This Christmas, enjoy the season with sustainable, locally-sourced NSW seafood – the perfect addition to any festive table.
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Deputy Secretary Sean Sloan said NSW is renowned for its world-class prawns, oysters, and other seafood, with our commercial fishing and aquaculture industries meeting strict environmental standards and legislative requirements.
"NSW's stringent regulations ensure that seafood is safe, sustainable, and of the highest quality from the moment it's harvested to when it reaches your plate", Mr Sloan said.
"Prawns in NSW – mainly Eastern King and School Prawns – are sustainably harvested by fishers in the NSW ocean trawl fishery, with the stocks of both species determined sustainable in the Status of Australian Fish Stock Reports.
"The NSW ocean trawl fishery has been assessed as an approved wildlife trade operation under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.
"In addition, the NSW Government has introduced harvest strategies for key species, which determine the appropriate harvest levels across all sectors – commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries – ensuring long-term sustainability and productivity of the shared fisheries resource."
Mr Sloan said the NSW Government supports the ecologically sustainable development of NSW's fisheries and aquaculture industries to ensure the production of the highest quality seafood for our community, especially at Christmas time.
"Whether you're celebrating at home or traveling across NSW these holidays, I encourage everyone to choose locally harvested seafood that has not been transported great distances to reach your dinner plate", Mr Sloan said.
"By choosing seafood caught here in NSW from local suppliers, you're not only treating yourself to the freshest and most sustainable produce, but you're also supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and boosting regional economies.
"The NSW seafood industry plays a vital role in the state's economy, contributing an estimated $204 million annually. The aquaculture sector, which is the highest-value sector of this industry, is currently valued at $112 million and aims to grow to $300 million by 2030.
"Each prawn, oyster, and fish you choose this Christmas is a direct investment in the future of our regional communities, helping to sustain local businesses and create jobs.
"Christmas in NSW is synonymous with enjoying fresh seafood, and we're so lucky that our industry produces some of the finest seafood in the world, harvested to the highest environmental standards."
For more information about harvest strategies visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/harvest-strategies.
