Austral Fisheries

Foundation Member | Tracking Since October 2022

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.

9
Evidence

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.

14

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.

13 17
Evidence

Adherence to Global Food Safety and Quality Standards

We are dedicated to delivering safe, high quality and authentic food to all stakeholders across our supply chain. Our commitments include: - Meeting customer expectations for quality and food safety - Allocating resources to uphold robust Food Safety and Quality Plans - Promoting a strong Food Safety Culture - Continuously improving our Food Safety and Quality Management System to comply with legislation Our scope of activities that we have been certified to perform under this standard are highlighted in the Certificate of Registration attached to this Sustainability Action.

3
Evidence

OpenSC Partnership - Opening doors to transparency

Since 2019, we have collaborated with OpenSC to implement its blockchain-powered traceability technology within our toothfish and prawn operations. This next level technology provides transparency within our supply chain. To interact with OpenSC, consumers simply use their phone to scan a QR code on the product, which reveals details of the supply chain of the product. This creates an opportunity for producers to connect all the way to the consumer through education and transparency regarding the entire supply chain process in the seafood industry.

4 9 10

Sustainable Fish Management

We are licensed by the Australian Government to fish for Patagonian Toothfish in sub-Antarctic zones under strict ecosystem-based regulations set by Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Conservation measures ensure compliance with quotas, catch verification and environmental protection. Each voyage includes an Australian Government observer and an independent Data Collection Officer to monitor catches, conduct research and record interactions with seabirds and marine mammals, supporting sustainable resource management.

8 9 12 14

Responsible Fisheries in Heard and Macquarie Islands

Austral Fisheries operates in two sub-Antarctic fishing zones: Heard Island, known for its active volcano, Big Ben, and Macquarie Island. Since the mid-1990s the company has sustainably harvested Patagonian toothfish and Mackerel icefish in these regions. Both fisheries are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), with the toothfish rated as a ‘Best Choice’ by Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.

8 9 12 14
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