Key features

Key feature	Why it’s important
Assessments use a rigorous and robust set of scientific principles, procedures, decision rules and ecologically sustainable criteria attuned to Australian conditions.	Wild-catch and farmed seafood products are assessed to determine if they are produced in an ecologically sustainable manner. This provides credible, evidence-based and publicly available information for consumers and the industry.
A commitment to improving the health of marine and freshwater environments.	Ecologically sustainable seafood production can help reduce the pressures facing marine and freshwater environments.
Encouragement and promotion of the ecologically sustainable production of Australian wild-catch and farmed seafood products.	Community awareness and support for ecologically sustainable wild-catch and farmed seafood products and their producers is increased. Reliable and independently verified information for consumers, restaurants, cafes, wholesale and retail seafood outlets helps them make informed and sustainable seafood choices in their local marketplace. It also provides seafood producers with advice on how to enhance the sustainability of their operations, assists the marketing and promotion of their seafood products, and encourages good environmental practices and business excellence.
A definition of a seafood product that is based on the species, the fisher’s or farmer’s location and how it is produced.	SASAL recognises the regional and national differences in the way seafood products are produced across Australia. A species that is produced sustainably in one location might not be sustainably produced elsewhere. This makes the assessment process relevant to the local seafood economy and supports individual producer engagement.
A focus on individual small-scale wild-catch and farmed seafood producers, and their products, in a local area.	Small-scale fisheries and farming operations are important parts of coastal communities. They produce seafood that consumers can find fresh in their local retail outlets, cafes and restaurants. These businesses typically support local employment and social enterprise and can add significantly to tourism, social cohesion and identity. The focus also creates a link between the environment where the fish was caught or farmed, who produced it, the local-scale supply chain through which it passed, and the market where it is bought. This integrates seamlessly with the Happy Fish Project and rewards small-scale producers for the sustainability of their operations. The local scale also makes it possible to conduct small research projects that can improve understanding of the seafood product and its environment or identify measures that can improve the sustainability of its production.
A commitment to affordability, quality and accessibility of assessments for small-scale fishers.	A cost-effective and affordable assessment process ensures that the assessments are attractive to small-scale producers with limited resources.
Use of an independent and transparent assessment process with an experienced and Independent Assessor.	This ensures that the assessment of a seafood product is conducted at arm’s length from the industry and management agencies.
Regular involvement by the seafood producers in the assessment process.	This collaborative engagement with individual seafood producers avoids top-down assessments. It also ensures that all key elements of the producer’s operations and management arrangements are current and have been assessed accurately. This rewards, encourages, promotes and guides their efforts to enhance the sustainability of their seafood product and supports their marketing and promotion.
Assessment criteria and process, and the summary of the assessment outcome, are on the SASAL website.	This transparent approach helps seafood producers and consumers understand the SASAL assessment process and builds their trust in its outcomes.
Peer reviewers used to comment on each seafood product assessment.	This provides a critical check on the assessment process to ensure that data and the seafood producer’s operation have been analysed and interpreted correctly.
Assessments based on the publicly available scientific evidence.	This supports accurate, transparent, current and credible assessments.
No ‘blacklist’ of seafood products.	SASAL works closely with the seafood producer when assessing their seafood product. If they are unable to currently meet our criteria, we will work with them to find ways in which they can. Confidentiality is key to the success of that work.
Integrated seamlessly with the Happy Fish Project and its seafood tracking program.	Our assessments are exclusively used by the Happy Fish Project to provide verifiable, evidence-based sustainability assessments to seafood consumers and support the sustainable operations of seafood producers. Together we provide seafood consumers with information about a seafood product from ocean to plate, a first for Australia. That gives our assessments real-world relevance.