Spencer Gulf prawns have been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an international not-for-profit group. Spencer Gulf prawn fisherman Andrew ”Pug” Puglisi said that MSC certificate proves that the fishery is on right direction. He also said that the MSC is probably the most robust sustainability process in the world and for us to pass with flying colours is huge.
Having MSC certificate means the fishery maintains sustainable fish stocks, minimises environmental impacts and is effectively managed. For fishermen and retailers, it’s a crucial point of difference in a market that increasingly values sustainability. He told that the area is fully rich with prawns and his ancestor has used the benefits of it because the object is to make sure that same thing doesn’t happen here.
The MSC certification recognises measures taken by the Spencer Gulf’s 39-boat prawn fleet to minimise bycatch and target only the most mature prawns. Integral to this is the fleet’s thrice-yearly stock assessment surveys, which provide fishermen with detailed data about where they can and can’t trawl. Such practices reflect a huge change in the way the gulf has been fished over the past 30 years.
Australia’s 16 major prawn fisheries catch a total of 20,000 tonnes a year (another 5000 tonnes are farmed) in an industry worth about $240 million. Spencer Gulf harvests 1800 to 2000 tonnes a year, most of which are sold domestically. Their November trawl is the first since being certified sustainable earlier this year, meaning guilt-free seafood for consumers worried about declining fish stocks.
