Why we assess seafood

We assess seafood products to help improve the health of Australian marine and freshwater environments and give seafood producers, sellers and consumers ecologically sustainable choices.

We began assessing seafood products in response to concerns about the potential environmental impacts of wild-catch fisheries and aquaculture.

These impacts can include overfishing, bycatch, habitat loss and damage, water pollution, entanglement of marine life and the spread of disease, pathogens and exotic marine species.

Around the same time, marine scientists were predicting fisheries collapses, following on from those for cod in Newfoundland, and the orange roughy and gemfish fisheries in south-eastern Australia.

Concerns about the ecological sustainability of seafood continue, most recently including the environmental impacts of salmon farming on Tasmanian waters.

In light of these concerns, restaurants, cafes, retail seafood outlets and consumers are increasingly looking for reliable and independent information to help them make informed and sustainable seafood choices.

The Australian seafood industry is also responding to these concerns by seeking ways to enhance the sustainability of its operations, to assist the marketing and promotion of seafood products, and to encourage good environmental practices and business excellence.

OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS IS VERY DIFFERENT TO OTHER SEAFOOD ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS

Has a focus on the assessment of individual seafood products from small-scale, individual fishers and farmers

Creates a link between the environment where the fish is caught, the local-scale supply chain through which it passes, and the market and the consumer

Uses an independent and transparent assessment process that provides for the involvement of seafood producers

Applies a rigorous, robust and public set of ecologically sustainable criteria and an assessment process both attuned to Australian conditions

Uses an experienced and Independent Assessor to initially assess the seafood product

Has an independent expert jury – our Science Reference Committee – to oversee the assessment process and the ongoing development of the assessment criteria, along with Specialist Peer Reviewers to provide further advice

Enhances the sustainability of a seafood producer’s operations by offering encouragement, guidance and reward

Is a cost-effective and affordable assessment process for seafood producers that gives them access to the expertise and knowledge of some of Australia’s most experienced marine scientists and seafood sustainability experts.