The firm had previously told Undercurrent News it intended to apply for the BAP Global Aquaculture Alliance certifications by the end of 2016 -- executive director Jonathan Wilson has now confirmed this has been achieved.
"Having the hatchery, farm, processing and feed mill certified means access to new markets in North America and Europe," he said.
Meeting the firm at Vietfish 2016 in August, Wilson had indicated the firm wanted to expand sales in Europe and the US, but that BAP certification would be required.
"Now we can give customers assurance that our products enhance their brands, and can be a key link in protecting their reputation in the market," he said in November.
The certification comes in time for Godaco to plan its brand launch for "natural fillets, as well as cooked and value-added products", in 2017.
Back in August the first products were coming off the lines of Godaco's newly-opened value-added plant – tempura pangasius, for a customer in Europe.
The brand "is key for us to work with large retailers and foodservice companies, as we can demonstrate commitment to sustainability and quality throughout the value chain", said Wilson.
With its certification, Godaco is just the second four-star BAP pangasius company in Vietnam. Vinh Hoan became the first in 2015.
"We had the ambition to create a brand structure, but we knew that we needed to have something more to offer than pretty packages and nice names," Wilson said of the timing of this brand launch.
"So, we had taken the decision to develop our sustainability and quality credentials as a first start. That way, our brand promise has some real substantial promise behind it."
Of the new VAP plant in Ben Tre, Vietnam, Wilson said the plan was to start with pangasius, before moving on to breaded shrimp and Nobashi stretched shrimp too.
In August, three frying lines were installed in addition to the tempura line, able to handle part- or fully-cooked breaded items, with further space to process shrimp, salmon or Alaska pollock.
“We have the capability to produce a range of 'oven ready' and 'flash-fried', partially cooked products, for a range of foodservice and retail customers,” said Wilson.
“We have had interest in producing breaded and tempura products from North America and Japan, as well as Europe and the Middle East.”
The new plant is designed with flexibility in mind, and depending on product mix, should be able to produce 15,000-20,000 metric tons of cooked products a year.
Source: undercurrentnews
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
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