There’s no need to fish for compliments, when zero of Australia’s solely Commonwealth-managed fisheries have been subject to overfishing (for the seventh consecutive year).
With the release of the Fishery status reports 2020 – Seafood Industry Australia (SIA), is welcoming its findings.
“This is monumental news, which is unprecedented internationally, and the Australian seafood industry couldn’t be any prouder,” says CEO of SIA, Veronica Papacosta.
“Australia’s commercial fishing industry is one of the most sustainable protein sources in the world, and these reports are a celebration of our country’s seafood industry and the well-managed, sustainable fisheries that supply all of our favourite seafoods.”
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Jonno Duniam says that the report shows how well Commonwealth fisheries are managed.
“Australia’s fisheries span across a large area of ocean, so it’s important we get it right.
“Australia has the world’s third largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Australian Fishing Zone is larger than mainland Australia, covering 8 million kilometres squared.”
Mr Duniam continues, “Australia’s Commonwealth Fisheries have been valued at $437 million in gross value of production (GVP) in 2018-2019, which represents 24% of the $1.79 billion GVP of Australia’s total wild-capture fisheries.”
The Fishery status reports 2020 is a confirmation that the Australian seafood industry is sustainable, and provides fresh, high-quality seafood, year-round.
Changes in classifications
“It is important to note four solely-Commonwealth managed stocks including the Coral Sea Fishery white teatfish, and the redleg banana prawn in the Northern Prawn Fishery are both now classified as ‘not subject to overfishing’, while the southern and western zone orange roughy in the South Scalefish and Shark Fishery, have been reclassified as ‘uncertain’ as there was either no or too lower fishing effort to provide a reliable indicator,” says Mr Duniam.
He concludes, “As fishers, our priority is the ocean.
“We advocate the health, sustainability and future of our ocean. It’s our livelihood and the future livelihood of generations to come.”
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