The Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia

The Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia recognise organisations and individuals making a significant contribution to ensure we have fish forever. The annual awards are run by the Marine Stewardship Council in partnership with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

Awards categories and criteria

The awards are closed for submissions and the winners will be announced on Thursday, 6 March 2025.

Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket
Best Sustainable Seafood Product

Best Sustainable Seafood Brand (Public Vote)

Sustainable Fishing Hero
MSC Community Champion
MSC Lifetime Achievement

View the ASC award categories >

Meet the judges

The awards are assessed by an independent panel of judges.

Dr Chris Calogeras, Director, C-AID Consultants

For over 35 years, Chris has brought people together to foster seafood success. He has engaged with the broader Industry from many vantage points and in 2022 was inducted into the National Seafood Hall of Fame. He holds a Doctorate in Business and a Masters in Marine Resource Management.

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Clayton Nelson, Maritime and Fisheries adviser- Jamaclan Marine

Clayton has 40 years of experience in Australia’s fishing industry, including vessel ownership, operations, and executive roles. He founded Jamaclan Marine Services and a boutique scallop fishing company, earning industry awards. A respected leader, Clayton has chaired the WA Fishing Industry Council and Seafood Industry Australia, building a trusted network through roles in catching, marketing, and business development.

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Clayton Nelson, Maritime and Fisheries adviser- Jamaclan Marine

Ian Rumsby, Chief Client Officer, Southeast Asia

Ian Rumsby is chief client officer at APCO, specialising in corporate communications and sustainability strategy design. A former managing partner at a specialist sustainability advisory firm, and APAC Chief Strategy Officer at one of the world’s largest communications agencies, he has advised leading organisations across the APAC region. An award-winning executive coach, Ian has previously had culture transformation and social impact leadership roles and served on Cure Cancer Australia’s board. A Royal Navy veteran, he trained as a navigator and pilot.

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Jo-anne McCrea, Sustainable Seafood Specialist

Jo-anne is a fisheries scientist with 25 years experience dedicated to environmental management in the seafood industry. Jo has had significant roles in government, conservation organisations, research institutions and sustainability auditing firms, and currently sits on numerous state and federal advisory committees.

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Jo-anne McCrea, Sustainable Seafood Specialist

Katherine Short – Principal and Director F.L.O.W. Collaborative Ltd (Fisheries.Livelihoods.Ocean.Well-being)

Katherine has a global background in marine policy, conservation, fisheries management, and sustainable seafood. Katherine has extensive experience in multi-stakeholder engagement throughout marine management, policy, science, research, multi-lateral agencies, and business. She spent nearly 17 years working with WWF, the conservation organisation globally including leading network policy development on ecosystem-based management of fisheries in 2001.

She completed a Conservation Science Masters in Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services at Imperial College London before co-founding her former consultancy Terra Moana Ltd. They were sustainability advisers to Moana New Zealand and, amongst other clients, completed 4 projects in the Sustainable Seas Science Challenge, including being lead facilitating author on the New Zealand Blue Economy Principles. She is now Principal and Director of F.L.O.W. Collaborative with a focus on creating innovative ways to regenerate coastal marine ecosystems to enable a regenerative blue economy.

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Dr Lucy Buxton, Co-Founder of Ocean Decade Australia

Dr. Lucy Buxton is a senior leader with over 25 years of experience spanning marine research, public engagement, and ocean governance. As Co-Founder of Ocean Decade Australia, she fosters collaboration between science, industry, and policymakers to drive impactful, evidence-based decision-making. A former marine researcher in Australia and overseas, her work on ocean and human health has influenced resource management and public health outcomes. A passionate communicator, she is dedicated to bridging the gap between science, policy, and industry to advance sustainable ocean stewardship.

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Dr Lucy Buxton, Co-Founder of Ocean Decade Australia

Melanie Robertson, CEO of FSC Australia & New Zealand

Melanie Robertson, CEO of FSC ANZ, is a visionary leader with expertise in health and renewable energy. She champions sustainable forest management and has held senior roles driving major infrastructure projects and regional growth. With degrees in science, environmental health, and management, she fosters cross-sector collaboration to promote FSC certification and responsible sourcing practices.

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Sissel Rosengren, Managing Director at Food Industry Foresight

With more than 30 years of experience, Sissel leads the Food Industry Foresight’s extensive work in supply and demand modelling, brand valuation, competitor analysis, growth prospects, and strategic planning for global and national food and beverage providers.

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Sissel Rosengren, Managing Director at Food Industry Foresight

Simon Rowe, Operations Manager at OceanWatch Australia Ltd

Simon is a passionate advocate for sustainability with a rich background in plant science, Landcare and marine habitat repair. He has worked across rural Australia and overseas, now leading initiatives for OceanWatch Australia, the Nation’s Marine Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisation. As a judge for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Simon seeks seafood meet current community sustainability expectations, empowering providers to offer environmentally friendly choices that support thriving responsible fishing communities while protecting ocean ecosystems.

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Highlights from the 2024 awards event

Bill Wall and Tillie Priestley from Coles

Delegates browsing Liandra's sustainable fashion range

Uncle Derek Walker, Tim Rudge and Dr Jo McMillan

Past award winners

2024

Coles was named the MSC's Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket, and the ASC awarded ALDI the Best Responsible Seafood Retailer title. MSC’s Best Sustainable Seafood Product - Shelf went to John West Salmon Bowls. I&J was named ASC’s Best Responsible Seafood Brand, and Birds’ Eye Frozen Steam Fresh Fillets took the ASC’s Best Responsible Seafood Product award home.

Read the full list of the 2024 award winners

2023

ALDI, Simplot, Austral Fisheries, Goolwa PipiCo, and Mars Petcare are amongst the winners named in the seventh Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia, run by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

Read the full list of the 2023 award winners

2022

Coles, ALDI, Tassal, Simplot, Tuna Australia and Mars Petcare are amongst the 18 winners named across 13 categories in the sixth Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia, run by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

Read the full list of the 2022 award winners

2021

Austral Fisheries Glacier 51 Toothfish has taken out the title of Best Sustainable Seafood Product for the second year running, this time shared with the newly Marine Stewardship Council certified Fremantle Octopus range. Meanwhile, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified Australian Clean Seas kingfish scooped the accolade for Best Responsible Seafood Product.

Read the full list of the 2021 award winners

2020

Coles, ALDI, Woolworths, Taronga Zoo and Austral Fisheries were amongst those named in the Marine Stewardship Council’s 2020 Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia.

Read the full list of the 2020 award winners