MSC certified Spencer Gulf King Prawns
Australia's first MSC certified sustainable prawns go on sale in Japan
Dec 11, 2012
Japan is getting ready for a new sustainable taste sensation this Christmas with retail giant, Aeon, selling Australian MSC certified Spencer Gulf King Prawns this season.
The third-party verified sustainable prawns will be available nationwide in Aeon stores from 13th of December until the year-end. Speaking today, MSC Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Patrick Caleo, said the launch of Aeon's MSC certified prawn range was a win for fisheries who have demonstrated their sustainability credentials. "This further illustrates how MSC certification and a globally recognised ecolabel can open doorways for fisheries to enter into new international markets," said Mr Caleo.
Spencer Gulf King Prawn fishery, certified in November 2011, was Australia's first prawn fishery to be recognised for their first-rate management practices, which include effort restrictions, closed fishing periods, closed areas and harvest strategies to regulate the total catch. Representing the fishery, General Manager of the South Australian Prawn Co-operative, Terry Richardson is delighted that the fishery is entering the Japanese market.
"The MSC certification provided a point of difference and confidence to the buyer. Supplying to a large player in the Japanese supermarket chain and one that is focused on quality and customer satisfaction is very important to the South Australian Prawn Co-operative and its members," said Mr Richardson.
"...Plus the Japanese customers will love the natural taste and texture of our prawns and also the fact they're caught by a fishery with an internationally accredited ecolabel. Customers can buy our product with absolute confidence that they’re eating a world class seafood product from the clean cool waters of South Australia."
The Spencer Gulf King Prawn fishery operates in South Australia at latitude 34 degrees South where the seawater is cold and clean. Prawns are refrigerated at 50 degrees below zero soon after capture to lock in their freshness and unique sweet yet salty flavour.
Mr Kinzo Matsumoto, General Manager of Food Merchandising Planning Division of Aeon Retail Co. Ltd. says "We're very proud to launch MSC certified Australian Spencer Gulf King Prawns at our Aeon stores. We have been promoting MSC labelled products as a part of Aeon Biodiversity Policy which aims to mitigate the impact of our commercial activities on ecosystem. It has been seven years since these prawns were exported to Japan and first time we’ve supplied them with MSC certification."
"We are sure that our customers will not only enjoy this tasty prawn but also recognise the importance of MSC certification of this sustainable fishery. We will continue to offer MSC certified seafood products," said Mr Matsumoto.
Aeon stores currently sell 14 different MSC certified sustainable seafood products nationwide.
