Australian Seafood Industry: Hypocrisy in Government Policies Exposed

For years, Australian consumers have been told that strict regulations and fishing restrictions are necessary to ensure the sustainability of local fisheries. Yet, while the government imposes tighter restrictions on Australian fishers, it continues to increase seafood imports from countries with some of the worst records in sustainability and human rights abuses. This double standard is not only damaging Australia's seafood industry but also making the nation complicit in global overfishing and modern slavery.

The Hypocrisy of Government Policy

Australia has some of the most well-regulated and sustainable fisheries in the world. According to Dr Ray Hilborn, Professor of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Washington, and Dr Bob Kearney (AM), Emeritus Professor in Fisheries Management at the University of Canberra, the perception that global fisheries are collapsing is largely a myth. "The ‘all fish gone by 2048’ claim was exposed by a subsequent paper showing that trends in fish abundance indicate stability, not decline," they stated.

Despite these successes, Australian governments continue to close fishing grounds, tighten quotas, and introduce new marine park restrictions that severely limit the industry. The result? Local seafood production is shrinking, while over 65% of seafood consumed in Australia is imported—often from countries with little regard for sustainable practices.

Imported Seafood: The Environmental and Ethical Disaster

Australia imports a large portion of its seafood from Thailand, Vietnam, and China—countries with some of the worst records for illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing. A 2009 study ranking adherence to the UN Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries placed Australia in 4th place, while Thailand ranked 42nd, China 22nd, and Vietnam 45th.

Not only are these countries overfishing and destroying marine ecosystems, but much of their seafood production is also linked to human rights abuses, including modern slavery.

Slave Labor in Overseas Fisheries

Reports from human rights organizations, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), have revealed horrific conditions in some foreign fishing fleets.

• Thai fishing vessels have been found using trafficked workers, who are often kidnapped, forced to work in inhumane conditions, and subjected to beatings and starvation.

• In China’s distant-water fishing fleets, forced labor is rampant, with crew members held captive on ships for months or even years, enduring brutal conditions for little or no pay.

• Vietnam and Indonesia have been implicated in widespread labor exploitation, with migrant workers being forced into fishing operations under threat of violence.

According to a 2021 report by the Global Slavery Index, the seafood industry is one of the worst offenders for modern slavery, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Yet, Australian retailers continue to stock seafood from these regions without transparency or accountability, while government policies make it harder for ethically and sustainably caught Australian seafood to remain competitive.

A Failure of Food Security Policy

Beyond environmental and ethical concerns, Australia’s heavy reliance on imported seafood also threatens national food security.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has advised Australians to increase seafood consumption by 40% to meet nutritional recommendations. However, instead of supporting local fishers to meet this demand, the government continues to tighten restrictions, effectively outsourcing seafood production to foreign industries that lack sustainability oversight.

By 2020, Australia was importing over 610,000 tonnes of seafood per year, and projections suggest this will rise to 850,000 tonnes in the near future. This raises a major question: why is Australia shutting down its own fisheries while relying on nations with far worse environmental and ethical records?

The Myth of “Sustainable” Imports and Seafood Certification Scams

Despite increasing consumer demand for ethical seafood, most imported seafood does not go through the same rigorous sustainability assessments as Australian fisheries.

How effective is the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in certifying truly sustainable fisheries? Given that a 2012 study published in Marine Policy found that 31% of MSC-certified stocks were overfished, does this suggest that some certified fisheries might not meet sustainability standards?

Additionally, with MSC certification being costly, does this create challenges for small-scale Australian fisheries while allowing larger foreign operations to benefit from the label despite ongoing sustainability concerns?

Could a more effective approach to sustainability involve ensuring that imported seafood meets the same rigorous standards required of local fishers while also increasing access to Australia's sustainable wild-caught industry?

What Needs to Change?

1. Stronger Regulations on Imports – Australia must introduce strict traceability requirements for imported seafood, ensuring that only sustainably and ethically sourced products enter the market.

2. Support for Domestic Fisheries – Instead of restricting local fishers, the government should be investing in the industry, ensuring that Australia produces more of its own seafood rather than relying on imports.

3. Public Awareness Campaigns – Consumers need to be informed about where their seafood comes from and the ethical and environmental consequences of buying cheap imported seafood.

4. Government Accountability – Instead of imposing one-sided restrictions on Australian fishers, policymakers must address the contradiction of importing seafood from some of the worst-performing nations in sustainability and human rights.

Australians Deserve Better

Australia has one of the world’s most sustainable and well-managed fisheries, yet government policies continue to favor foreign imports over supporting local seafood industries.

Meanwhile, Australian consumers unknowingly purchase seafood linked to environmental destruction and modern slavery, while the nation’s fishers are forced out of business.

It’s time for policymakers to stop penalizing sustainable Australian fishers and instead focus on ensuring that imported seafood meets the same high standards as our local industry. Only then can Australians truly eat seafood with confidence, knowing it is both sustainably sourced and ethically produced.