Peter Redmond, director of market development for GAA, said the invitation came late Monday night, and that GAA was glad to accept.
“We believe the marketplace is looking for a level playing field. And we believe that GSSI, through an [Food and Agriculture Organization] approach, is going to deliver that playing field. We’re very excited to be on the forefront of that and we always like to be first with something,” said Redmond.
Redmond and his colleagues were on hand at Seafood Expo Global in Brussels to discuss that news and also the recent recognition from the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. Any shrimp products bearing two BAP stars will now have a yellow, or good alternative, rating from Seafood Watch.
“Previously everything that we serviced was red-listed, as is most aquaculture,” said Redmond. “Now we’re the only real mainstream supplier that has any type of product on a yellow rating on the Watch card. This highlights the effort of what we’re trying to do, not only in the marketplace but also in the NGO community. When we work together, we can solve some of the more simple issue and deliver a more favorable result.”
At the end of 2013, the annual output of BAP-certified shrimp farms totaled 132,000 metric tons.
The Seafood Watch determination came after an evaluation of BAP farm standards for finfish and crustaceans conducted by Seafood Watch 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.
GAA strengthened its certification requirements for habitat mitigation, water discharge and escapes.
Dan Lee, BAP standards coordinator, announced that a fifth star, zone management, is now available to aquaculture producers, adding on to the previously existing feed mill, hatchery, farm and processing plant standards.
Zone management certification, an indication of good coordination and collaboration in particular production regions, is available only to companies that have two stars.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
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