CHINA - The Global Aquaculture Alliance invites new auditor candidates, returning auditors needing refresher training and observers to attend the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Training Course to be held 21 - 27 January, 2013, at the New World Shanghai Hotel in Shanghai, China.

The course will cover the BAP standards for farms, processing plants, feed mills and hatcheries. In addition to the comprehensive BAP material, the course will include seafood HACCP training.

To be considered for participation, candidates must initially complete an online application and submit credentials for review. Auditor candidates must have at least five years of seafood industry-related experience, a degree in a relevant scientific field and/or other relevant education, audit-specific training and proficiency in English.

Although participants must complete all of the homework and tests for all facility categories, they need only pass the homework and final exams for the areas of competency for which they were accepted into the course.

The course will include material on facilities that produce and process shrimp, tilapia, Pangasius, catfish and salmon. Feed mills and shrimp hatcheries will also be addressed. The course will be taught by Lisa Goché, BAP vice president; Jeff Peterson, director of quality control; and Ken Corpron, Asia-Pacific region coordinator; with a special focus on social responsibility. The seafood HACCP portion will be taught by Michael Hyre of NSF International.

Auditors must be independent to avoid conflict of interest. Course applicants who work for seafood traders, importers, exporters, farms, hatcheries, feed manufacturers or similar companies may attend as observers but cannot be accepted as auditor candidates.

For additional information on fees and requirements, visit the "BAP Auditor Course Info" page of the Best Aquaculture Practices website at www.bestaquaculturepractices.org or e-mail lisag@gaalliance.org.