New program lists five ‘sustainable’ seafood products

The Australian Conservation Foundation has announced the first five seafood products to be assessed as ‘sustainable' under a new seafood assessment program, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to ACF.

The Sustainable Australian Seafood Assessment Program has been developed by ACF in conjunction with a team of independent marine scientists and the University of Technology, Sydney.

"Lots of people like to eat fish on Good Friday, but often they find it hard to know if the seafood they buy at shops and markets has been sustainably produced," said ACF's Healthy Oceans Campaigner Chris Smyth.

"They are concerned about the effect that wild-catch and farmed fisheries may be having on the health of our oceans.

"Restaurants and lovers of seafood are increasingly calling for clear and accurate information to help them make sustainable seafood choices.

"The scientists have used a range of criteria, including impact on fish stocks, to assess the sustainability of the seafood products through a scientifically rigorous, transparent and independent process.

"We've had a very positive response to the program from seafood producers.

"We hope the Sustainable Australian Seafood Assessment Program will help take the guesswork out of choosing sustainable seafood," Mr Smyth said.

The first five seafood products to be assessed as sustainable by the Science Reference Panel are the yellow-eye mullet from the Lakes and Coorong Fishery and the western king prawn from the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (both South Australia), the Pilbara red emperor from the Pilbara Trap Fishery and the Cone Bay barramundi from Marine Produce Australia (both Western Australia) and the Hawkesbury River broad squid from the Estuary Prawn Trawl Fishery (NSW).