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NEWS
More reason to catch your own
Seafood labelling inquiry a missed opportunity for Australian fishers and oceans, say campaignersThe recent recommendation of a Senate Committee Inquiry into seafood labelling represents a necessary improvement but would still leave Australian consumers without the information they need to make informed choices about the seafood they buy, according to the Label My Fish Alliance.
The report, tabled last Thursday (December 18) afternoon, recommends the restaurant and catering industry’s exemption from country-of-origin laws be removed, but stops short of recommending labelling of species name and production method which is vital information for making a sustainable, healthy choice.
Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said" "While telling Australians where the seafood they are eating comes from would be an improvement, not telling us what species of fish it is sells us short.
"You could still walk into a takeaway and order fish and chips and be served any one of thousands of species. Australian consumers deserve the same level of detail as Europeans enjoy when they buy seafood in fish shops, takeaways and restaurants."
"Arguments about the cost of proper seafood labelling are spurious. Our simple proposal, labelling what fish it is, where it’s from, and how it’s caught, is a no-brainer that would help Australian fishers, protect our oceans and benefit public health."
The Label My Fish Alliance will continue working with Australian fishers, scientists, academics and chefs to campaign for the Federal Government to introduce seafood labelling laws that tell consumers what fish they’re eating, where it was caught, and how it was caught or farmed.
Australia’s current labelling laws don’t require the use of standard fish names at any point of sale and the restaurant and catering industry is exempt from providing any country of origin information. European Union labelling law requires species name, catch method, catch area and other information on signage whenever seafood is sold to the final consumer.
Chef and author Matthew Evans said: "Australians have a right to know what they are buying and eating, to have the information they need to choose fresh, local seafood which has been caught sustainably. Without accurate labelling, Australians are effectively eating seafood in the dark."
Pavo Walker, a commercial tuna fisherman from Queensland, said: "A tuna caught in the high seas by a vessel from Europe or Asia is a different prospect to one caught by a Commonwealth fisherman in Australia. We need proper seafood labelling so the Australian fishing industry can distinguish its product from imports and reap the proper rewards for complying with a high level of regulation."
Australian Marine Conservation Society Director Darren Kindleysides said: "AMCS has been producing Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide for a decade now. It’s clear that consumers want to do the right thing but without clear labelling Australians could unknowingly be eating a threatened shark in their fish and chips or seafood caught unsustainably."
High profile supporters of the ‘Label My Fish’ campaign include Frank Camorra from MoVida, Cory Campbell from Vue de Monde, Peter Gilmore from Quay and Serge Dansereau of The Bathers Pavillion. Australian fishers, scientists and celebrities, including actor Richard Roxburgh, and author Sarah Wilson are also backing the campaign.
Considering the seafood-labelling campaign advocates a system whereby consumers know what fish it is, where it’s from, and how it’s caught, we strongly recommend you continue to catch and cook your own!
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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