A shop counter with a display of fresh seafood showcases a variety of raw fish, neatly arranged on a bed of ice. Price tags indicate the cost per kilogram in Australian dollars for customers to choose.
Adobe Stock
The national trade organization representing Australia's commercial seafood industry Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) has welcomed the latest decision by the Albanese Government to develop a new national food security strategy, which was announced last week.
Feeding Australia, which will receive AUD 3.5 million (approximately USD 2.24 million) from the Government, aims to strengthen the security and resilience of the supply chain in Australia's agriculture and food production systems.
Also, SIA supported the 2019 Food Security Inquiry – Australian Food Story: Feeding the Nation and Beyond. It now hopes to contribute to Recommendation 5 implementation, which calls for a specific strategy to expand the seafood sector while meeting environmental and sustainability requirements.
"For the Australian seafood industry, raising awareness and planning for the future of food security cannot come soon enough. Currently, 64% of the seafood Australians eat is imported. Without a clear plan to invest in and protect our local fishers and aquaculture producers, particularly in regional communities, this figure will only continue to rise," SIA CEO Veronica Papacosta expressed.
SIA looks forward to continued collaboration with government and industry stakeholders to ensure a robust and sustainable future for Australia’s seafood sector.
In February 2025, SIA welcomed the Federal Parliament's decision to withdraw the Biosecurity Protection Levy bill. Australian seafood producers were "deeply" concerned by the funding model in its current form.
In contrast according to the Australian Government, the Biosecurity Protection Levy ensures that those who directly benefit from Australia's strong biosecurity make a "modest" and "direct" contribution to ensure the biosecurity system is sustainably funded into the future.
The organization is committed to collaborating with the federal government to establish a sustainable funding model that protects Australia's marine environment while ensuring the future viability and prosperity of the Australian seafood industry.