A Study Of The Composition, Value And Utilisation Of Imported Seafood In Australia
The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) has released a new report by Ruello & Associates, looking at imported seafood in Australia – A Study Of The Composition, Value And Utilisation Of Imported Seafood In Australia. The report involved detailed analysis of official statistics, various reports and trade information from industry and from personal observations. The report found that:
- The 193,000 tonnes of seafood imported in 2008/09 had an estimated final sale value of $4.5 billion, 3.5 times the import cost of $1.3 billion.
- Imported seafood provides 72% of the seafood flesh consumed in Australia and more than two thirds of the seafood industry’s post harvest sector employment.
- Imported seafood mostly generates a higher multiplier from the import cost to the final sale value than Australian produce because the sellers typically constrain selling prices and profit margins on the (costlier) domestic goods to make them more affordable for consumers.
- The overall quality, packing, size grading and branding of imports is good, so much so that the price of imports are increasingly as high as or surpassing those of the equivalent Australian product.
- CSIRO and other authoritative reviews indicate that imported seafood does not pose any greater food safety risk than locally produced food.
Download full report: Imported Seafood Study Final Report
Download PDF fact sheet: Imported Seafood Australia Brochure
NSW Seafood Industry Council Submission to the Independent Scientific Audit of Marine Parks in NSW
The NSW Government has formed a Marine Parks Independent Scientific Panel to undertaking an independent scientific audit of marine parks in NSW – as per their election commitment. The panel will review the effectiveness of marine parks in protecting different habitat types and provide recommendations on further action and, if appropriate, alternative management approaches. The panel is due to report to the government by 30 December 2011. More information is available at www.marineparksaudit.nsw.gov.au/
The submission for the NSW Seafood Industry Council can be viewed at http://www.marineparksaudit.nsw.gov.au/imagesDB/submissions/submission-s46-originalNSWSeafoodIndustryCouncil.pdf
Sydney Fish Market – 2011 Seafood Excellence Awards
Best Supplier NSW
WINNER – Bermagui Fishermen’s Co-operative
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Ballina Fishermen’s Co-operative…..
Best Supplier – Interstate or Overseas
WINNER – OPC Fish and Lobster – a division of Aoteara Fisheries Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Moana Pacific Fisheries
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Finestkind
Best Seafood Retailer -Suburban and Regional
WINNER – Peter Roan Seafood
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Costi’s @ Westpoint…..
Best Seafood Retailer – Sydney Fish Market
WINNER – Peter’s Fish Market
HIGHLY COMMENDED – De Costi Seafoods
Best Fish and Chips – Regional
WINNER – Bub’s Fish and Chips, Nelson Bay……
Best Fish and Chips Sydney
WINNER – Bondi Surf Seafoods
For a full list of the Winners go to http://www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/OurCompany/Awards/tabid/262/Default.aspx
Closed mussels are fine to eat!
The Australian Mussel Industry Association (AMIA) are try to bust the myth which started in the 1970’s, that mussels that don’t open after cooking are unsafe to eat. According to the AMIA “there is nothing wrong with these mussels and Australians’ have thrown away around 370 tonnes of good mussels because of an old wives tale!”
Just over 10% of mussels will stay closed after being cooked, depending on cooking time. As it is steamed, the mussel opens when the adductor muscle inside the shell breaks. If the adductor mussel hangs on to the shell, then the muscle will not open. To help dispel the urban myth the AMIA has come up with a great little video clip featuring an animated mussel – “Murray the Mussel”. You can check out the clip at http://www.australianmussels.com.au/murray-the-mussel. Merchants should advise customers that closed mussels can be cooked a little longer or the shell can be prised open with a knife.
Aquaculture pushes global fish production to new heights
According to research undertaken by Nourish the Planet for the US based independent research organisation, Worldwatch Institute, global fish production has reached an all time high. Aquaculture now contributes nearly half of all fish produced worldwide, with output from the sector increasing 50 fold between 1950’s and 2008. The research also notes that according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an estimated 53% of fisheries are now considered fully exploited – harvested to their maximum sustainable yield – with no room for expansion in production.
Sydney Fish Market redevelopment rejected by tenants
It has been announced that theplanned $40 million redevelopment of Sydney Fish Market has been scuttled by the site tenants. The site tenants, which are 50% shareholders in the market, rejected the redevelopment on economic grounds. It looks likely that the market will now move to just undertake modest repairs. Sydney Fish Market, Chief Executive, Grahame Turk said that “it will be like putting lipstick on a bulldog”. He noted that “it is disappointing, it’s frustrating but in the end it’s the tenants’ business”. On the back of the announcement the NSW Planning Minister, the Hon. Brad Hazzard, announced that he intends to meet with all parties in an effort to see the redevelopment proceed.
Seafood Excellence Awards 2011
Sydney Fish Market has announced that the Seafood Excellence Awards will be held on Saturday, 30 July 2011, at Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall. Tickets to attend will be $150 (plus GST) ea.
Nominations are open in the following categories:
- Excellence in Environmental Practice
- Best Supplier (Aquaculture)
- Best Supplier (NSW)
- Best Supplier (Interstate or Overseas)
- Inspired By Seafood
- Best Seafood Retailer (Suburban and Regional NSW)
- Best Seafood Retailer (Sydney Fish Market)
- Best Fish and Chips (Regional NSW) Best Fish and Chips (Sydney)
- Best Seafood Restaurant (Regional NSW)
- Best Seafood Restaurant (Sydney)
- Seafood Promotion Award
- Seafood Business Award
- Star of The Sea
Nominations are open from Friday 25 March and close Wednesday, 15 June 2011
For more information go to http://seafoodexcellenceawards.com.au/
NSW – Food Safety Supervisor
Under the new food laws introduced to NSW at the end 2010, businesses that sell ready-to-eat food, such as takeaway seafood outlets, restaurants and cafes, will need to appoint at least one trained Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) by 1 October 2011. (Fresh seafood retailers are exempt from the requirement to appoint a trained Food Safety Supervisor.)
To become a FSS you will need to complete training in units of competency with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). A list of RTOs is available on the Food Authority website or from your local council. The training can generally be completed in one full day. Once the training is complete you will be issued with a Food Safety Supervisor certificate. The business owner will then have seven days to notify either the NSW Food Authority or the local council.
Businesses will need to appoint at least one FSS per premise, you cannot use the same FSS for several premises. The FSS will normally be the owner of the business or a manager, particularly if it is a small business. The FSS does not have to be at the premises at all times. Business owners are however required to appoint a new FSS within 30 operational days of a FSS leaving their business.
Businesses that do not comply with the requirement under FSS scheme will be issued a penalty notice for up to $330 for an individual and $660 for a registered company.
For more information go to http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/_Documents/industry_pdf/fss_guidelines.pdf
Prawn Disease Found in Malaysian Prawn Imports
At a Senate hearing on 22 February 2011, it was revealed that a 20 tonne shipment of raw prawns imported from Malaysia in September was released into Australia despite laboratory reports showing 31% of samples taken from the shipment had tested positive to white spot syndrome virus. White spot syndrome virus only affects crustaceans and has had a significant impact on prawn farms throughout the rest of the world. The hearing was told that a quarantine officer with Biosecurity Services Group “overlooked the positives” in the laboratory paperwork. While 3 tonnes of the shipment was “recalled and re-exported”, 17 tonnes remains missing. According to a spokesman from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the prawns are hard to track down because they were “sold to the catering industry”.
Total Allowable Catch for Eastern Tuna & Billfish
At a meeting on 24 January 2011, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority Commission announced that the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF) is changing from managing the number of hooks set (input controls) to managing the weight of five quota species that can be taken (output controls).
The five species include: yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, albacore tuna, swordfish and striped marlin. Mr John Bridges, Acting Chief Executive Officer of AFMA, said “the catch quota management arrangement is a far more effective way to sustainably manage the fish stock in the fishery”.
Under the proposed changes commercial operators will be allowed to increase the harvest from 5,926 tonnes to 9,505 tonnes. Sports fishing groups have condemned the proposed changes claiming that it is not only unsustainable but also goes against the governments own scientific advice and will wipe out gamefish stock worth millions to the sports fishing industry.
NSW Occupational Health & Safety – Residual Current Devices – 18 February 2011
A Residual Current Device (RCD) is an electrical safety device specifically designed to immediately switch the current off when electricity “leaking” to earth is detected at a level harmful to a person using electrical equipment. In essence it stops people from receiving an electrical shock.
Under the new amendment to the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, employers “must ensure that, in relation to each electrical outlet socket at the employer’s place of work, the circuit is protected by a residual current device”. Employers “must ensure, so far as reasonable practicable, that the residual current device is incorporated before or as part of the socket”. It should be noted however that businesses have 4 years to comply with the above requirement to install RCD’s.
Employers are also required to ensure that RCD’s “used at the employer’s place of work are tested regularly by a competent person to ensure that the devices are operating effectively”.
If you are unsure whether or not your workplace is protected by RCD’s you should contact a qualified electrician.
Rebates of up to $500 to purchase and install safety switches are available for small businesses that attend a WorkCover workshop or arrange an advisory visit. For More information contact NSW WorkCover on 13 10 50.
Seafood Marketing Levy
In early November 2010 representatives from the fishing and aquaculture sectors met at the Melbourne Convention Centre to discuss the establishment of an industry marketing and promotion levy. At the meeting the participants agreed on the following:
- To support the establishment of a legislative mechanism to enable those sectors of the seafood industry that want a marketing and promotion levy to have one.
- The collection point for each sector levy to be determined by that sector.
- The administration of such levies must be managed by an industry driven organization with an approved governance structure, and that expenditure of any funds must be fully accountable and transparent.
- The body responsible for reporting to Parliament on expenditure of the levies be the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
- An administration cost for managing the levy be capped at an amount agreed to by the relevant sector.
- To urge the Federal Government to create a $5 million seafood marketing and promotion matching fund, to which sectors that have a levy can apply for specific marketing/promotion projects.
The MFMA has written to Seafood Experience Australia on behalf of our members expressing our in principle support for the initiative. The Association believes that the establishment of a producer based levy to promote seafood consumption is a critical step in finally addressing the absence of a well funded, co-ordinated and sustainable marketing and promotional campaign for seafood.