Global Aquaculture Alliance Announces Standards Oversight Committee Members
 
The Global Aquaculture Alliance, the leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood, has completed the selection of members for its new Standards Oversight Committee. Among other responsibilities, SOC members will be tasked with overseeing the further development and updating of GAA’s Best Aquaculture Practices standards.
 
Executive Director Wally Stevens said the GAA board of directors was pleased with the caliber of nominees for the 12-member SOC. “Our finalists have in common a track record of seeking and finding solutions for aquaculture that are based on solid research and science,” Stevens said. “They have all contributed to advancing the supply of nutritious, safe and sustainably produced seafood.”
 
New SOC members include Dr. Devin Bartley, aquaculture coordinator for California, USA; Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association; Dr. Claude Boyd of Auburn University; Estelle Brennan of Lyons Seafoods Ltd.; Michelle Harvey of the Environmental Defense Fund; Dr. Steve Otwell of the University of Florida; Dr. Charles Santerre of Purdue University; Dr. Jerry Schubel of the Aquarium of the Pacific; Melanie Siggs of Seafood Choices Alliance; Dr. Michael Tlusty of the New England Aquarium and Dr. John Wigglesworth of Darden Restaurants. GAA’s Dr. George Chamberlain will serve as committee chairman. BAP Standards Coordinator Daniel Lee will also work with the committee.
 
The challenge of developing standards will require both commitment and cooperation, Stevens said. “Going forward, there are no assumptions from any of these members or their respective organizations that standards development will be easy or inclusive,” he said. “The SOC is tasked with achieving workable standards for processes that ultimately result in safe products, with full recognition of environmental, worker, community and conservation issues. Input will be solicited from any and all sources to create effective BAP standards.”
 
The initial meeting of the SOC will be on October 28, just prior to GAA’s Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership 2008 meeting in Qingdao, China.

For more information on the Standards Oversight Committee, view the BAP standards development documents at www.gaalliance.org/BAP/BAP-Proc.pdf.