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28 August 2015

Australia's first certified sustainable tuna coming soon

A family-run fishing business on the Sunshine Coast has become the first Australian tuna fishery to achieve certification to the Marine Stewardship Council’s standard for sustainable fishing.

Walker Seafoods’ yellowfin and albacore tuna, along with its swordfish catch become the first of these species caught in Australia to receive the world-renowned MSC blue tick of sustainability.

Heidi Walker of Walker Seafoods is excited about the opportunities and new markets MSC certification will open up for the business.

"We're a family business and we’re passionate about keeping the marine environment healthy so we can keep fishing for generations to come. With the MSC ecolabel we can now prove scientifically that we're doing our bit to keep fish populations and marine ecosystems healthy," said Mrs Walker.

"Achieving the MSC Standard will open up new markets for us in Europe where demand for MSC certified fish is high and will also help feed the growing demand for sustainable and transparent sources of seafood in Australia"

 

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MSC Asia Pacific Director, Patrick Caleo is celebrating the fishery's commitment and efforts towards achieving the Standard.

“With Walker Seafoods achieving the MSC Standard, Australians can now enjoy locally caught certified sustainable tuna and swordfish for the first time in this part of the world,"

The line-caught fleet, managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), has undergone a third-party independent assessment, where a team of scientists have examined the fishery and determined that it meets the MSC Fisheries Standard.

“Congratulations to Walker Seafoods for stepping up and adding this extra layer of confidence for consumers in verifying their sustainability credentials with this scientific and rigorous assessment process" said Mr Caleo.

“Chefs want fresh, local and sustainable products and MSC certification gives them the confirmation that the sustainability of what they serve is backed up by scientific evidence. Yellowfin, albacore and swordfish are species that chefs love to work with, and Aussies love to eat. Walker’s certification opens up a new range of sustainable options for Australia’s forward thinking chefs and restaurateurs."

Walker Seafoods now joins seven other Australian fisheries that can proudly use the MSC ecolabel.