Austral Fisheries received the 2007 National Environment Award from the biennial Australian Seafood Industry awards night. The national award was sponsored by the National Australia Bank Agribusiness section, and was for Austral’s role in both Marine Protected Area development and certification of the Icefish Fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council.
We are also the proud recipient of the 2006 Environmental Award for our research and commitment made in gaining Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) certification for the Icefish species. Austral Fisheries were also privileged enough to be given the first Commendation for the Michael Kailis Award for Outstanding Achievement in the fishing industry. Both awards were presented by the West Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) and we are very pleased to be recognized for these achievements.
In 2003 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) awarded Martin Exel (Austral Fisheries manager for the environment and policy) a certificate for his role in the creation of the Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve, recognised as a Gift to the Earth by WWF, the conservation organisation.
Austral Fisheries' work in developing new fisheries for Patagonian Toothfish and Icefish in Australia's sub-antarctic, has resulted in Austral winning the WA Fishing Industry Council's Commercial Fishing Industry Achiever of the Year Award in 1998 for environmental performance.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent, global, non profit organization which has developed an eco-labeling certification process, providing a means to encourage sustainable fishing, by recognizing world's best practice in fisheries resource management. The blue 'fish tick' logo is synonymous with fish that have been harvested in ecologically and environmentally sound fisheries. MSC certification is only available to fisheries that can demonstrate rigorous commitments to top quality science, best practice fisheries management and minimal ecosystems impact. Icefish enters a very exclusive global club of only 15 other certified fisheries.
Austral Fisheries are members and supporters of COLTO - Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators, a non-government partnership between conservation organizations and commercial fishing companies aimed at reducing the incidence of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing for toothfish in the southern oceans.
Austral has been an active participant in the annual Commission for the Conservation of Antartic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) meetings and has supported the introduction of the Dissostichus Catch Documentation scheme in order to better control the trade in illegal fish.
