“Heading Strait for sustainability” – Bass Strait Scallop season opens today with Marine Stewardship Council certification

On the opening morning of the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop fishery (BSCZSF)[i] 2022 scallop season, the fishery has achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification for their sustainable fisheries practices and management.

A team of independent auditors led a 12 month long assessment of the fishery against the MSC Fisheries Standard, a globally recognised benchmark for sustainable fishing. The certification verifies that the fishery is harvesting from scallop populations that are healthy and productive; a balancing act between how many scallops are caught and how many are left to breed for another season. The certification also shows that the fishery is working to minimise its impact on the marine environment, and that it has strong management systems in place. Bass Strait scallops are now eligible to carry the MSC blue fish tick label, which easily identifies that seafood has been caught or harvested sustainably.

The fishery has proven their commitment to sustainable and traceable Bass Strait scallops, which is strengthened through the MSC process. The MSC system is fully transparent, with any interested stakeholder able to engage in the process and all relevant scoring documents available online.

Bass Strait scallops are caught out of the Commonwealth managed fishery, the largest scallop fishery by area in the Bass Strait.

“By having the MSC blue fish tick, the Bass Strait Scallop Industry Association demonstrates that their harvesting of the resource supports good fisheries management practices, which helps to ensure fish-stocks and habitats are healthy, and fishing community livelihoods are secure well into the future,” said Renee Pearce, Executive Officer of the Bass Strait Scallop Industry Association.

The ever popular Bass Strait scallop, with the majority of catch landed in Lakes Entrance, Victoria have a distinctive vibrant orange roe and is a classic on Australian menus.

“Scallops are a staple on dinner plates, especially in the southern states, some arguing it’s not a real scallop unless it has the orange roe!” said Ms. Pearce, “and you can’t go past a seaside bakery without stopping in for a scallop pie, it’s a tradition we are lucky to have. They are tasty and sustainable.”

The Bass Strait (Central Zone) Scallop season starts on 12 July 2022 and will extend until 31 December – in time for Christmas. With a 4,000 tonne catch allocated, a healthy amount of scallops will be available in fishmongers around the states and territories. The fishery supports local jobs and food security.

Matt Watson, MSC Senior Fisheries Manager, Asia-Pacific, said: “Congratulations to the Bass Strait Scallop Industry Association for achieving certification to the MSC Standard. The Bass Strait scallop fishery is a really significant addition to the MSC program, as it is such an important source of fresh Aussie scallops for chefs, restaurants, fishmongers and seafood lovers. It’s great to see their strong commitment to sustainable fishing.”

[i] The Commonwealth Government managed scallop fishery operates in the Bass Strait above Tasmania and extends from the Victoria/New South Wales border, around southern Australia to the Victoria/South Australia border. The fishery lies between the Victorian and Tasmanian scallop fisheries.

Bass Strait Scallop Industry Association

Represents the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery
The purpose of the association is “to represent and to progress the interests of the Bass Strait Scallop Industry”
The BSCZSF is managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)

Marine Stewardship Council

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation which sets globally recognised, science-based standards for sustainable fishing and the seafood supply chain.
The MSC ecolabel and certification program recognises and rewards sustainable fishing practices and is helping to create a more sustainable seafood market. 
More than 530 fisheries worldwide are currently certified to the Standard, representing 16% of wild marine catch, making it the largest sustainable fishing program in the world.
23 Australian fisheries are now certified to the MSC Standard for 32 fish species, accounting for 47% of Australia’s wild marine catch.  
The influence of the MSC Fisheries Standard extends far beyond certification, with its requirements used globally as a framework for those seeking to improve ocean sustainability.  It is the only wild-capture fisheries certification and ecolabelling program that meets best practice requirements set by both the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) and ISEAL, the global membership association for sustainability standards.