Setting world standards SEAFOOD in food safety Australia has the world’s third largest fishing zone, covering 13.6 million square kilometres. SAFETY It encompasses estuaries and bays, through to the continental shelf and the open ocean. The habitat produces a diverse range of species, including 4,500 finfish species and thousands of invertebrate species. Australian production includes low-volume, high-value species, such as lobster, abalone and southern bluefin tuna. Australian seafood has an excellent reputation for quality and is popular both locally and overseas. This quality is underpinned by high quality AUSTRALIAN FISH FURTHER fisheries management. Australia is ranked NAMES STANDARD among the top five management regimes INFORMATION worldwide. The management system Australia’s wide variety of seafood and The Australian Trade Commission – Austrade – is the Australian Government’s trade, has adopted a more ecosystem-based fish species can cause confusion for investment and education promotion agency. approach that limits entry and quotas, international buyers. The Fish Names and strictly monitors and controls catch to Committee of Seafood Services Australia Contact your local Austrade representative about connecting and partnering conserve productivity of the species. (SSA) has undertaken extensive work on with the Australian food industry. austrade.gov.au Australian management practices are in the standardisation of names used for keeping with the United Nations Food and fish in Australia. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND Agriculture Organisation (FAO) guidelines The Australian Fish Names Standard INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS on the precautionary approach to includes agreed names for over 600 The following are some of the government sustainable fisheries management. commercially important domestic and Food Standards Australia New Zealand and industry bodies involved in the develops food standards to cover the food Australia uses advanced science and imported species of fish, and over 4000 Australian seafood industry. industry in Australia and New Zealand. technologies to manage sustainability other domestic finfish. This standard helps FSANZ develops the Australia New and quality in wild-catch and aquaculture- reduce confusion, improves accountability Seafood Services Australia aims to Zealand Food Standards Code which based fisheries environments. Australia’s and traceability and allows purchasers to ensure that Australia’s seafood industry regulates the use of ingredients, management framework continues to have confidence in their buying decisions. has continual access to: domestic and international markets, adequate supplies processing aids, colourings, additives, develop in areas such as: The development and maintenance of of seafood to meet market demand, vitamins and minerals. this standard is underpinned by rigorous • biosecurity and aquatic animal health timely, accurate and current information foodstandards.gov.au procedures that have been agreed • habitat and ecosystem protection and standards that enhance the image Department of Foreign Affairs and to by government, industry and other and safety of Australian products. • domestication and breeding Trade works with other government stakeholders, and administered by SSA seafood.net.au • predation patterns and its Fish Names Committee. agencies to ensure that Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries pursuit of its global, regional and bilateral • seafood chain efficiency. and Forestry develops and implements interests is coordinated effectively. policies and programs that ensure dfat.gov.au Australia’s agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, Foreign Investment Review Board examines proposals by foreign interests to profitable and sustainable.daff.gov.au undertake direct investment in Australia Australian Food and Grocery Council and makes recommendations to the is the leading national organisation Government on whether those proposals representing Australia’s packaged food, are suitable for approval under the drink and grocery products manufacturers. Government’s policy. firb.gov.au afgc.org.au FOOD SAFETY – SEAFOOD – SAFETY FOOD.