The NSW Government is encouraging consumers to enjoy local seafood this Easter to help support our commercial fishing and aquaculture industries, which have faced a tough start to the year.
From Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the north to severe storms across Sydney and regional NSW in January, natural disasters have significantly impacted our seafood industries statewide.
Both visitors and locals can play a vital role in supporting our seafood producers and retailers, by ensuring your holiday feast is full of local seafood.
Not only will purchasing your seafood from local suppliers help these businesses get back on their feet but it also ensures that the seafood on your plate is fresh, safe and sustainably harvested.
To ensure you can safely purchase premium seafood, that meet sustainability and food safety standards, Fisheries Officers from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are focussed on sale of black-market seafood heading into the Easter holiday period.
The sale of illegal seafood undermines legitimate operators who work hard to provide consumers with safe and premium quality seafood.
Fisheries Officers will be conducting regular inspections across NSW to detect, in both covert and overt operations to deter and disrupt the black-market trade in seafood products.
The public are urged to report illegal or suspected illegal fishing activities to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online report form here - https://fal.cn/3gJWh.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
"NSW produces some of the best seafood in the world, however it is important consumers only purchase their local seafood from reputable retailers and authorised producers.
"Buying seafood from established seafood retailers, authorised commercial fishers, fish and shellfish farmers always will ensure the produce has met the strict safety measures required by the NSW Food Authority making it safe to eat, is lawfully obtained and sustainably harvested."
