Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) Certification

Wild and farm-raised seafood producers and buyers – from fisheries and farms to processors, distributors, restaurants and retailers – face the challenge of offering sustainable products with a proven chain of custody (CoC). Consequently, they want to demonstrate safe handling and prevent fraud, labeling errors (with DNA testing) and contamination by impurities such as antibiotics.

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) provides assurance of meeting these goals through education, assessments, audits and two certification programs that are available through NSF:

• Best Seafood Practices (BSP) Certification for wild-caught seafood (fisheries)
• Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Certification for farm-raised seafood (aquaculture)

GSA originated as the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and re-branded as GSA in 2021.

BSP Certification verifies responsible wild-caught fish harvesting by certified vessels and processing at certified plants that ensure the wellbeing of employees. BSP can reduce both the time and cost of linking multiple programs that address only parts of the solution.

• The Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard verifies working conditions and operational practices from catch to shore.
• The Seafood Processing Standard (SPS) is the only seafood processing plant standard that complies with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP).
• BSP standards conform to International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements for independent certification bodies and auditors.

• Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification assures safe, responsible production at hatcheries and farms, the use of nutritional feed for seafood, and best practices at processing plants.