Northern Prawn Fishery earns sustainability accreditation

Australia continues to lead the way when it comes to sustainable seafood with news the Northern Prawn Fishery, has bolstered its environmental credentials by earning the global blue tick for sustainability in time for the peak prawn eating season of Christmas and summer.

The Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF), Australia’s largest and most valuable prawn fishery, has been certified as sustainable against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) global environmental standard for sustainable and well managed fisheries.

NPF banana, tiger and endeavour prawns will now carry the blue MSC marine ecolabel.
It is one of only a handful of prawn fisheries around the world certified by the MSC, and the first fishery in the world to supply MSC certified banana and tiger prawns.

“Prawns are one of the most highly-sought-after and widely-consumed seafood products in Australia – especially at Christmas and during summer,” said Patrick Caleo, MSC manager Australia and New Zealand.

“The NPF is now in a position to meet the growing consumer demand for sustainably sourced seafood by being one of only a handful of prawn fisheries around the world certified by the MSC, and the first fishery in the world to supply MSC certified banana and tiger prawns.”

The MSC assessment covers the 52 NPF vessels that ply the fishery’s 771,000 square kilometres of pristine tropical waters off Australia’s northern coast from Cape Londonderry in Western Australia to Cape York in Queensland.

Source: FoodService, 9 November 2012