Walker Seafoods Australia of the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery have entered the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment, becoming Australia’s first tuna fishery and the world’s first Mahi Mahi fishery to do so.
The fisheries’ Yellowfin tuna, Albacore tuna, swordfish and Mahi Mahi underwent an independent audit on Sustainable Seafood Day’ last week, where the viability of target stock, impact on the marine ecosystem and management of the fishery were under scrutiny.
Speaking last week, Heidi Walker of Walker Seafoods, said: We’re very excited about entering the MSC certification programme as we believe Australia leads the world in sustainable fishing.
We’re also proud to announce this Sustainable Seafood Day has seen MG Kailis Exmouth Gulf Prawns committing to go under assessment for MSC certification. This would take the number of Australian fisheries engaged in the MSC programme to 10, which include Australia’s two most commercially successful fisheries; Western Rock Lobster and Northern Prawns fishery, added Patrick Caleo, country manager, MSC.
MG Kailis’ Exmouth Prawns is the first fishery, under the Western Australian government’s AUS$14.5m initiative, to agree to be assessed against the MSC standard. This initiative will give every commercial Western Australian fishery the opportunity to be independently certified.
In Australia, more than 50% of the wild-caught prawns are MSC-certified or under assessment.
Demand for third-party verified sustainable caught seafood is growing and leading retailers and brands are responding, added Mr Caleo. Around 250 MSC-labelled products are currently on Australia’s shelves.
Mercator Media 2014