Seafood in Australia facts for kids

Seafood in Australia comes from many places. It comes from big fishing businesses, fish farms (called aquaculture), and people who fish for fun. This industry is very important for Australia's money. In 2007–2008, it added over $24 billion to Australia's economy!

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority helps manage fishing in waters far from the coast. Closer to shore, different state groups manage fishing for businesses and for fun.

More and more people in Australia care about sustainable seafood. This means fishing in ways that keep fish populations healthy for the future. Groups like the Marine Stewardship Council and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (with their GoodFish guide) help people choose seafood that is caught or farmed responsibly.

How Australia Gets Its Seafood

Australia has a huge ocean area where it has special rights to fish. This area is called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It stretches 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) from the coast. Australia's fishing zone is the third largest in the world! Even with such a big area, Australia is only the 52nd largest producer of seafood by how much it catches.

Where Seafood is Produced in Australia

Tasmania produces the most seafood by value, making up 22% of the total. South Australia is next with 21%, and Western Australia follows with 20%.

In South Australia, fish farming of ocean fish is the most valuable part of their seafood business. Tasmania's seafood industry is mostly about farming salmon. Western Australia is just starting to try out fish farming.

What Kinds of Seafood Are Produced

Most of the seafood caught or farmed in Australia is for people to eat. But some products are not for eating, like pearls and fish meal (which is used for animal food). Australia's seafood includes both fish caught in the wild and fish grown on farms. This also includes seafood that Australia sells to other countries.

Selling Seafood to Other Countries

In 2007–2008, Australia sold seafood worth $1.3 billion to other countries. About 80% of this was seafood for eating, like shellfish and fish. The rest was mostly pearls.

Even though Australia sells a lot of seafood, the amount it exports has gone down. This is because less seafood is being caught or farmed overall.

Buying Seafood from Other Countries

In 2007–2008, Australia bought seafood worth $1.4 billion from other countries. Like its exports, most of this (about 80%) was seafood for eating. The rest was pearls and fish meal.

Australia's seafood imports also went down a little in the previous year. This was mainly because people bought less imported crabs, lobsters, and similar seafood. However, Australia now spends more money on buying seafood from other countries than it earns from selling its own seafood.

This means Australia now buys more seafood than it sells. Australia often sells expensive seafood, while it buys cheaper seafood like frozen or canned fish.

Popular Seafood in Australia

Most Important Seafood Species

In 2007–2008, Australian sardines were caught the most by weight, with 33,600 tonnes. Salmon and trout were second (25,500 tonnes), followed by prawns (22,400 tonnes), tuna (14,700 tonnes), and rock lobster (13,800 tonnes).

However, rock lobster brought in the most money, earning $407 million. Salmon and trout were second with $299 million, prawns third with $268 million, and tuna fourth with $210 million. Abalone was the fifth most important, earning $189 million.

Selling and Buying Popular Seafood

In 2007–2008, selling rock lobster brought in $401 million. Abalone earned $217 million, and prawns $69 million. Most of Australia's seafood exports go to Asia, with some also going to the United States.

When it comes to buying seafood from other countries, canned fish is bought the most, costing $257 million. Frozen fish fillets are next at $228 million, followed by fresh or frozen prawns at $167 million, and canned crabs or similar seafood at $128 million.

Some of the most common fish Australia buys from other countries are Hoki, Hake, Nile perch, and Basa.

How Australians Eat Seafood

How Much Seafood People Eat

In the 1990s, people in Perth ate about 14.7 kg of seafood each year, and in Sydney, it was 15.1 kg. In 2005, people in Melbourne ate about 12.49 kg of seafood per person.

What Kinds of Seafood People Eat

In 2007–2008:

• Tuna was 6.2% of the seafood caught in Australia and made up 9.6% of the money earned.
• Salmon and trout were 10.8% of the catch and 13.6% of the money.
• Prawns were 9.5% of the catch and 12.2% of the money.
• Rock lobster was 5.8% of the catch but brought in 18.5% of the money (because it's expensive!).
• Abalone was 2.2% of the catch and 8.6% of the money.
• Oysters were 4% of the catch and 5.2% of the money.
• Scallops were 4.3% of the catch and 1.4% of the money.
• Catch here includes seafood from both fishing and fish farms.

New Ways People Eat Seafood

By 2006, people were eating a lot more seafood when they went out to restaurants. At home, they started buying more "convenience" seafood, like canned or pre-prepared types, because they are easier to cook.

When and How People Eat Seafood

People from Asian backgrounds often like different kinds of fish. They might prefer imported fish like milkfish, tilapia, snakehead, and pomfret.

Challenges in Managing Fisheries

Experts have pointed out some new challenges that are becoming more important for managing fishing in Australia.

More People and "Sea Change"

As Australia's population grows and more people move to coastal areas, there will be a greater demand for seafood. More people living near the coast can also put stress on fishing areas and harm the environment.

Stocking Oceans and Rivers

Some people who fish for fun want more fish to be put into oceans and rivers. This is because more people are fishing, which puts pressure on fish populations. Fish have been put into some freshwater rivers for many years.

Climate Change Effects

Climate change is expected to change ocean temperatures, coral reefs, and rainfall. This will affect local environments, how fish breed, and where different fish live. It might also create new chances as some fish move to cooler waters further south.

Fuel Costs

The price of fuel is a big deal for fishing businesses. If fuel prices go up, it costs more to catch fish. As it becomes harder to find fish, the cost of fuel per tonne of fish caught will also increase.

The Internet's Role

With the internet, people who fish for fun can find a lot more information. This might make them better at fishing, which could put even more pressure on fish populations in popular fishing spots.

Where Australians Buy Seafood

In 2003, a survey found that about half of Australian adults (49%) bought seafood at supermarkets. About 26% bought it from special seafood stores, and 20% bought it directly from fresh fish markets. About 16% caught their own seafood!

Restaurants, hotels, and clubs were the main place for about 14% of people to get fish. Fish and chips shops were popular for 13%. Some people (4%) got fish from family or friends who fish, and 2% used other fast food places.

Seafood Wholesalers

These are some of the big companies that sell seafood to stores and restaurants:

• Australian Ocean King Prawn Company
• Blue Harvest - Aquaculture Sales and Marketing Agency
• De Costi Seafoods
• Cairns Ocean Products
• Five Star Seafoods
• Joto Fresh Fish
• Mackay Reef Fish Supplies Pty Ltd
• Mackay Reef Export Pty Ltd
• Marine World Seafood
• Mooloolah River Fisheries
• Ocean Exports Pty Ltd
• Perkins Island Oysters
• Poulos Bros Pty Ltd
• Roccos Seafood
• Seabest International
• Southern Yabby Farm
• Urangan Fisheries
• Wood Fisheries Pty Ltd

Images for kids

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  Monthly export value (A$ millions) of seafood and preparations thereof since 1988

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  Monthly import value (A$ millions) of seafood and preparations thereof since 1988