Best Seafood Practices
Program Standards
Program Standards
Our standards are created through a rigorous, scientific and transparent development process in accordance with International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements.

BSP Standards & Guidelines

BSP Standards & Guidelines

 

Seafood Processing Standard

To apply for SPS 6.0, please reach out to programintegrity@globalseafood.org.

Issue 6.0

1: Seafood Processing Standard - Core

05 Nov 2025

2A: Social Responsibility Module

05 Nov 2025

2B: Enhanced Social Module

05 Nov 2025

3: Ready to Eat Module

05 Nov 2025

4: Animal Welfare Module

05 Nov 2025

5A: Effluent Discharge Module

05 Nov 2025

5B: Environmental Module for Remote Isolated Wild-Capture Processors

05 Nov 2025

6: Low Acid Canned Foods Module

05 Nov 2025

7: Outsourcing Module

05 Nov 2025

8: Product Identity Preservation Module

05 Nov 2025

9: Finished Product Testing Module

05 Nov 2025

10: SPS 6.0 Annex 1 Finished Product Testing Operational Guidance

05 Nov 2025

Seafood Processing Standard

Issue 5.1

16 Nov 2020

GSA - Guidelines for Seafood Processing Standard (SPS) Outsourcing

Issue 1.0

27 Feb 2023

Seafood Processing Standard (Spanish Translation)

09 Feb 2022

Amendment to SPS 5.1

AMENDMENT TO SEAFOOD PROCESSING STANDARD (SPS) Issue 5.1 – 16 November, 2020 - Finished Product Testing for Wild Species - Effective Date: 14- July- 2021

14 Jul 2021

GSA - Guidance for SPS 5.1 Clause 5.2.1

Issue 1.0

02 Dec 2024

GSA - Guidance for SPS 5.1 Clause 6.2.9

Issue 1.0

25 Aug 2021

Guideline for Seafood Processing Standard 5.1 Clause 5.6.5

Issue 1.0

01 May 2024

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Farmed

Issue 2.0

16 Jan 2021

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Wild

Issue 2.0

16 Jan 2021

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard 2.1

Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is an international, non-profit (501c 6) corporation registered in Delaware, USA with principal offices based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

30 Jan 2023

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard 2.1
(Japanese Translation)

Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is an international, non-profit (501c 6) corporation registered in Delaware, USA with principal offices based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

30 Jan 2023

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard Transitional Support

Transitional Support for Transitioning from RFVS Issue 1 to Issue 2.

22 Jun 2022

Vessel Group Program Policy and Control Document

Issue 1.1

22 Jun 2022

Seafood Processing Standard

To apply for SPS 6.0, please reach out to programintegrity@globalseafood.org.

Issue 6.0

1: Seafood Processing Standard - Core

05 Nov 2025

2A: Social Responsibility Module

05 Nov 2025

2B: Enhanced Social Module

05 Nov 2025

3: Ready to Eat Module

05 Nov 2025

4: Animal Welfare Module

05 Nov 2025

5A: Effluent Discharge Module

05 Nov 2025

5B: Environmental Module for Remote Isolated Wild-Capture Processors

05 Nov 2025

6: Low Acid Canned Foods Module

05 Nov 2025

7: Outsourcing Module

05 Nov 2025

8: Product Identity Preservation Module

05 Nov 2025

9: Finished Product Testing Module

05 Nov 2025

10: SPS 6.0 Annex 1 Finished Product Testing Operational Guidance

05 Nov 2025

Seafood Processing Standard

Issue 5.1

16 Nov 2020

GSA - Guidelines for Seafood Processing Standard (SPS) Outsourcing

Issue 1.0

27 Feb 2023

Seafood Processing Standard (Spanish Translation)

Issue 5.1

09 Feb 2022

Amendment to SPS 5.1

AMENDMENT TO SEAFOOD PROCESSING STANDARD (SPS) Issue 5.1 – 16 November, 2020 - Finished Product Testing for Wild Species - Effective Date: 14- July- 2021

14 Jul 2021

GSA - Guidance for SPS 5.1 Clause 5.2.1

Issue 1.0

02 Dec 2024

GSA - Guidance for SPS 5.1 Clause 6.2.9

Issue 1.0

25 Aug 2021

Guideline for Seafood Processing Standard 5.1 Clause 5.6.5

Issue 1.0

01 May 2024

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Farmed

Issue 2.0

16 Jan 2021

Sampling & Testing Requirements SPS 5.1 Wild

Issue 2.0

16 Jan 2021

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard 2.1

Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is an international, non-profit (501c 6) corporation registered in Delaware, USA with principal offices based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

30 Jan 2023

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard 2.1 (Japanese Translation)

Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is an international, non-profit (501c 6) corporation registered in Delaware, USA with principal offices based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

30 Jan 2023

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard Transitional Support

Transitional Support for Transitioning from RFVS Issue 1 to Issue 2.

22 Jun 2022

Vessel Group Program Policy and Control Document

Issue 1.1

22 Jun 2022
BSP Standards
Development Process

The Standards Oversight Committee (SOC) is comprised of members with broad stakeholder representation — one-third conservation, one-third academia, and one-third industry. After review by the SOC, standards are modified, if necessary, and published for 60 days of public comment. The committee's consideration of comments leads to a final draft that must be approved by the SOC and GSA Board of Directors before implementation.

The SOC from time to time has membership vacancies in one or more stakeholder categories. We would like to invite the public to suggest nominees from any of the these categories who would be willing to serve a three-year term as members of the SOC. Please send nominations to: dan.lee@globalseafood.org and david.yunker@globalseafood.org

Stakeholder Feedback Form

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Birgitte Krogh-Poulsen

Independent Social Development Consultant

David Dietz

Manager of Standards Oversight
1-603-317-5000 x115
david.dietz@globalseafood.org

Braddock Spear

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

Kathy Janiga

FSQ Mark Foods, Inc

Ken Corpron

Global Seafood Alliance

Lukas Manomaitis

United States Soybean Export Council

Patrick Blow

Marks and Spencer

Dr. Simon Bush

Wageningen University

Tyler Isaac

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted

Worldfish

Dr. Hiroe Ishihara

University of Tokyo

Duncan Leadbitter

Fish Matter

Mike Park

Scottish Whitefish Producers Association

Toby Middleton

Marine Stewardship Counsel

Public Comments

All comments received during the public comment process are carefully considered for inclusion in the final draft, and all properly submitted comments will be acknowleged. Outside of defined public comment periods, interested parties may submit comments to any member of the Standards Oversight Committee for consideration.


View past public comments

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard 2.0