Glacier 51 Toothfish celebrates this achievement alongside its recent accolade as the world’s first carbon neutral seafood. Located in an isolated fishery around Heard Island, a Sub-Antarctic region, the fish is sustainably caught in underwater volcanic crevices 2,000 metres below sea level.
Fremantle Octopus shares the Best Sustainable Seafood Product award with their range of raw, cooked, and marinated octopus from the Western Australia octopus fishery, certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard since 2019.
KB Food Company receives ASC’s Best Responsible Seafood Product award for their ASC certified KB Seafood Co Australian Yellowtail Kingfish, sourced from Clean Seas in Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
Six awards were given, along with six commendations and a lifetime achievement award.
Coles Supermarkets gains a hat trick, receiving the top award for MSC Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket, and highly commended recognition for MSC Sustainable Seafood Product – WA rock lobster, and ASC Responsible Seafood Importer.
Harley & Johns Seafood wins the Community Champion Award for their dedication to serving their local Wollongong community.
Leading Australian food distributor Bidfood takes ASC’s Best Seafood Importer Award for their commitment to responsible sourcing of both domestic and imported seafood.
The MSC and ASC Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr Keith Sainsbury, a Tasmanian-based marine ecologist and mathematical modeller. Dr Sainsbury was recognised for his significant contributions to advancing sustainable fisheries management through more than 20 years working for the CSIRO, and more recently, with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania.
Anne Gabriel from the Marine Stewardship Council said, “We’re honoured to work with fisheries, suppliers and retailers who are making a positive difference in protecting the future of one of our last major food sources that is truly wild. We want to acknowledge their efforts in making a sustainable future.”
Duncan Leadbitter from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council said, “Not only do we want to recognise the aquaculture farms that are located in some of the most beautiful parts in the country, but we are also wholeheartedly impressed by the overall supply chain that has taken the extra step to ensure our seafood is responsibly sourced.”
This year’s Sustainable Seafood Awards are hosted by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), and commends people and organisations that are leading the way in protecting the future of our seafood.
The awards were judged by a panel of leaders from the sustainability and environment sectors, including Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, Ocean Watch Australia, and Ocean Future Fund.
The awards were presented during a Sustainable Seafood Week Australia launch event at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
Sustainable Seafood Awards 2021 winners:
Community Champion – MSC
Award winner: Harley & Johns Seafood, Fairy Meadow, NSW
Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket – MSC
Award winner: Coles Supermarkets
Best Sustainable Seafood Product – MSC
Award winners:
o Glacier 51 Toothfish - Austral Fisheries
o Fremantle Octopus Range - Fremantle Octopus
Highly commended:
o Crumbed Australian Prawn Cutlets - Bidfood
o Just Caught Crumbed Fish Fillets Multiseed - KB Food Company
o Coles Western Australian Rock Lobsters - Coles
o OceanRise Pink Salmon 130g - ALDI
Best Responsible Seafood Product – ASC
Award winner: KB Seafood Co. Kingfish - KB Seafood Co.
Highly commended: Woolworths Smoked Oysters - Woolworths
Responsible Seafood Importer – ASC:
Award winner: Bidfood
Highly commended:
o KB Food Company
o Coles Supermarkets
Lifetime Achievement - MSC and ASC:
Award winner: Dr Keith Sainsbury
About the MSC and the ASC
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) share a common heritage and vision that global seafood supplies should be sustainable, responsibly managed, and supported by secure supply chains.
The MSC is on a mission to end overfishing and protect the last major food source that is truly from the wild.
The ASC is transforming fish farming to ensure we can trust where our seafood comes from and how it was raised.
The ASC and MSC are working towards changing consumer behaviour and preference when buying seafood, and working with partners to make the global seafood market more sustainable.
About Sustainable Seafood Week Australia
Sustainable Seafood Week Australia (SSWA) is an initiative by the MSC and ASC to transform the world’s seafood markets toward environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Seafood carrying the blue MSC label is wild caught from fisheries on a mission to end overfishing and protect our last truly wild food source. Seafood carrying the green ASC label is farmed to strict standards to ensure we can trust where our seafood comes from and how it was raised. SSWA celebrates the fisheries, farms, retailers, chefs and restaurants that support these combined missions to ensure we have seafood forever.