April 29, 2021
MEDIA RELEASE
Austral Fisheries Increase Investment in Northern Territory’s Timor Reef Fishery
Austral Fisheries have today announced the purchase of additional quota and fishing vessels in the Northern Territory’s Timor Reef fishery.
Austral first entered the fishery five years ago after purchasing a small amount of quota and one trap fishing vessel. In that time the company has focused on reinvesting in its crew; optimising its operations and maximising the quality of its catch. This acquisition will see three additional vessels added to their fleet and their total quota taken to almost 1000 tonnes of premium seafood destined for the Australian market.
The expanded operation will continue Austral’s focus on trap-fishing for snapper, in particular the premium Goldband snapper, and will provide for a consistent and stable supply of fresh fish to domestic customers.
The decision is a significant vote of confidence in the current health of the fishery, its future commercial prospects and the quality of the management arrangements as overseen by Northern Territory Fisheries Department.
Austral Fisheries has a history as proponents of sustainable fishing practices, with their operations in the Southern Ocean and Northern Prawn Fishery both certified as sustainable and well-managed by the Marine Stewardship Council. The company plans to invest in a similar fashion in the Timor Reef fishery to ensure its future sustainability.
Consistent with Austral’s existing wild-caught products, this additional catch from the Timor Reef Fishery will be certified as carbon neutral by the Australian Government’s ‘Climate Active’ Carbon Neutral Program.
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For more info please contact:
Clayton Nelson, GM Policy & External Affairs
[email protected]
About Austral Fisheries
Austral Fisheries is Australia’s leading integrated commercial fishing company bringing high quality, sustainably caught seafood products to customers around the world for over 40 years. Austral’s fleet consists of 15 vessels ranging from toothfish in the south; to prawns and tropical reef fish in the north.
Austral is committed to its responsibility as a steward of the ocean and the environment, with its four Commonwealth fisheries certified as sustainable and well-managed by the Marine Stewardship Council.
In 2016, Austral Fisheries became the first seafood business in the world to be certified as carbon neutral; offsetting the emissions created during their operations by planting over 200,000 trees every year in the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor, 300km north of Perth, WA.
Austral’s premium, wild-caught brands include Glacier 51 Toothfish, Skull Island Tiger Prawns and Karumba Banana Prawns. It is through these brands that Austral shares its stories. Customers can now trace the journey of Austral’s brands and the seafood they buy back to the source by utilising the unique supply chain traceability technology provided by OpenSC, who Austral have partnered with since 2019.
For more on Austral Fisheries, visit www.australfisheries.com.au