- Sustainable Seafood Week celebrating WA's MSC certified fisheries
- World leading management and science programs underpinning sustainability
- Cook Government committed to sustainable fisheries management to support jobs and industry growth
Western Australia's sustainable fisheries and world-leading management and science programs are in the spotlight as Sustainable Seafood Week is celebrated across the country.
Sustainable Seafood Week is an annual campaign by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) highlighting the importance of sustainable fisheries so seafood can continue to be enjoyed into the future.
The MSC's accreditation standard is used to assess if a fishery is well-managed and is considered globally as the 'gold standard' in sustainability certification.
The Cook Government, in partnership with the local industry, has supported WA fisheries to achieve the MSC blue tick of approval, with 11 fisheries currently certified.
The State's West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery was the first fishery in the world to receive the MSC tick and was recertified for the fifth time in 2022.
The Pearl Oyster Fishery was the first gem fishery to be certified in the world in 2017 and Rare Foods Australia, which operates the world's first abalone ranch near Augusta, was certified in 2022.
The Shark Bay Prawn Fishery is currently going through the recertification process and is seeking to extend the fishery's sustainability credentials to include the crab and scallop resources.
Other MSC certified fisheries products in WA include Exmouth Gulf prawns, West Coast deep sea crab, sea cucumber, abalone, western rock octopus and Abrolhos Island saucer scallops.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development works with each of the fisheries and conducts stock assessments to ensure stocks continue to be managed in a sustainable way to support the MSC certification process.
Sustainable Seafood Week runs until 13 April. For more information visit https://www.msc.org/
As stated by Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"Sustainable Seafood Week is a fantastic opportunity to recognise and congratulate WA's commercial fisheries for their long-term commitment to sustainability.
"Thanks to our world-leading science and management programs, WA continues to be recognised as a global leader in managing our fish resources to the MSC 'gold standard'.
"With 11 of the State's fisheries MSC certified, the community can also be confident that any seafood product with the 'blue tick' that hits the plate is fresh and high quality and has been sustainably sourced right here in WA."
