Haarlem, The Netherlands.– The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) has provided formal recognition of the BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) scheme for the scope of Aquaculture. GSSI’s recognition shows that their Farm Standard (Issue 1, Revision 1, November 2018) is in alignment with all applicable Essential Components of the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool (version 1.0, 8 October 2015). The Tool is underpinned by the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification and consists of performance areas related to scheme governance, operational management (including chain of custody) and applied aquaculture farm audit standards.
The BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) scheme is the eighth seafood certification scheme, and the fourth aquaculture certification, to be benchmarked against GSSI’s Global Benchmark Tool and to achieve recognition. The BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) scheme is also the first government run scheme to achieve recognition.
“This recognition shows that the BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) scheme and their Farm Standard is in line with the FAO’s guidelines for aquaculture certification,” said Herman Wisse, Managing Director, GSSI. “With four fisheries and four aquaculture schemes now recognized by GSSI, the GSSI Benchmark Tool is truly providing global alignment in seafood certification.”
“Today marks an important step for Ireland’s seafood sector and for the Irish aquaculture industry. The endorsement of our Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) scheme by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative, makes it one of four global aquaculture schemes that has achieved this standard for sustainable seafood. Global standards are vital to help customers worldwide identify sustainable seafood to ensure transparency and to help raise standards. We are increasingly operating in a global marketplace. GSSI recognition strengthens Ireland’s reputation as a leading producer of sustainable seafood,” said Jim O’Toole, CEO Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency.
Editor at the digital magazine AquaHoy. He holds a degree in Aquaculture Biology from the National University of Santa (UNS) and a Master’s degree in Science and Innovation Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with postgraduate diplomas in Business Innovation and Innovation Management. He possesses extensive experience in the aquaculture and fisheries sector, having led the Fisheries Innovation Unit of the National Program for Innovation in Fisheries and Aquaculture (PNIPA). He has served as a senior consultant in technology watch, an innovation project formulator and advisor, and a lecturer at UNS. He is a member of the Peruvian College of Biologists and was recognized by the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) in 2016 for his contribution to aquaculture.
