The "Best Aquaculture Practices Certified" ("BAP Certified") mark on retail packaging tells consumers that seafood came from BAP certified aquaculture facilities. The Best Aquaculture Practices standards, developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance, form the basis for BAP certification.

The standards specifically protect biodiversity and worker rights within a program that addresses environmental, social, food safety and traceability issues throughout producers' operations.

BAP certification is implemented through the Aquaculture Certification Council, an independent certifying agency that employs an international team of accredited evaluators to inspect facilities to the BAP standards through site inspections, sampling and record reviews.

BAP certification is currently available for shrimp farms and hatcheries, and seafood processing plants. Certifications for facilities that produce channel catfish, tilapia and other species will be available in 2008.