Latest news with #SeafoodIndustryAustralia
Sydney Morning Herald
10-08-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victorian shellfish farmers mussel into more water in Port Phillip Bay
Wiffen started mussel farming on three hectares of water in 1986 and now farms about 200 hectares together with his son Shane. He said his operation harvests an average of 20 tonnes of mussels a week with the shellfish growing on ropes stretching a total of 300 kilometres. Wiffen said the reputation of mussels from Portarlington, where his business is based, was growing steadily. 'Portarlington mussels are now known around Australia and some parts of the world.' He is also using some of the new water allocation to grow native angasi oysters, which were all but dredged out of existence in Victoria during the 1800s and early 1900s. Wiffen described angasi oysters as more flavoursome, firm and less creamy than other varieties. 'They've got more substance to them,' he said. 'They've got more of a lingering flavour.' Victorian-grown mussels are exported to markets across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines, as well as to the Maldives. State government officials believe the expanded farming area will help that export industry grow. Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said Port Phillip's blue mussels were among the best in the world. 'Mussels are healthy, versatile and can be packaged in a variety of ways,' he said. 'That means you can pick them up at supermarket delis or your local fishmonger, and they remain fresh, delicious and affordable for Victorian families.' Seafood Industry Australia chief executive Veronica Papacosta described oyster and mussel farming as 'regenerative aquaculture' that benefited the marine environment. She said Victoria's seafood market could increase tourism particularly among visitors who wanted to feast on fresh produce by the water. Port Phillip Bay ecology expert John Ford said historic oyster and scallop dredging had destroyed much of Port Phillip Bay's hard surfaces beneath the water, resulting in vast quantities of silt on the sea floor. 'It's a very changed environment and will require human intervention to get anywhere near where it used to be,' he said. Ford said mussels and oysters acted as cleaners in the marine environment, helping to filter out nutrients introduced by humans into the water.
The Age
10-08-2025
- Business
- The Age
Shellfish farming to be expanded in Port Phillip Bay in Victoria
Wiffen started mussel farming on three hectares of water in 1986 and now farms about 200 hectares together with his son Shane. He said his operation harvests an average of 20 tonnes of mussels a week with the shellfish growing on ropes stretching a total of 300 kilometres. Wiffen said the reputation of mussels from Portarlington, where his business is based, was growing steadily. 'Portarlington mussels are now known around Australia and some parts of the world.' Angasi oysters which Lance and Shane Wiffen are now growing. Credit: Jason South He is also using some of the new water allocation to grow native angasi oysters, which were all but dredged out of existence in Victoria during the 1800s and early 1900s. Wiffen described angasi oysters as more flavoursome, firm and less creamy than other varieties. 'They've got more substance to them,' he said. 'They've got more of a lingering flavour.' Victorian-grown mussels are exported to markets across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines, as well as to the Maldives. State government officials believe the expanded farming area will help that export industry grow. A worker with a fresh mussel haul. Credit: Jason South Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said Port Phillip's blue mussels were among the best in the world. 'Mussels are healthy, versatile and can be packaged in a variety of ways,' he said. 'That means you can pick them up at supermarket delis or your local fishmonger, and they remain fresh, delicious and affordable for Victorian families.' Seafood Industry Australia chief executive Veronica Papacosta described oyster and mussel farming as 'regenerative aquaculture' that benefited the marine environment. She said Victoria's seafood market could increase tourism particularly among visitors who wanted to feast on fresh produce by the water. Port Phillip Bay ecology expert John Ford said historic oyster and scallop dredging had destroyed much of Port Phillip Bay's hard surfaces beneath the water, resulting in vast quantities of silt on the sea floor. Catch of the day: the state government wants to expand Victoria's mussel industry by allocating new areas of water for farmers. Credit: Jason South 'It's a very changed environment and will require human intervention to get anywhere near where it used to be,' he said. Ford said mussels and oysters acted as cleaners in the marine environment, helping to filter out nutrients introduced by humans into the water. 'Having more mussels and angasi oysters in the bay is increasing the number of species that are native and were present in much higher numbers in the past.' Start the day with a summary of the day's most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie diners to spot new menu detail as major change to seafood rules gets rolled out
From today, diners in Australia could start to notice a significant change to their menus, with new regulations being being rolled out in pubs, restaurants, fast-food outlets, and take-away shops. Under the consumer law overhaul, hospitality venues will begin clearly stating whether their seafood is local or imported using a new system. Chefs and managers have been given notice that they have until July 1 in 2026 to comply with this federal government change, but patrons are likely to begin seeing updated menus in the coming weeks. Dubbed the 'AIM' labelling method, 'A' will indicate seafood is from Australia while 'I' will denote that it's been imported. When dishes like a marinara or paella contain a mix of local and foreign fish, you'll see an 'M'. Country of origin labelling was brought in for supermarkets and other retailers in 2006, but an exclusion was applied for the hospitality industry. However the industry's peak domestic body, Seafood Industry Australia, has been campaigning for the 'loophole' to be closed after a study it conducted found just 30 per cent of waiters were able to explain to diners where the seafood they were serving was from. Seafood Industry Australia's CEO Veronica Papacosta told Yahoo News the change will allow diners to 'know what they're eating', giving them the ability to 'make a choice'. 'Seafood is a unique protein. If you think about beef and chicken, you don't have to think – it's always Australian. But in Australia, 64 per cent of the seafood we're eating is imported,' she said. 'That issue is not well-understood by the community. People think they're eating Australian – it could be called Barramundi, but it's imported.' The domestic seafood market has a value of at least $3.7 billion, and commercial fishing and aquaculture employ around 17,000 people. Although Australia is girt by sea, buying imported fish is cheaper because wages are often lower overseas and regulations aren't as strict. 'We're not against imports necessarily, because we know there's an economic reality for some families. With a mid-week Thai curry, you don't necessarily need a high-end Australian prawn,' Papacosta said. 'But until we remove this exclusion and fix this loophole, we just don't think people have the transparency and the information they need to make a decision.' New research reveals dark side of Aussie seafood industry Rapid disappearance of large sharks causes 'ripple effect' in waters off Queensland Hunt for world's last giant fish as researchers find clues in ancient photographs Under the plan, restaurants must reveal if their seafood is imported or Australian before customers make a purchase. The information can be provided on menu boards, printed or online menus, or a separate sign. They can use either single letters through the AIM method, provide detailed information about where which specific item is from, or a business statement like "We only serve Australian seafood" or "We serve mixed seafood". The rules will not apply to canteens, schools, prisons, hospitals or medical institutions. Because consumer laws are being updated to provide more transparency, there has been a flood of discussion on social media, with many diners calling for a second critical update to be made to menus. They'd like to see a clear indication as to whether their fish is wild-caught or farmed. Related: Farmed salmon called into question - so is it safe to eat? Looking internationally, both methods can have issues when it comes to the environment. When fisheries aren't correctly managed, fish stocks can become depleted, and controversial harvesting methods like bottom trawling can destroy fragile ecosystems. The Seafood Industry Association supports both wild catch and aquaculture, and its CEO argues both are 'held to the highest standard'. Asked whether she'd back a change that would see the farming method disclosed, she said discussions about the production method would likely naturally develop between staff and customers. 'Once we start having conversations about Australian seafood, and the incredibly high standard of Australian aquaculture is better understood, I think that's a natural progression,' she said. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which is responsible for the famous blue sustainability tick, said knowing where seafood comes from is "at the heart of responsible seafood consumption". At least 35 per cent of Australian wild-caught fish is now accredited under its scheme. MSC program director for Oceania Anne Gabriel said its program helped ensure sustainable fishing practices, the protection of marine ecosystems, and the sustainability of livelihoods. "Our latest consumer research shows that 91 per cent of Australians are concerned about ocean health, with overfishing ranking among their top concerns. Three in four believe we must consume only sustainable seafood to protect the ocean, and more than half are willing to pay more for certified options," she told Yahoo. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
New laws mean restaurants and cafes will need to label seafood as imported or Australian
It is common to pick up Australian seafood at the supermarket with few qualms. Since around 2006, "country of origin" labelling has been mandatory for packaged seafood sold in retail outlets. But these laws have not applied to restaurants, pubs or takeaway shops including fish and chip vans — until now. Under the "AIM" labelling method, customers will start seeing an A for "Australian", I for "imported" or M for "mixed origin", as hospitality businesses start moving towards a similar labelling system to grocery stores. The domestic seafood market is valued at about $3 billion. Seafood Industry Australia has been pushing for the change, saying the laws will help Australian fishers — who are held to high environmental and welfare standards — compete with a huge amount of imports. More than 60 per cent of seafood in Australia is imported. Seafood Industry Australia chief executive Veronica Papacosta said imports "weren't terrible", but clear communication between businesses and customers was needed. "There is a real assumption made by a lot of Australians that when they're sitting down to a seafood meal in a food service operation, that it is Australian because there's an absence of labelling," Ms Papacosta said. She said the changes were not needed for beef and chicken meat, which are almost completely sourced domestically. Ms Papacosta said the quality and price of seafood — including items sharing the same name — could vary depending on whether or not it was imported. "If you're down at the pub or the local Thai place, getting a curry on a Tuesday night, an imported prawn might be just fine for that price level. Ms Papacosta said the new labelling system would help customers make informed decisions, with people generally wanting to buy home-grown seafood. "Until recently, when you bought fresh salmon in a restaurant or in a retail store, it was always Tasmanian," she said. "But the Australian government lifted a ban on imported fresh salmon, which means we now have salmon from Chile in the system. "Now consumers may have to question whether they are buying Australian — or Tasmanian — or Chilean salmon." Director of Hobart seafood restaurant Mures, Will Mure, said the rules were "definitely a great thing for the seafood industry" because consumers would know what they were buying. "There is some seafood that isn't caught sustainably or ethically, and you often can't differentiate between them," Mr Mure said. He said the high ethical and sustainability standards placed on Australian fishers, including quotas on most fisheries, "comes at a cost". "What we do know is that Australian seafood is sustainable and it is ethical, and that's a good thing. There's a premium on that — it's very well-managed, Australian seafood. "But it's a beautiful product and you can have confidence when you eat it that you're eating a sustainable product," Mr Mure said. The year-long transition period will include a final four-week consultation to help businesses adjust. Ms Papacosta said Seafood Industry Australia was working with the Primary Industries Department to help businesses navigate the changes. "When you're running a food services business, it's really busy, it's sometimes seven days a week, so you don't have a lot of time to think about upgrades or optimising what you're doing," she said. She recommended businesses have conversations with customers and suppliers. "Where they are using either Australian or imported, having those conversations with their customers to help them understand that choice will be really important. "And then obviously some menu changes, I think there'll be some reprinting or designing that will have to happen to reset menus to make sure that they're applying the new legislation accurately." The laws will come into effect from July 1 next year.
The Advertiser
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Momentum building for global plastic pollution pact
Australia has thrown its support behind a declaration to curb plastic pollution fast and deliver on a global treaty targeting waste at the source. More than 90 countries have backed "the Nice wake-up call for an ambitious plastics treaty" at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which has taken place in the French Mediterranean coast city over the past week. Plastic waste is projected to outweigh all fish by 2050 and is particularly harmful to seabirds and marine animals that ingest it, both in large pieces and as it breaks down into microplastics. The tiny plastic particles have now found their way into the food chain, with exposure linked to endocrine disorders and cardiovascular problems. A global agreement to reduce both the manufacture and consumption of plastic has been in the works since a 2022 but progress has been stalled by oil-producing nations pushing for more flexibility on production limits. The show of support at the major ocean conference lands ahead of another round of negotiations in Geneva in August. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt says it's important to tackle the plastic problem across the full life cycle. "In our Pacific region, including on Australia's coastline and offshore territories, we see the impacts of globally mismanaged plastics which are killing marine life and washing up on shore," he said in a statement. Australia has a commitment to phasing out "problematic and unnecessary" plastics. There have been some successes, including widespread bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags, but a 2024 policy assessment concluded more needed to be done. Progress on the high seas treaty has also been achieved at the third UN Ocean Conference, with French President Emmanuel Macron expecting the 60 necessary ratifications to come through in time for the agreement to come into force by January 2026. Australia has made ratification a priority when parliament returns. Once in force, the pact will allow the creation of marine parks in international waters, key to supporting biodiversity and healthy fish stocks. Senator Watt has also reiterated the government's commitment to classifying 30 per cent of Australian waters as "highly protected areas" by 2030. A sizeable 44 per cent is classified as marine parks but not all those zones are fully protected from fishing and industrial activity. Seafood Industry Australia chief executive officer Veronica Papacosta says the domestic industry is across Australia's 30 x 30 ocean protection commitment and has been working constructively with government. "We need to make sure the ocean is protected, we only want sustainable use of the ocean," she told AAP. But she favoured a nuanced conversation based on the latest thinking on habitat protection and sustainable fishing practices. "The time we start getting stressed is when marine parks start getting used as an anti-fishing campaign because that's not what they should be nor what they're originally designed to do," she said. Australia has thrown its support behind a declaration to curb plastic pollution fast and deliver on a global treaty targeting waste at the source. More than 90 countries have backed "the Nice wake-up call for an ambitious plastics treaty" at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which has taken place in the French Mediterranean coast city over the past week. Plastic waste is projected to outweigh all fish by 2050 and is particularly harmful to seabirds and marine animals that ingest it, both in large pieces and as it breaks down into microplastics. The tiny plastic particles have now found their way into the food chain, with exposure linked to endocrine disorders and cardiovascular problems. A global agreement to reduce both the manufacture and consumption of plastic has been in the works since a 2022 but progress has been stalled by oil-producing nations pushing for more flexibility on production limits. The show of support at the major ocean conference lands ahead of another round of negotiations in Geneva in August. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt says it's important to tackle the plastic problem across the full life cycle. "In our Pacific region, including on Australia's coastline and offshore territories, we see the impacts of globally mismanaged plastics which are killing marine life and washing up on shore," he said in a statement. Australia has a commitment to phasing out "problematic and unnecessary" plastics. There have been some successes, including widespread bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags, but a 2024 policy assessment concluded more needed to be done. Progress on the high seas treaty has also been achieved at the third UN Ocean Conference, with French President Emmanuel Macron expecting the 60 necessary ratifications to come through in time for the agreement to come into force by January 2026. Australia has made ratification a priority when parliament returns. Once in force, the pact will allow the creation of marine parks in international waters, key to supporting biodiversity and healthy fish stocks. Senator Watt has also reiterated the government's commitment to classifying 30 per cent of Australian waters as "highly protected areas" by 2030. A sizeable 44 per cent is classified as marine parks but not all those zones are fully protected from fishing and industrial activity. Seafood Industry Australia chief executive officer Veronica Papacosta says the domestic industry is across Australia's 30 x 30 ocean protection commitment and has been working constructively with government. "We need to make sure the ocean is protected, we only want sustainable use of the ocean," she told AAP. But she favoured a nuanced conversation based on the latest thinking on habitat protection and sustainable fishing practices. "The time we start getting stressed is when marine parks start getting used as an anti-fishing campaign because that's not what they should be nor what they're originally designed to do," she said. Australia has thrown its support behind a declaration to curb plastic pollution fast and deliver on a global treaty targeting waste at the source. More than 90 countries have backed "the Nice wake-up call for an ambitious plastics treaty" at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which has taken place in the French Mediterranean coast city over the past week. Plastic waste is projected to outweigh all fish by 2050 and is particularly harmful to seabirds and marine animals that ingest it, both in large pieces and as it breaks down into microplastics. The tiny plastic particles have now found their way into the food chain, with exposure linked to endocrine disorders and cardiovascular problems. A global agreement to reduce both the manufacture and consumption of plastic has been in the works since a 2022 but progress has been stalled by oil-producing nations pushing for more flexibility on production limits. The show of support at the major ocean conference lands ahead of another round of negotiations in Geneva in August. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt says it's important to tackle the plastic problem across the full life cycle. "In our Pacific region, including on Australia's coastline and offshore territories, we see the impacts of globally mismanaged plastics which are killing marine life and washing up on shore," he said in a statement. Australia has a commitment to phasing out "problematic and unnecessary" plastics. There have been some successes, including widespread bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags, but a 2024 policy assessment concluded more needed to be done. Progress on the high seas treaty has also been achieved at the third UN Ocean Conference, with French President Emmanuel Macron expecting the 60 necessary ratifications to come through in time for the agreement to come into force by January 2026. Australia has made ratification a priority when parliament returns. Once in force, the pact will allow the creation of marine parks in international waters, key to supporting biodiversity and healthy fish stocks. Senator Watt has also reiterated the government's commitment to classifying 30 per cent of Australian waters as "highly protected areas" by 2030. A sizeable 44 per cent is classified as marine parks but not all those zones are fully protected from fishing and industrial activity. Seafood Industry Australia chief executive officer Veronica Papacosta says the domestic industry is across Australia's 30 x 30 ocean protection commitment and has been working constructively with government. "We need to make sure the ocean is protected, we only want sustainable use of the ocean," she told AAP. But she favoured a nuanced conversation based on the latest thinking on habitat protection and sustainable fishing practices. "The time we start getting stressed is when marine parks start getting used as an anti-fishing campaign because that's not what they should be nor what they're originally designed to do," she said. Australia has thrown its support behind a declaration to curb plastic pollution fast and deliver on a global treaty targeting waste at the source. More than 90 countries have backed "the Nice wake-up call for an ambitious plastics treaty" at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which has taken place in the French Mediterranean coast city over the past week. Plastic waste is projected to outweigh all fish by 2050 and is particularly harmful to seabirds and marine animals that ingest it, both in large pieces and as it breaks down into microplastics. The tiny plastic particles have now found their way into the food chain, with exposure linked to endocrine disorders and cardiovascular problems. A global agreement to reduce both the manufacture and consumption of plastic has been in the works since a 2022 but progress has been stalled by oil-producing nations pushing for more flexibility on production limits. The show of support at the major ocean conference lands ahead of another round of negotiations in Geneva in August. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt says it's important to tackle the plastic problem across the full life cycle. "In our Pacific region, including on Australia's coastline and offshore territories, we see the impacts of globally mismanaged plastics which are killing marine life and washing up on shore," he said in a statement. Australia has a commitment to phasing out "problematic and unnecessary" plastics. There have been some successes, including widespread bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags, but a 2024 policy assessment concluded more needed to be done. Progress on the high seas treaty has also been achieved at the third UN Ocean Conference, with French President Emmanuel Macron expecting the 60 necessary ratifications to come through in time for the agreement to come into force by January 2026. Australia has made ratification a priority when parliament returns. Once in force, the pact will allow the creation of marine parks in international waters, key to supporting biodiversity and healthy fish stocks. Senator Watt has also reiterated the government's commitment to classifying 30 per cent of Australian waters as "highly protected areas" by 2030. A sizeable 44 per cent is classified as marine parks but not all those zones are fully protected from fishing and industrial activity. Seafood Industry Australia chief executive officer Veronica Papacosta says the domestic industry is across Australia's 30 x 30 ocean protection commitment and has been working constructively with government. "We need to make sure the ocean is protected, we only want sustainable use of the ocean," she told AAP. But she favoured a nuanced conversation based on the latest thinking on habitat protection and sustainable fishing practices. "The time we start getting stressed is when marine parks start getting used as an anti-fishing campaign because that's not what they should be nor what they're originally designed to do," she said.
