Seafood is potentially likely to become a luxury that many Australians cannot afford, according to principal research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Dr Mike Hall. According to a statement attributed to Dr Hall in the Weekend Australian this week, Australia will face a seafood supply shortage in twenty years if overseas demand for seafood continues to grow. Currently, Australians consume about 422,000 metric tonnes of seafood each year according to Dr Hall, but more... ...Read more »

The international Extended Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), which is made up of six nations, has devised a formal plan to help rebuild the global stock of southern bluefin tuna. Southern bluefin tuna fish are found throughout the southern hemisphere mainly in waters between 30 and 50 degrees south but only rarely in the eastern Pacific. The only known breeding area is in the Indian Ocean, south-east of Java, Indonesia. Under the CCSBT’s strategy, Australia’s national... ...Read more »

Ongoing concerns about the safety of eating fish caught in Gladstone Harbour, central Queensland, have led the owners of the city’s largest fish market to refuse fish caught in the harbour. This is despite government agencies in Queensland suggesting that the fish pose no health risk. Last week, the Queensland Government lifted a three-week fishing ban it had previously imposed on the harbour last week. At the time, Queensland Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace claimed the results of a water quality... ...Read more »

Australian canned tuna brand Greenseas announced today that it will no longer source tuna caught using Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) after 2015. FADs usually consist of buoys or floats tethered to the ocean floor with concrete blocks. They attract fish for numerous reasons that vary by species. Currently, Greenseas uses FADs in conjunction with purse seine fishing methods. HJ Heinz Company, which owns the Greenseas brand, said it will be working closely with suppliers and other stakeholders to... ...Read more »

Despite continuing concerns by local fishermen about the safety of fishing in Gladstone Harbour, central Queensland, a three-week fishing ban previously imposed on the harbour by the Queensland Government was lifted today. The ban had been originally imposed after locally-caught fish showed signs of illness. At the same time, local fishermen were also reported unwell after handling these fish. Queensland Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace claimed today the results of a water quality analysis and fish... ...Read more »

The Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water Bryan Green today announced a reduction in next season’s total allowable catch for the commercial rock lobster fishery. “To ensure the industry remains viable in the future decisions need to be made now because of declining fish stocks,” Mr Green said. Mr Green said harvesting levels had shown decreasing numbers over several seasons.  “These measures are about providing a sustainable fishery for generations to come. The... ...Read more »

A six week interim closure to help reduce fishing pressure on Queensland’s overfished snapper stock will be put in place along the Queensland east coast early next year making snapper, teraglin and pearl perch off limits. Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the closure was an interim measure until new fishing rules could be finalised to ensure take of snapper was sustainable. “The interim closure from 15 February to 31 March 2011 is immediate... ...Read more »

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced today that Austral Fisheries’ and Australian Longline’s Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) toothfish fishery has entered full assessment for MSC certification.To be conducted by independent certification body Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), the assessment will evaluate the Southern Ocean fishery against the MSC standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries, which examines the sustainability of the fish stock, the environmental... ...Read more »

ALDI’s new Ocean Rise White Tuna, released last week, is the first brand of canned tuna in Australia awarded the Marine Stewardship Council’s MSC Ecolabel.  The sustainable Pacific Albacore tuna is a white-meat tuna, with a mild taste. The MSC ecolabel certifies sustainably fished ocean products, including fish and seafood. MSC certified fishing must be sustainable for the fish population, limit unintentional capture of other species in the fishing process, and conform to a Code of... ...Read more »

Minister Responsible for Fisheries in Victoria, Joe Helper, has commended the top shelf of Victoria’s seafood crop as the state’s seafood industry celebrated its annual award night last week.Attending the Victorian Seafood Industry Awards at Port Melbourne, Mr Helper said the industry deserved high praise for its environmental awareness, innovation and commitment to sustainability. “Many Victorians enjoy eating seafood and it is important we have a sustainable and profitable seafood... ...Read more »