A government report published by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) on 18 January 2012, has revealed that, despite being surrounding by tropical and temperate seas, Australia imports 72 per cent of its seafood. Australia produced a mere 241,000 tonnes of fish hauled over the 2009-10 year. This compares with Papua New Guinea producing a million tonnes of fish last year. The report, commissioned by the Australian Government’s Fisheries Research &... ...Read more »

ABC news service has reported that Western Australian grown oysters “will be off the menu this Christmas due to a harmful bacteria”. WA’s only aquaculture oyster producer is Ocean Foods International in Albany. According to its Farm Director Gareth James, the shellfish have ingested the E Coli bacteria, which has washed into waterways due to recent heavy rainfall, and are therefore not fit to eat for this Christmas. Mr James said a closure at this time of year is out of the ordinary but  it... ...Read more »

Restaurants will soon use cutting edge DNA ‘barcoding’ technology to assure customers they are eating exactly what they ordered, rather than inferior substitutes, according to a leading U.S. scientist. Secretary of the Washington-based Consortium for the Barcode of Life, Dr David Schindel, believes the DNA ‘barcoding’ has potential applications for food companies and retailers. The Consortium for the Barcode of Life is an international consortium of scientists aiming to compile a comprehensive... ...Read more »

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 »

Seven young chefs have been selected as finalists for the Inspired by Seafood award for the Sydney Fish Market NSW Seafood Excellence Awards 2011. Next week these inspiring young chefs will cut, stir and sizzle their way through the Seafood Showdown to be held at Sydney Seafood School on Wednesday, 29 June 2011.Apprentice chefs from across NSW and ACT were challenged to create a unique and inspiring recipe utilising the sumptuous New Zealand Regal King Salmon, and they have not disappointed! Roberta... ...Read more »

Frozen seafood supplier Pacific West has introduced a new sustainable tempura hake product for the Australian foodservice sector, certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The product will be sold under the new Sustainable Harvest brand, and bear the MSC ecolabel. Pacific West is sourcing the fish for its tempura range from the MSC certified hake fishery in South Africa. “Tempura fish is one of the flagship products for Pacific West, and is well known among food service organisations,”... ...Read more »

Key members of the Australian seafood industry and environmental NGOs have come together at the Seafood Services Australia Network Meeting, held at Sydney Fish Market last week, to discuss the need for clearer definitions and terminology, and increased community engagement on sustainability. “The issue we face is that there are many varied definitions and complex terminology relating to sustainability. There are also many eco-labels for seafood around the world – each with different criteria.... ...Read more »

Tasmania’s Department of Health and Human Services today renewed the public health warning not to eat wild shellfish from the Huon Estuary and parts of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, after a man fell ill with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) after eating contaminated mussels. Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Chrissie Pickin, said the man, in his 50s, developed PSP this week after eating mussels foraged at Dover from waters currently affected by toxic algal bloom. “The individual concerned... ...Read more »

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin said today the longstanding and valuable relationship between Australia and the Republic of Korea will benefit Queensland’s food producers. “2011 is the Year of Friendship between Australia and the Republic of Korea,” Mr Mulherin said. “The Year of Friendship recognises and celebrates 50 years of trade and friendship between the two countries. “This is a great opportunity to continue to grow our relationship here in Queensland... ...Read more »

People in Australia are becoming hooked on sustainable seafood, says the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), with more fisheries, suppliers and retailers seeking MSC certification to meet growing consumer demand for sustainably-sourced seafood products. “A growing number of fisheries in Australia, and worldwide, want to show their commitment to sustainable fishing by getting certified to the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fisheries. They want to do this because they’re proud... ...Read more »