The groups - including Greenpeace and the Northern Territory Seafood Council- have released a statement today demanding action to ensure all seafood is properly labelled so that Australians can support local and sustainable seafood.
“Australian seafood is highly valued because of the combination of quality, diversity and management credentials attributed to it. Yet, currently restaurants and takeaways are exempt from country of origin labelling requirements. Diners typically have no way of knowing where their seafood comes from,” said Greenpeace CEO David Ritter.
“There is no logical argument why consumers get told the country of origin when they shop for seafood at the supermarket, but not when they dine out or get a take away,”
Mr Ritter said.
“Currently, imported products are masquerading as Australian seafood and consumers being left in the dark,” said Northern Territory Seafood Council Chairman Rob Fish.
“Many consumers are not getting what they think they are paying for and the Australian seafood industry is losing access to the restaurant market. Action is needed now to stop the hoodwinking,” Fish added.
Signed by 16 organisations, the joint statement was submitted today as part of a nation-wide consultation being conducted by the Australian Government to improve Australia’s food labelling laws. The signatories include Commonwealth and regional industry associations representing wild-caught fishers and fish farmers, as well as environmental organisations. All are calling for country of origin labelling in restaurants and takeaway stores – as recommended by a recent Senate inquiry.
In addition, the statement is calling for the adoption of mandatory use of the Australian Fish Names Standard. A move that would remove ambiguity from menus and labels, ensuring consumers are getting the species of seafood they expect.
“We need accurate labelling so we know what fish we are eating and where it was caught to ensure it’s healthy, sustainable and supporting local fishermen,” Ritter concluded.
The signatories are:
Australian Marine Conservation society
Australian Barramundi Farmers Association
Australian Prawn Farmers Association
Commonwealth Fisheries Association
Cone Bay Ocean Barramundi
Greenpeace
Lakes Entrance Fishermen's Co-op
Northern Territory Seafood Council
Professional Fishermen's Association
Sealife Trust
South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association
Taronga Conservation Society Australia
Traffic
Walker Seafood Australia
WWF
Zoos Victoria
For interviews, contact:
For David Ritter: Greenpeace media advisor, Elsa Evers, 0438 204 041
For Rob Fish: , 0439 810 304