SSA Network & Seafood Access Forum Meetings in Darwin
SSA Network
The SSA Network and Seafood Access Forum (SAF) meetings are being held in Darwin on 19 August 2010. Go to the website for the following important links:
Following is a summary of the key issues raised by attendees at the last SSA Network meeting held in Brisbane in February 2010. Notes from all SSA Network meetings are available on the Network Website.
National Aquaculture Council – Craig Foster
Supportive of country of origin labelling right across food service area - seeking SSA support for technical paper to assist in having it rolled out (SSA prepared a submission to the food labelling review)
Award modernisation – achieved an award we are fairly happy with – need a few amendments
Joined Animal Health Aust - working with emergency animal disease response
Trial program to improve farm biosecurity
Between states different treatment of aquaculture – try to get national standard principles for EIS
Licence to operate – improve our image and understanding in the community
Seafood Importers Association of Australasia – Norm Grant
SIAA has responded to a request for evidence that importers do not support factories where labour abuse exists. Using 3rd party audits and govt. certification of labour conditions.
Thailand spent about $250,000 on promotion of Thai prawns in Australia in 2009, including TV ads. Program included trade missions / press tours to see Asian food safety and quarantine standards. Much smaller investment in 2010.
Next trade mission (May 2010) will involve Australian prawn farmers and scientists to assess technology transfer and joint venture opportunities.
SIAA will part-sponsor Vietnam aquaculture researchers to attend AA10 in Hobart.
Making progress on eradication of weight fraud. Not just an importer issue
Northern Territory Seafood Council (NTSC) – Katherine Sarneckis
NT regulations require restaurants to have word ‘imported’ on menu if seafood isn’t Australian. As a result of consumer demand, some venues are now selling local product for the first time. It has also been reported that outlets are demanding more local product from fish markets
FRDC have approved a project to evaluate the impact of labelling laws on consumer behaviour and businesses
Ongoing pressure of reallocating fishing grounds to recreational sector. Improved security of access for commercial sector is needed
Blue Mud Bay negotiations are continuing, with interim arrangements to allow business as usual extended to the end of 2010
NSW Seafood Industry Council and SFM – Grahame Turk
Aquaculture is an important product source for SFM – 3 in top 10 products
Country of origin labelling presumes you have Australian product
Marine Parks and rec fishing havens are hurting NSW commercial fishing
Commercial fishing has not promoted its sustainability – SFM is undertaking work to influence public perceptions – no financial support from industry following the Canberra @@Balancing the Debate” meeting
Market Pride has been struggling to gain traction through fishmongers – now going through specialist grocers and food service outlets. The steep increase in demand brings manufacturing challenges
Redevelopment of site – good possibility it may happen
Seafood School – shut down in June, July, Aug and redeveloped – it is stunning and overrun with guest chefs wanting to present – 12,000 patrons go through each year. The main objective is seafood promotion
Western Australia Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) – Anna Cronin
Rock Lobster issues – govt reduced catch of fishery quite severely due to poor puerulus counts. Catch likely to be reduced next season to 5500 tonnes. The decline in this industry is having devastating impacts, in particular on regional communities
Appears to have been a shift in Rock Lobster industry views about going to a quota management system
So-called minor fisheries have their challenges too, particularly in estuarine fisheries where there are tensions between commercial and recreational fishers
Pearling not much activity this year (again)
WAFIC funding reduced by 25% per cent and new funding arrangements under consideration
Commonwealth marine planning still a priority although we’ve had some process wins through the Alliance
SSA in the middle of the mid term review process and will be redrafting strategic plan once the review is completed
SSA sought Network advice on preferred method of communication from SSA – acknowledged complaints about volume of emails
Online email tracking tool was suggested as an inexpensive market development strategy – you can see message open rate, click through rate, etc – Ted Loveday advised that this is not a preferred option as a lot of organisations block tracked messages
Information too technical sometimes - SSA to try to draw down in user friendly language
State Councils need assistance – SSA provide plain English request sheets
NTSC suggested issuing an annual year in review – paragraphs from each Board member
Next SSA News to include a paragraph from each state
The Seafood Trade and Market Access Forum (SAF) is being held in Darwin at the same venue and on the same day as the SSA Network meeting. The SAF commences at 1300 hrs on 19 August 2010. To access the SAF agenda, details of past SAF meetings, and the SAF's current trade and market access priorities logon to the SAF secure website.
The SAF is a rigorous and inclusive process for systematically and persistently tackling our trade and market access barriers and opportunities. It is an industry-driven process in which companies, associations and government agencies participate as equal partners on trade access. More information about the SAF ...
The following updates have been made to the Seafood Trade and Market Access Database. To access these updates logon to the Trade & Market Access Database and then click on the relevant link below:
DON'T MISS: International Seafood & Health Conference: Melbourne, November 2010
Don't miss the International Seafood and Health Conference being held in Australia for the first time this November. The conference and associated exhibition (hosted by SEA and SSA) will communicate the very latest medical research findings on the health aspects of seafood (including child nutrition, brain nutrition, nutrition, the role of fish and seafood in human cognitive development, diabetes, heart health), education issues in nutrition and public health, and importantly, sustainability of fisheries resources and aquaculture. Put this important date in your diary now. More information on the conference website.
Seafood and Health News
Improved seafood consumption advice urged by FAO & WHO
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization have jointly published a report that states governments worldwide need to do a better job emphasizing the health benefits of eating seafood, particularly the benefits to the heart and brain. Full article ..
Australian governments urged to boost seafood consumption to improve public health
Australian Governments have been urged to encourage greater consumption of seafood to avoid a looming "epidemic" of mental ill health and other brain disorders.
This follows a warning from the world’s foremost authorities in neuroscience and nutrition, meeting in London recently, that western nations will suffer "unthinkable health, social and fiscal consequences” unless they increase consumption of DHA, an Omega-3 oil found most abundantly in seafood. Full article ..
Pregnant women should be allowed to eat more fish
Pregnant women should be encouraged by the Government to eat at least two portions of fish per week to reduce the risk of their children developing brain disorders, a group of leading nutrition experts have claimed. Full article ..
Study: Eating fish vital to human evolution
01 June, 2010 - A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science found that seafood played an important role in human brain evolution. Full article ..
Seafood diet behind big brains
Our love of seafood goes way back. Archaeologists have found crocodiles, turtles and fish were eaten by early humans almost 2 million years ago.
According to the study’s researchers, this is the oldest evidence for a diet containing aquatic animals. And the nutrients they provided could have fuelled the evolution of our large human brains, the boffins added. Full article ..
FDA urged to revise seafood advisory
28 May, 2010 - Two prominent nutritionists are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revise its 2004 seafood advisory targeting pregnant and lactating women, citing a "consistent stream" of new studies highlighting the health benefits of seafood consumption, especially the omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish. Full article ..
The AQIS Ministerial Taskforces: Fish (MTF) is progressing the implementation of its reform agenda aimed at promoting efficiencies and improving productivity in the delivery of AQIS export certification and inspection services.
SSA has been appointed by the Fish MTF to manage this reform program. SSA has engaged Mr Jim Fitzgerald to oversee the development and implementation of the program. Future issues of SSA Update will include details of the reform program and progress being made. More information www.daff.gov.au/ecrp.
Australian Standard for Seafood Safety to Remove Red tape
The need for a formal Australian Standard for Seafood Safety that is supported and recognised by regulators, industry and seafood retailers was highlighted in the SSA Report on the Costs of Regulatory Compliance Costs in the Australian Seafood Industry. The Standard is needed to enable seafood businesses to meet regulatory and market requirements for food safety, without undertaking multiple, duplicative food safety audits.
SSA is an accredited Standards Development Organisation under Standards Australia. In this capacity SSA is currently preparing to commence development of the Australian Standard for Seafood Safety. The process for developing the Standard needs to comply will Standards Australia's standards development process. Accordingly, all seafood industry stakeholders, relevant government agencies and seafood retailers will be involved in developing the Standard. The process will be transparent and involve significant industry and public consultation.
SSA and Seafood Experience Australia's (SEA) project with Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL) is resulting in an increased number of seafood businesses becoming licensed to brand and promote their seafood using the well established and trusted Australian Made, Australian Grown brand and logo.
The number of businesses becoming licensed is expected to further increase when the Australian Seafood representation, which will provide a tool for industry to promote its world leading environmental management practices, is available for use with the logo - watch this space.
An industry bible for fishers, buyers, food service and retailers, these guidelines will assist in all areas of the seafood supply chain providing quality assurance for your seafood.
This comprehensive, very easy to use booklet is in line with current best practice and includes a range of storage and transportation topics relevant to fishers and buyers such as:
Seafood spoilage
Recommendations for uncooked fish, sashimi, frozen fish, and crustaceans
Seafood Services Australia is a not for profit company supported by the Australian seafood industry and the Australian Government through funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
Seafood Services Australia is a not for profit company supported by the Australian seafood industry and the Australian Government through funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
Seafood Services Australia is a not for profit company supported by the Australian seafood industry and the Australian Government through funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
