Access to local Queensland Seafood

Market research tells us that Queenslanders want to eat delicious Queensland seafood. More than 2 million Queenslanders eat seafood at least once or twice a week and when asked, an overwhelming majority of respondents said they actively choose Australian seafood over imported seafood, if it is available. This is one of the real issues facing the local Queensland seafood industry – availability of Queensland seafood to consumers. Queensland fishers are being forced to compete with more and more imported seafood in the marketplace. The dollar value of seafood imported into Australia has risen from $780.6 million in 1999 up to a massive $1.184 billion in 2007. This represents an increase of $400 million and rising every year. Queensland has the best quality seafood in the world yet our local industry is facing some serious challenges ahead.

How can you help?

The next time you go to your local fish and chip shop, supermarket and retail outlet or to a restaurant to purchase seafood, look for correctly labeled seafood first and ask for Queensland seafood. Country of origin labeling is required by law so if you see seafood that is not correctly labelled ask where the product is from. Remember - look for the Queensland Seafood poster that ensures you are getting the best seafood in the world – Queensland seafood. 

What we are doing?

As promoters of quality Queensland seafood the Queensland Seafood Industry Association is very concerned about your access to local seafood. In an effort to raise awareness in the wider community and to better support our Queensland fishers we promote Queensland seafood at seafood festivals and events throughout the year. For the 2009 schedule of events go to our Seafood Festivals page for an event near you. 

The Queensland Catch marketing campaign in the Cairns region to promote local Queensland seafood is continuing and I invite you to follow the link: Cairns Project to find out more about this fantastic initiative. This project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government and the QSIA in an effort to improve the supply of Queensland seafood to you, the consumer.