A Narooma man has been fined $900 and sentenced to four months in prison, one of the longest gaol terms handed down for abalone theft to date, as the NSW Government continues to crackdown on illegal fishing. The NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, said the man had a significant history of abalone offences and was caught by Department of Primary Industries fisheries officers in two targeted surveillance operations. The man was charged with four offences under the Fisheries Management... ...Read more »
Clean Seas Tuna Limited has announced the commission of one of the largest and most sophisticated specialised harvesting vessels in the Southern Hemisphere - The Ulysses II. The news comes at a time when they have warned that they may be forced to leave Port Lincoln if mining exports are allowed to proceed. The 32 metre vessel is purpose fitted out to preserve its sustainable seafood cargo under constant cold chain control from ocean to plate. Keeping the temperature of seafood low throughout the... ...Read more »
More than 50 Western Australian food companies have now signed up to the State Government’s labelling program, which promotes local food products to West Australian consumers. A logo is now seen on a range of produce in supermarket shelves to highlight to consumers that it is from WA. Agriculture and Food Minister, Kim Chance, has outlined his excitement about the strong support for ‘Buy West, Eat Best’ exhibited by WA companies and consumers alike. “Since the launch to consumers... ...Read more »
The colour, vibrancy and range of choices of a good seafood retail display are a sight to behold. Thus, whilst there can be no doubt that the numbers of independent fishmongers are declining we are fortunate in Australia that they are still a key part of the seafood industry. Reputedly, the oldest fishmonger operation in Australia is Canals Seafood, now in its 77th year of trading at the same address in Nicholson Street, North Carlton, Victoria. Michael and Delores Canals started their Melbourne... ...Read more »
The Brumby Government will invest $5 million in an attempt to secure the long-term viability of Victoria’s western zone rock lobster industry. Visiting Seafood Industry Victoria’s headquarters in West Melbourne today, Minister Responsible for Fisheries, Joe Helper, said this one-off initiative would restore stability in the industry. “The Brumby Government is taking action to keep this vital industry alive, and this $5 million structural adjustment program would assist western zone... ...Read more »
The high cost of fuel is wreaking havoc with some food and beverage industries worldwide, with demands for government aid increasing by the day. Winemakers in the south of France have vandalized supermarkets and burned two police cars in the southern city of Montpellier. The protest by vintners last week was in response to skyrocketing fuel costs and falling prices for regional wines. The thousands of protesters were seeking to draw the government’s attention to the plight of winemakers in... ...Read more »
What’s considered to be one of the most important developments for seafood consumers in over 200 years was launched today Australia-wide. It is a program whereby seafood retailers displaying the “Approved Fish Names” logo guarantee to use nationally standardised fish names, helping to remove the confusion that reduces consumers confidence in purchasing seafood. Mr Ted Loveday, Managing Director of Seafood Services Australia, believes today’s launch of the Fish Names Brand... ...Read more »
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries is to meet with representatives of the Queensland seafood industry this week to try and save the sector from collapse. The impact of soaring fuel prices, the high Australian dollar and adverse weather conditions has taken its toll on fishermen but prices have stagnated - according to the Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA). “These guys are getting offered prices from 20 years ago, we need to do something about that and working with... ...Read more »
The effects of high fuel costs and cheap imports are amongst the challenges to Queensland’s fisheries that will be investigated in a new seafood study.Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said the diagnostic study would examine the domestic supply chain for Queensland caught prawn, coral reef fin fish, and inshore finfish species. “This joint Government and industry study has been prompted by a decrease in profitability in the commercial fishing sector, in particular... ...Read more »
A man has received a record fine after more than 8,000 oysters (703 dozen), which were unsafe for human consumption, were seized at the Sydney Fish Market, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.Terry Allan Harding was fined a record-high $42,000 for five offences relating to the harvest and sale of unsafe oysters. Mr Harding, from Port Macquarie, was charged by NSW Food Authority officers with harvesting oysters from the Hastings River while all the harvest zones on the river were... ...Read more »