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) Golden pompano is being selected as a high-value species for the development of high-tech marine aquaculture in Lam Dong Province. In 2026, the provincial Agricultural Extension Center launched a golden pompano farming model using circular HDPE cages in Lien Huong Commune, opening opportunities to apply technology to marine farming at a scale suited to local coastal conditions.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
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