Joint certification program between GLOBALG.A.P. and Friend of the Sea aims to further improve environmental preservation, reduce duplication, push innovation and drive down audit costs for farms.
According to an agreement between GLOBALG.A.P. and Friend of the Sea, the two certification schemes now offer farmers joint certifications. The Croatian aquaculture leader Cromaris which specializes in the cultivation and processing of white fish with specific emphasis on sea bass, sea bream and shellfish is the first company authorized to use Friend of the Sea logo in combination with the GLOBALG.A.P. number.
After a GLOBALG.A.P assessment audit, run by DNV GL, Cromaris was found compliant with GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Version 4 and the four criteria defined in the Friend of the Sea Add-On. These criteria cover the impact on water body sediment, the effect on the local community regarding access to drinking water and fishing areas, and social criteria by requiring GRASP (GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice).
Major investments have been underway, which rank Cromaris among the most technologically advanced entities in the sector of sea bass and sea bream growing and processing. Those investments are focused on maximizing utilization of the rich natural resources with systematic care of our surrounding environment.
“This very first experience will be a model for a number of other beneficiary aquaculture farms,” claims Mr. Paolo Bray, Director and Founder of Friend of the Sea. “It is fundamental for certification programs like GLOBALG.A.P. and Friend of the Sea to cooperate for the sake of our common mission, that is the environment preservation.”
“We applaud Cromaris for being the first aquaculture farm benefitting from our global push for collaboration to reduce certification audit costs in the industry,” said Dr. Kristian Moeller, CEO of GLOBALG.A.P. “I am convinced that only through alliances like this one between GLOBALG.A.P. and Friend of the Sea we can bring the needed incentives to the entire seafood sector to invest into more safety and sustainability.”
“Top product quality is our imperative, and these two new certificates represent yet another confirmation that strict quality standards are applied,” Mr Goran Markulin, Cromaris CEO, stated. “In accordance with our strategic orientation, Cromaris will continue with further investments in product quality, as well as in sustainable aquaculture, in order to preserve the resources for future generations.”
Cromaris
Cromaris is a company that specializes in growing, processing and sale of indigenous Adriatic fish and shellfish. The company was established in 2009 through the merger of Croatian and European aquaculture pioneers. Its fish has been present in the European market for over 30 years.
www.cromaris.hr
DNV GL - Business Assurance
DNV GL is a world-leading certification body. We help businesses assure the performance of their organizations, products, people, facilities and supply chains through certification, verification, assessment and training services. Partnering with our customers, we build sustainable business performance and create stakeholder trust.
dnvgl.com/assurance
GLOBALG.A.P.
G.A.P. stands for Good Agricultural Practice – and GLOBALG.A.P. is the worldwide standard that assures it.
It is a global organization with a crucial objective: safe, sustainable agriculture worldwide. The organization sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe–and more and more producers, suppliers and buyers are harmonizing their certification standards to match.
www.globalgap.org
Friend of the Sea
Friend of the Sea is an international certification program for products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Over 450 companies in more than 50 countries have relied on Friend of the Sea to assess the sustainability of their seafood products. Audits, based on best and most updated available scientific data, are run by accredited independent certification bodies.
www.friendofthesea.org