Austral Fisheries

Foundation Member | Tracking Since October 2022

Austral Fisheries Sustainability Profile

Carbon Neutral Logo

Carbon Neutral

Certified by Climate Active

What do our labels mean?

APCO Member Logo

APCO Member

Carbon Neutral Member Logo

Carbon Neutral Member

Climate Active Certified Logo

Climate Active Certified

MSC Certified Logo

MSC Certified

Beyond Sustainability

For decades we've held the belief that sustainability is a non-negotiable. This begins with taking care of the fisheries that we operate in, so that they remain healthy and viable for future generations. That is why we have actively sought out what we believe to be the gold standard in independent fishery certification, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and put our fisheries up to the test. Since we began this commitment over a decade ago, our four major Australian fisheries that we operate in have been certified by the MSC as sustainable and well managed. In 2016, we made the decision to take our sustainability commitment to the next level. We recognised that while we were doing real and impactful work to maintain and improve the sustainability of our fisheries, we were simultaneously consuming a large amount of diesel fuel; in the ballpark of 9 million litres. Something had to be done, and so we took the next step in our sustainability journey. We're proud to say that since 2016, we've been certified as carbon neutral as an organisation, and for the wild capture fish and prawn products we catch and sell, all the way from ocean to plate. Carbon neutrality, or having no carbon footprint, refers to achieving a net zero carbon emission by balancing the amount of carbon released from our business, with an equivalent amount sequestered, or offset. We are also committed to transitioning to 100% renewable energy across our Australian offices by 2025.

About Austral Fisheries

  • Status
  • Employees
  • 25 - 100
  • Industry
  • Fishery
  • Country
  • Australia
  • Founded
  • 1972

Austral Fisheries Sustainability Actions

Commitment to Sustainable Packaging - Partnership with APCO

Since joining APCO in 2021, we have prioritised environmental sustainability by adhering to its 10 Sustainable Packaging Principles. Our efforts include optimising packaging designs for material efficiency, using renewable options and ensuring packaging safety and quality. Over 80% of our consumer-facing products now carry Austrasian Recycling Labels (ARL) to promote proper disposal. A key milestone is our transition to 100% home compostable fish tub liners in the Northern Fin Fish Fishery, decomposing within 180 days, furthering our commitment to reducing waste and incorporating recycled and renewable materials.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certification

We operate three fishing vessels in the sub-Antarctic catching Patagonian toothfish and Mackerel icefish, and eleven vessels in the Gulf of Carpentaria catching Banana and Tiger prawns. As such, we are a small seafood business by global scale – however, we are leaders in the concepts and actions surrounding sustainable seafood, well beyond our marketplace footprint. Our wild caught seafood is caught with care, and proudly sold into domestic and international markets. For our toothfish, mackerel icefish, tiger prawns, banana prawns and more, these all come with independent certification by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as being sustainable and well managed. The MSC is the gold standard for seafood sustainability certification, and we've proudly displayed the iconic MSC 'Blue Fish Tick' for over a decade.

Climate Active | Certified Carbon Neutral Organisation

In 2016 we made the decision to take our sustainability commitment to the next level. We recognised that while we were doing real and impactful work to maintain and improve the sustainability of our fisheries, we were simultaneously consuming a large amount of diesel fuel; in the ballpark of 9 million litres. Something had to be done, and so we took the next step in our sustainability journey. We're proud to say that since 2016, we've been certified as 'Climate Active' (carbon neutral) as an organisation, and for the wild capture fish and prawn products we catch and sell, all the way from ocean to plate. Carbon neutrality, or having no carbon footprint, refers to achieving a net zero carbon emission by balancing the amount of carbon released from our business, with an equivalent amount sequestered, or offset. We are also committed to transitioning to 100% renewable energy across our Australian offices by the year 2025.

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Austral Fisheries Sustainability Commitments

2003

Founded COLTO

The Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators – to help eliminate illegal fishers from our toothfish fisheries

2006

First MSC certification for the Heard Island & McDonald Islands Mackerel Icefish fishery

2006

Government Buyout of fishing licences

Austral Fisheries played an instrumental part in the Government buyout of fishing licences in the Northern Prawn Fishery to reduce that fleet from over 300 vessels down to 52.

Carbon Neutral Logo

Carbon Neutral

Certified by Climate Active

What do our labels mean?

APCO Member Logo

APCO Member

Carbon Neutral Member Logo

Carbon Neutral Member

Climate Active Certified Logo

Climate Active Certified

MSC Certified Logo

MSC Certified

About Austral Fisheries

  • Status
  • Employees
  • 25 - 100
  • Industry
  • Fishery
  • Country
  • Australia
  • Founded
  • 1972

Sustainable Development Goals

Austral Fisheries is committed to advancing these Global Goals to promote prosperity for people & planet.

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