Seafood distributor achieves BAP certification

Richmond, B.C. – A Western Canadian seafood distributor has earned a certification for its responsible aquaculture practices.

Albion Fisheries Ltd. earned the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification from the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) in mid-July.

The company is the first full-line seafood distributor in Canada to earn the distinction.

Albion Fisheries has a 65,000-sq.-ft. processing plant and mainly sells its seafood products to retail and foodservice customers in B.C. and Alberta.

“Albion is focused on continuous improvement, and BAP is another step in this very important journey,” says John Milobar, president of Albion Fisheries.

“It allows our customers to feel confident that we have followed an audited protocol regarding food safety and traceability and should provide comfort in knowing their product has met all of the BAP standards.”

The company handles almost 2,000 SKUs of finfish and bivalve products.

In addition to Atlantic salmon, it produces hand-peeled shrimp meat and crabmeat and is a secondary processor of Pacific salmon, halibut, sablefish and other species.

The company was established in 1963 and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It employs more than 250.

BAP is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain. BAP certification is based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with the BAP standards developed by the GAA.