The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) is a non-governmental organization encouraging sustainable aquaculture practices through advocacy, education and leadership. GAA has operated for the past 23 years, supported by over 3,000 members, and involving over 60 countries. GAA functions based on their 9 Guiding Principles, aiming to improve aquaculture practices in farming, processing, and distribution. The principles include collaboration and coordination with local government, using sites which can sustain aquaculture industry without environmental damage, conserving water, minimizing effluent pollution, improving quality of fish feed, taking responsibility to keep fish disease free, introducing exotic fish species responsibly, cooperating with others for improved technologies and education and benefiting local economies and communities. ¹

GAA’s work includes educational resources which can be accessed through setting up a free account. The main themes of the courses cover Food Safety, Social Welfare, Environment and Animal Health and Welfare and each have subcategories, respectively. Podcasts on seafood and its effect on the planet, individual action options and tools to help, as well as videos covering a global perspective of aquaculture, are also offered. ² GAA promotes the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, which is a program that approaches four key themes of sustainability, similar to the GAA course categories, Food Safety, Social Welfare, Environment and Animal Health and Welfare. The GAA Annual Report, of which 2018 is the most recent available version, provides visuals of growth, featuring the implementation of BAP globally. The growth of BAP displays an understanding of the significance of sustainable aquaculture as well as a willingness to execute improvements. ³

The organization is supported by people all over the world who want to become a member. Creating an account is free, but securing a membership is a paid resource, costing $50 for an individual membership and $5,000 for a corporate membership. Memberships provide members with exclusive resources, including access to the Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership (GOAL) conference. Becoming a member “[ensures] the safety and sustainability of farmed seafood” and helps remote locations all over the world develop their farming with tools provided by GAA. ⁴ The contribution of members helps GAA to engage stakeholders on a global scale who are involved with aquaculture and want to direct their focus on developing responsible environmental and social practices.

The Global Aquaculture Alliance is a resource to thousands of people worldwide that provides educational materials for individuals to better their understanding of what sustainable aquaculture is, as well as providing tools to aid industry decisions on sustainable aquaculture development globally.

Bibliography

¹ “Guiding Principles ” Global Aquaculture Alliance.” Global Aquaculture Alliance, 11 Mar. 2020, www.aquaculturealliance.org/about-gaa/guiding-principles/. 

² “Best Aquaculture Practices.” Best Aquaculture Practices Certification, www.bapcertification.org/WhatWeDo. 

³ “Annual Report.” Global Aquaculture Alliance, 2018, https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GAA-2018-Annual-Report.pdf

⁴ Global Aquaculture Alliance. “Why You Should Be a Member .” YouTube, 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz70V-Y-Atg&feature=youtu.be.