GAA changes name after merger with fishing body
The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), which runs the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification scheme, has officially changed its name to the Global Seafood Alliance following votes by the GAA board of directors and the board of directors of its sister organisation, Global Seafood Assurances.
It said the new name reflects the merger and the non-profit organisation’s growing involvement in wild fisheries through the addition of the Seafood Processing Plant Standard (SPS) Issue 5.1 and the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS).
“The transition to the Global Seafood Alliance builds upon our industry-leading Best Aquaculture Practices certification program as well as our world-class advocacy and education work, all of which previously focused on farmed seafood,” said Global Seafood Alliance chief executive Wally Stevens in a press release.
“Best Seafood Practices and other seafood advocacy and education work will become equally important as aquaculture within the Global Seafood Alliance. We are excited about our future.”
The Global Seafood Alliance board met for the first time on April 14. The board includes four new members - Arni Mathiesen, senior advisor at Iceland Ocean Cluster; Marcus Coleman, chief executive of the UK’s Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish); Tom Pickerell, executive director of the Global Tuna Alliance; and Allen Kimball, executive vice president of global operations and sales at Trident Seafoods - in addition to the existing members of the previous GAA board.
Rebranding
The name change triggers a rebranding initiative that will include the introduction of Best Seafood Practices, which will house SPS Issue 5.1 and RFVS, and will culminate in the third quarter with the unveiling of a new Global Seafood Alliance brand identity.
Best Seafood Practices (BSP) is the wild fisheries equivalent of Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), the third-party aquaculture certification program that currently includes five sets of standards for aquaculture farms, hatcheries and feed mills.
A milestone
On March 1, industry veteran Brian Perkins, former regional director-Americas for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), joined the Global Seafood Alliance as its chief operating officer, to help guide the organisation through the transition and into the future.
“Even though the merger with Global Seafood Assurances and name change represent a milestone in the evolution of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, there’s still a lot of work to do,” said Perkins.
“We look forward to growing SPS Issue 5.1 and RFVS while continuing to build our reputation within the wild-fisheries community.”
