The Lakes and Coorong Fishery in South Australia is the 28th fishery globally to achieve certification to the Marine Stewardship Council standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. Certification was awarded by independent certification body, Scientific Certification Systems following scrutiny of all aspects of the fishery’s operation.
The Lakes and Coorong Fishery operates in the lakes and beaches of the Coorong region, at the entrance to the Murray River in South Australia. Many of the fishers operating in the fishery are members of the Southern Fishermens Association, the applicant for certification.
Four species have been certified as meeting the MSC Standard — golden perch (callop), pipis (Goolwa cockles), mulloway and yellow eye mullet. These species serve domestic markets in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, with a growing export market for pipis.
The addition of the Coorong Fishery to the MSC’s list of sustainable fisheries is of national and global interest. A commercial fishery in operation for 154 years, the Coorong Fishery is based in a National Park that includes a Ramsar wetland. With a hands-on approach to fishing, the Coorong Fishery uses manually-operated gear to reduce by-catch. The Lakes and Coorong fishers have a close relationship with the ecosystem, seeing it as their duty to responsibly manage, maintain and even enhance the environmental integrity of the Coorong region on behalf of the community.
The Lakes and Coorong Fishery’s decision to pursue certification was in response to a growing expectation from the Coorong community for sustainable fisheries.
The certification of the Lakes and Coorong Fishery is a further progression in the promotion and development of the MSC in Australia. Independent, third party verification of sustainability claims makes an important contribution to supporting attempts by the fishing industry to garner public support for ongoing fishing activities.
The only internationally recognised eco-labeling organisation of its kind, the MSC is a non-profit international body whose role is to promote well-managed fisheries via a stringent independent, certification program. The MSC helps consumers make informative, enviro-friendly choices for purchasing seafood by identifying sustainably caught seafood with its distinctive blue eco label.
In welcoming the certification, the MSC’s Asia Pacific Regional Director, Duncan Leadbitter said, “This significantly expands the range of MSC labeled products in Australia. Consumers who want certified sustainable seafood now have a choice of 6 domestic products sold fresh, plus 6 imported products suitable for a wide range of purposes, including fine dining, salads and children meals, amongst others.”
President of the Southern Fishermen’s Association, Garry Hera-Singh said, “Pursuing Marine Stewardship Council Certification was part of the Southern Fishermen’s Association’s commitment to its objectives of economical, ecological and social responsibility. To underpin the sustainability of the fishery by an independent third party was vital to demonstrate to the people of South Australia that the fishers of the Lakes and Coorong Fishery are responsible stewards of the resource. We believe that MSC certification is the way of the future for commercial fisheries of Australia.”
The Lakes and Coorong Fishery joins a rapidly expanding network of fisheries worldwide that have sought certification, responding to a growing demand for certified, sustainable seafood. The varied size of these fisheries, with a production range of 10 to 1.5 million tonnes, demonstrates how suited the MSC system is to fisheries of all sizes.
WWF-Australia and WWF-US provided support to the Lakes and Coorong Fishery throughout the accreditation process.
“The Lakes and Coorong mixed fishery is the first community-based fishery certified in Australia, and WWF hopes that the Southern Fishermen’s Association’s achievements encourage other fisheries in the region to show their commitment to sustainable fishing practices by applying for MSC certification,” said Meredith Lopuch, Deputy Director of WWF’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative. “Congratulations to the Southern Fishermen’s Association on their great accomplishment.”
Fish is the major source of protein for more than one billion people worldwide. From 1960 to 1996, world fish production for human consumption increased from 27 million to 91 million tonnes. It was a growing interest in the state of fish stocks, and the value of certification as a tool to drive sustainable fishing, that resulted in the Marine Stewardship Council, a global organization, establishing a presence in Australia. Australian politicians, scientists, food industry media, food educators and high-profile chefs have all pledged their support for the work of the MSC
