Michael Phillips presents on Thailand's Good Aquaculture Practices certification scheme, and compares it to global standards.

A cluster-based approach allows small-scale farmers to participate in aquaculture certification schemes.

Small-scale farmers face many challenges in the face of globalisation. Ever-increasingly competition, increasingly strict food safety and evironmental standards, and a growing regulatory burden can make it difficult for small farmers to survive. A cluster or cooperative approach can help farmers achieve economies of scale to remain competitive.

A comparison of the variance between Thailand GAP and the global standard, and it's application to the aquaculture industry.

Cost and logistical constraints can be barriers to the inclusion of small-scale farmers in aquaculture certification schemes. Adopting a cluster-based approach, where groups of adjacent farms are certified together, can facilitate the participation of small-scale producers maintain their access to markets. Group-based certification can also assist with extension and implementation of better management practices required to achieve certification and compliance monitoring.