The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has released new data revealing 63 per cent of all wild-caught prawns in Australia are now certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard, the world’s benchmark for sustainable fishing. It is expected that Australians will tuck into at least 22,000 tonnes of prawns during the festive period.
Certification to the MSC Fisheries Standard means demonstrating healthy fish stocks, minimised ecosystem impacts and effective management through independent audits held annually.
Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries executive officer Rachel King said the abundance of MSC certified banana prawns from Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery due to heavy rainfall in early 2023 also means consumers could expect significant savings.
“The average weight of prawns purchased by Australians at each shopping trip usually peaks at 1.3 kg in December. This year, with prawns in plentiful supply, Australians are encouraged to put more on the table. Make it 2kg or take home a 5kg box of prawns frozen at sea, keep it in the freezer, and enjoy on long summer days,” said King.
According to the MSC, most Australians (86 per cent) are concerned about the state of the world’s ocean, including the effects of overfishing.
The Ocean King Prawn Company, which will be fishing for prawns right up to Christmas Eve, is urging shoppers to request MSC certified prawns when shopping.
“As our first year holding MSC certification, we’re able to supply our customers with top quality, delicious seafood, with the added assurance that our prawns are sustainably caught,” said the company.
Following the release of the ACCC’s final guidance for businesses’ making environmental claims, MSC program director of Oceania and Singapore, Anne Gabriel said knowing what to look for when purchasing sustainably was crucial.
“Look for credible labels such as the MSC blue fish tick which give assurance all the way through the supply chain that your seafood comes from an independently certified sustainable fishery meeting the MSC’s global sustainability requirements.
“Aussies can feel proud that by continuing to choose MSC certified sustainable prawns now, we’re safeguarding future supplies of affordable prawns at Christmas well into the future,” said Gabriel.
The MSC blue fish tick label can be found on around 400 sustainable seafood products at all major supermarkets, including at the Coles deli.
