, making it virtually impossible to trace whether it’s been sourced sustainably. And, our national annual seafood consumption is on the rise, expected to reach 19.6kg by 2021 according to IBISWorld.
So, what exactly does 'sustainable seafood' mean?
In a nutshell 'sustainable seafood' is fish or shellfish that has reached our plates with minimal impact on fish populations or the wider marine environment and its ecosystems. And it doesn't just come down to numbers; it's the way the fish are caught, and its impact on the seafloor and other marine wildlife.
The sad reality is that presently, very few fisheries are actually certified as sustainable throughout the world. The Marine Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organisation that safeguards seafood supplies by working with fisheries to help them adopt sustainable practices. Once the fisheries adhere to the MCS's strict code, they receive MSC sustainable seafood certification, the industry's gold standard.
Sustainable Seafood Day is happening again on Friday 31 March. It's an annual event hosted by the MSC to help educate consumers about their everyday seafood choices. The initiative is all about celebrating certified fisheries, retailers, chefs and restaurants that support MSC’s mission of ensuring there’s enough seafood for future generations.
This year, SBS’s Andy Allen ( Three Blue Ducks Rosebery) has come on board to spread the message that sustainable catch is best. Allen’s love of fresh seafood was ignited when he was younger, spending the weekends fishing with his family in his hometown of Fingal Bay in NSW’s Port Stephens.
“Take a look at the menu at The Ducks, or my Instagram feed – seafood is one of my favourite things to cook!” says Allen. “So I want to make sure that this amazing food source, which we’re so lucky to have access to in Australia, remains that way for generations to come.
“If I haven’t caught it myself, I keep an eye out for the blue MSC label because it's important to know where your seafood comes from and that it's been sustainably caught.”
It’s easy to make sustainable seafood choices every day, believes Allen. He helps us wising up when shopping for seafood.
Five easy ways to make sustainable seafood choices
- "With so many labels out there, it can be tough to know what they actually mean," Allen tells SBS. "When I buy seafood I look for the blue MSC label because that way I know the fishery has been held to the highest standard of sustainability.
- "If you don’t have time to make it to the fish market or get a line wet, there’s a range of canned or frozen options that have the MSC tick of approval."
- "We’re pretty lucky because sustainable seafood is easy to find locally these days," says Allen. "Coles and IKEA are MSC certified for their fresh and packaged seafood, while Woolworths, IGA and ALDI all sell certified frozen and canned seafood.
Source: Andy and Ben Eat Australia, Food Network
No label? Give these a go
- When ordering seafood off a restaurant menu, ask about the species and origin, if it's not already specified. There is a good guide and app available to help you make sustainable choices.
- Always choose local seafood over imported varieties.
- As a general rule of thumb, if a certain fish at the fishmonger is cheap, chances are it is in season, so go for that. If in doubt, ask your fishmonger for seasonal choices.
- Check out our collection of
. A celebration of the certified fisheries, retailers, chefs and restaurants around Australia that support our mission to ensure sustainable seafood for future generations.
