Sustainable Seafood Week 2020
Sustainable Seafood Week Australia is a celebration of the fisheries, retailers, chefs and restaurants in Australia that support the mission to end overfishing and ensure we have seafood forever. During this week, the Marine Stewardship Council also announce the winners of the prestigious ‘Sustainable Seafood Awards.’ Austral Fisheries submitted three entries to the 2020 Sustainable Seafood Awards, two of which claimed top honours, with the third coming second in the same category.
Austral’s Glacier 51 Toothfish was awarded ‘Best Sustainable Seafood Product,’ with a near perfect score from the judges. Coming in second was Austral’s other entrant into this category, Skull Island Tiger Prawns. These products were up against the like of John West, Aldi and Coles.
The third winner was Austral’s CEO, David Carter, who was awarded the MSC’s inaugural ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award. Keep reading for more details.
Austral Fisheries’ CEO David Carter Wins Marine Stewardship Council’s ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award.
Austral Fisheries CEO David Carter has been awarded the inaugural ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award by the Marine Stewardship Council.
David has dedicated his entire working career (over 40 years) to advancing and promoting the seafood industry. His particular focus has been on improving sustainability measures across the entire supply chain and industry, which has been underpinned by science-based fisheries management. David’s underlying passion is in preserving the natural environment whilst doing so, and in this time David has seen Austral Fisheries become MSC certified for its key fisheries, he’s fought against illegal toothfish poachers, he’s seen the introduction of Austral’s premium branded products in Glacier 51 Toothfish and Skull Island Prawns, and he’s led Austral to becoming to world’s first carbon neutral seafood business; among many other things.
Congratulations, David. The Australian seafood industry has been fortunate to have you as a key champion for sustainable seafood for so many years.
Austral Fisheries’ Glacier 51 Toothfish Wins MSC’s ‘Best Sustainable Seafood Product’ Category in 2020 Sustainable Seafood Awards
We’re humbled and grateful to have our Glacier 51 Toothfish receive the award for ‘Best Sustainable Seafood Product’ in the Marine Stewardship Council’s Sustainable Seafood Awards. Up against strong competition from global brands, Glacier 51 Toothfish scored near-perfect marks from the judges.
The ultimate choice in sustainability, Glacier 51 Toothfish is certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and is recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program in the USA. It is also completely carbon neutral, with Austral Fisheries being certified under the Australian Government Carbon Neutral Program.
Australia’s Heard Island Glacier 51 Toothfish fishery undergoes rigorous annual stock assessments in collaboration with the Australia Antarctic Division to ensure accurate ongoing monitoring of the stock. Vessels are required to conduct research cruises and tag and release thousands of Toothfish to improve our information on the biology and status of this incredible fish.
Austral Fisheries’ Skull Island Tiger Prawns Awarded ‘Highly Commended,’ Place 2nd in MSC’s 2020 Sustainable Seafood Awards
We were excited to hear that the runner up to our Glacier 51 Toothfish in the MSC’s Sustainable Seafood Awards ‘Best Product’ category was also our Skull Island Tiger Prawns!
With a ‘Highly Commended’ award from the judges, Skullies weren’t far behind Glacier 51 Toothfish, despite being from a very different part of the world. Found in the pristine waters of the Northern Prawn Fishery, Skull Island Tiger Prawns are some of the biggest and best prawns available. After achieving MSC certification in 2012, they then became the world’s first carbon neutral prawn in 2016.
We only catch these beautiful prawns for a few months every year, and they continue to captivate the culinary world with their size, taste and story.
We encourage everyone to take the time to ensure their seafood is sustainably caught. Looking for the blue MSC tick is a great way to ensure this.
When is Sustainable Seafood Week?
Sustainable Seafood Week Australia is 9-15 March 2020.
KEY DATES
Monday 9 March: The MSC announce the winners of the MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia
Wednesday 11 March: Science for Sustainability seminar
Sunday 15 March: Chef masterclass at Sydney Seafood School
Every day: Watch the MSC Seal Show at Taronga Zoo
Why is it important to protect seafood?
With a growing world population, it’s important we protect the future of seafood, for people and the planet. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) run a certification and labelling scheme.
When you see the blue fish tick label on a seafood product, it can be traced back to a sustainable fishery. When you see the green fish tick label on a seafood product, you can be sure it is traceable back to a responsible fish farm.
Austral Fisheries – Proudly Certified Sustainable by the MSC
Austral Fisheries have been providing Marine Stewardship Council certified, wild-caught seafood for many years. In the inhospitable Southern Ocean we catch the prized Patagonian toothfish, the best of which become Glacier 51 Toothfish. Glacier 51 Toothfish is renowned by Chefs and discerning foodies as some of the best, most truly sustainable seafood you can find anywhere in the world. Glacier 51 Toothfish has been proudly MSC Certified since 2012, and just four years later when we took the next step on our sustainability journey, it became the first fish in the world to be certified as carbon neutral under the Australian Government’s Carbon Neutral Program.
Up to the beautiful Gulf of Carpentaria and during certain months of the year you’ll find our prawn vessels searching for tiger or banana prawns. The fishery has reduced fishing efforts from 312 boats in the early 1980’s to the current, far more sustainable fleet of 52 boats. Bycatch has substantially reduced as a result, and continued efforts to redesign nets and change operational aspects to further reduce impacts continues. Turtle bycatch is insignificant following new technology and designs for turtle excluder devices in the prawn nets which allow escape of turtles and other large fauna unharmed and into the environment again. Prawn stocks are maintained at healthy, sustainable levels with annual scientific sampling and surveys, as well as multi-year scientific review of the status of the fishery. For more detailed information on the fishery, read more about it in the official MSC report.
It is here that we pack fresh at sea our Karumba Banana Prawns and Skull Island Tiger Prawns. Both are MSC Certified AND carbon neutral, and are continuing to make a mark on the food industry around the world.