National Fish & Seafood, GAA and Minh Phu partner together in signing the MoU to deliver environmental sustainability.

National Fish & Seafood settles deal with GAA and Minh Phu

US-based division of Pacific Andes Group, National Fish & Seafood (NFS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and Vietnam-based aquaculture producer Minh Phu.

The MoU, which was signed under the framework of the Seafood Expo North America 2016, will help bring over 800 small aquaculture farms into the ranks of certified facilities over the next 12 months, enabling them to then meet the demands of the marketplace for certified shrimp.

Additionally, these farms are deploying an innovative approach to aquaculture within the sensitive and vulnerable mangrove forest environment – through a method that enables the mangroves to benefit and thrive while enriching the aquaculture ecosystem.

“We are proud of this initiative, as it will shape the future of our industry and chart a course that will deliver exceptional product, ethical accountability and environmental sustainability while meeting ever-growing customer demand,” said James Baros, Aquaculture and Sustainability Manager, NFS.

The BAP certification program is a globally recognized standard and aquaculture management system, which covers a comprehensive approach to areas such as Social Responsibility, Animal Health and Welfare, Environmental, Food Safety, and Traceability throughout the aquaculture supply chain.

This MoU supports an innovative approach for unifying small aquafarmers that would typically lack infrastructure, training and resources to access the BAP certification processes independently.

The deal empowers them to become certified as a group – elevating each farm’s ability to sell their product successfully to an increasingly competitive and selective marketplace, which demands BAP certification to ensure the highest standards of production and quality.

Additionally, the programme supported by the MoU includes a unique environmental benefit due to the integrated mangrove forest shrimp farming being practiced by a number of the farms participating.

Integrated mangrove forest shrimp farming combines the economic use of mangrove forests with shrimp aquaculture. As a result, mangrove forests are maintained and preserved to provide habitat and food for the animals that are raised in small channels and ponds within the forest.

In these systems, shrimp are raised with no feed or chemicals. The ecosystem fully relies on its own natural productivity, which creates incentives for farmers to maintain mangroves. The forest provides the shrimp with natural food, and higher more stable incomes for families and communities.

The signatories are applying for co-funding from Dutch, Swiss and Danish sustainable trade organization, IDH, via the GAA, to further support this exciting project. Demand for certified BAP shrimp is surging globally, and the signing of the MoU represents a change in the industry to meet this demand while providing sustainable protection for one of the most important and delicate ecosystems on earth.

Main photo from left to right: James Baros, Aquaculture and Sustainability Manager, National Fish & Seafood; Jeff Sedacca, President, Shrimp Division, National Fish & Seafood; Peter Redmond, Vice President of Global Market Development, BAP and Le Van Quang, CEO-Chairman, Minh Phu Seafood Corporation.

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