Western Abalone Divers Association 2020 Quota Setting Workshop: Opportunity for shared understanding of potential TACC setting processes by Western Australian Abalone stakeholders
National commercial fishing industry response to changes to the USL code
Pilot project to determine the effectiveness of FoodSafe Plus as a tool in meeting FSANZ Food Safety Standards
Final report
The project demonstrated that businesses that comply with FoodSafe Plus have work practices that will conform to the Australian Seafood Standard and thus comply with their responsibilities under the mandatory Food Safety Standards.
Although the project was to introduce a food safety program to comply with Food Safety Standard 3.2.1, the consultants identified that pre-requisite programs to cover Food Safety Standard 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 were not in place and these were therefore included as part of the project.
The minimum number of businesses accredited to FoodSafe Plus exceeded the target in Western Australia. At the time of writing the final report, eight businesses were accredited, or in the final stages of accreditation. Importantly, two businesses were deemed not to require a food safety plan in order to produce safe food. Two environmental health practitioners became familiar with the seafood industry and a further two (the consultants themselves) improved their knowledge of the seafood industry.
Although currently one of the simplest HACCP based food safety program models available, FoodSafe Plus would require considerable amendment to be a suitable model for the fishing industry sector. The consultants experience from this project found that participants were isolated, easily confused and intimidated by the size of the manual. They also had difficulty relating to the examples used and lacked the confidence and knowledge to modify forms for their own businesses without help.
Overall, the findings suggest that the FoodSafe Plus quality system is comparatively low cost and does enable business to meet more confidently the requirements of the FSANZ food safety standards.
Keywords: Seafood safety, Post Harvest, FoodSafe Plus, Best practice.
Extension of MSC Certification for Western Australian Fisheries
The FRDC, WAFIC and MSC have undertaken public perception studies on the support of fishing activities that have shown that the industry has a very low level of support. The Australian public simply does not believe the message given to it by industry and Government. Western Australia has recognised that the very survival of wild-harvest fisheries depends on a paradigm shift in this negative perception and only a credible, internationally recognised, third-party certification of the State's fisheries will alter the perception and provide industry with the level of security to invest in its future.
The $14.56 million earmarked for third party certification will be split as following: $6.56 million for MSC pre-assessment, full assessment and initial audit and; $2 million per year over 4 years ($8 million) to support Department of Fisheries research and management inputs to the certification process. If the benefits of this investment are to be fully realised for the State and the industry there must be investment in community and industry engagement, and engagement with the post-harvest sector through to the retail and food service. Without such engagement the benefits of certification will not be fully captured. This will require research and testing of cost effective mechanisms to effectively engage. The project builds on the substantial investment by the FRDC in research for Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management. The project will also link with other FRDC activities nationally like the Key Stock Status Report and the trial of the NSW Responsible Fisheries Management Certification project. The whole program of activities in WA that include: A new fisheries Act; MSC certification; and support for FRDC’s marketing function are singularly the largest changes being implemented by a fisheries jurisdiction to improve the future outlook for both capture fisheries and aquaculture.
Final report
of this report’s publication, 12 WA fisheries representing 90 percent value and approximately 60 percent
of the total commercial catch in the state have been awarded MSC certification. The overall aim of this
project was to ensure the long-term extension of WA’s MSC program, which would be judged on the value
and growth of certified fisheries over time, and how well the MSC model is embraced through the supply
chain.
Utilisation of excess rock lobster settlement - (The Practicality of Cultivating Puerulus of the Western Rocklobster, Panulirus Cygnus)
Final report
Effective sanitation for the fishing industry: using bacteriological assessment to optimise sanitiser type for processing equipment and finfish product
An increase in the shelf life of low value fish, and therefore the consumers associated perceptions of freshness and quality, could result in increased consumption of these under utilised species, resulting in higher demand for the species and a higher return to the producer. This project would address aspects of the strategic challenges identified in the FRDC industry development plan. Specifically, making better use of under-utilised fish, and producing safe, high quality seafood.
As various producers in WA are exploring the use of MAP the knowledge of whether these organisms are present and the geographical spread of them is critical. Without this knowledge it is not possible to design an appropriate preservation, storage and packaging strategy that is specifically active against these spoilers.