Verification
Third Party Verification is an integral component of our programme to ensure our reporting is accurate and trustworthy.
What are Verification Assessments?
We have a third party external assessor review a selection of our farms annually. There are a number of reasons why:
To assess the accuracy of our records
To provide guidance to industry on key areas for improvement
To highlight areas that are being managed well
To provide insight on how to improve the programme as a whole
To maintain the integrity of the programme.
It is standard practice that external certification programmes require on-site audits of best practices.
A+ is not a typical certification of best practice, but is an improvement programme signifying a commitment to continually improve sustainable practices. Therefore, we do not complete “pass-fail” audits as with other programmes, but instead do our own assessments designed to help industry improve and practice the auditing process. Members cannot “fail” their assessments, but instead are informed of any areas where there is room for improvement, and are provided guidance on how best to do that.
Verification Assessment Protocol and Guides
Below are some of the Guides and information documents we provide to growers about their verification assessments. These provide guidance on how to best prepare for their assessments and what documentation they may require to meet best practice.
Meet our Assessors
Nautilus Collaboration have been our independent third party assessors since the inception of the A+ programme. They bring a wealth of experience in aquaculture best practice and environmental certification programme auditing. Their expertise is a valuable resource to our farmers and to A+.
Belinda Yaxley
Dr Belinda Yaxley is an aquaculture certification specialist and Quality Management System developer with 11 years’ experience in the aquaculture industry helping farms develop systems to improve responsible practices. She holds a Country Coordinator and animal welfare role with Global Seafood Alliance. Her welfare role focuses on education and research, particularly humane slaughter, and welfare education material from a production system perspective. She engages with the global aquaculture community and retail sector on responsible farming practices of seafood . Her role has taken her to various places overseas, presenting on improvements in aquaculture at the animal welfare forum of China Animal Health and Food Safety Alliance (CAFA) summit in 2021, World Fisheries Congress 2021 and the 2019 Waitrose Farming Conference – Making Our Difference Count More.
Christian van Rijn
Dr. Christian van Rijn is an aquatic physiologist with a passion for applied science, and has worked within the Aquaculture industry for 10 years. Christian has operational experience working in kingfish and salmon farms, and has also worked with most other major aquaculture species, including barramundi, mussels, oysters, prawns, and abalone. Christian completed his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at Deakin University on a project funded by the Tasmanian salmon industry, and is currently a Research & Development Scientist at Nautilus Collaboration. He is also formally qualified as a Lead Auditor in Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015). Christian’s main objective is to seek evidence-based approaches to improve the operation and sustainability of the seafood sector through research, innovation, and practical solutions.
