social accountability has evolved and requirements are now stricter and more comprehensive. Thus, during a BAP inspection, the third-party auditor is now expected to spend more time probing social issues," Lee said. "What stands out now is that the requirements are spelled out in greater detail so that program participants can be under no illusions about the high standards needed to get a BAP certificate."
Lee said the new standards are much more detailed.
"Examples of topics that are now covered in more detail are child labor, forced or bonded labor, wages, benefits, holidays and overtime, deductions, migrant workers, sub-contracted workers, piece workers, contracts and harassment. On top of all this, there are requirements relating to worker health and safety. So, in total, the requirements amount to a very comprehensive package of assurance," he said.
There’s a heightened awareness of social responsibility as of late. What would you say to a seafood supplier or retailer who’s increasingly concerned that a particular country’s labor laws are lacking or aren’t being properly enforced? Can a third-party certification program like the BAP program be part of the solution?
Lee added that seafood companies worried about labor law enforcement from their suppliers may find the new BAP standards particulary of interest.
"Nearly all countries have detailed labor laws, and they are often drafted to comply with international labor standards. But the problem is, to a very great extent, one of weak enforcement. Third-party schemes can play a valuable role in ensuring that legal requirements are complied with. And it is the export sector that often leads the way in driving up social standards. The BAP program has the added advantage of tackling social issues at all levels of the supply chain, including at the hatchery, feed mill and processing plant, as well as the farm."
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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