Queensland's True Local Seafood

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Consumers

Protect Your Access to Queensland’s Wild-Caught Seafood

Local fishers. Local food. Real sustainability.

Right now, the people who buy and eat seafood are being left out of decisions that determine access to Queensland wild-caught seafood. Leaving seafood consumers almost invisible in fisheries policy discussions.

Protect fair access to wild-caught seafood, by joining our Seafood Consumer Network. 

Join the consumer network
Learn why this matters

Because food security, fair management and coastal communities matter 
to every Queenslander.

Queensland’s wild-caught seafood isn’t just a product – it’s a public food source, harvested by skilled local fishers who operate under some of the most regulated and monitored fisheries in the world.

Right now, decisions being made around the Nation about our oceans and waterways are putting that access at risk.

Queensland Catch exists to make sure seafood consumers have a voice in those decisions.

🗣️ We’re Building the Consumer Voice

Right now, seafood consumers are almost invisible in fisheries policy discussions.

Queensland Catch is changing that by:

  • Collecting consumer views and priorities
  • Building a database of engaged seafood supporters
  • Sharing evidence-based information about fisheries and sustainability
  • Providing decision-makers with real community insight - not just lobby submissions

When governments see thousands of everyday Queenslanders speaking up for local seafood, it changes the conversation.

Why This Matters Now

More and more government decisions are being driven by well funded environmental lobby groups and recreational fishing groups, not by balanced evidence about food production, regional jobs and consumer access to healthy local protein.

Meanwhile:

✘ Commercial fishing areas continue to be closed or restricted.

✘ Wild-caught seafood supply is shrinking.

✘ Imported seafood is filling the gap on Australian plates

✘ Consumers are rarely asked what they want - or even informed of what’s happening.

If we don’t speak up, the future of local wild-caught seafood becomes a political decision, not a community one.

Behind Every Catch Is a Queensland Family

When access to fishing grounds is removed, it doesn’t just affect boats - it affects:

• Family-run fishing businesses

• Seafood processors and wholesalers

• Regional retailers

• Transport and logistics workers

• Coastal towns that rely on working ports.

These are not corporations.
They are families who have worked the sea, some for generations, and who operate under constant regulation, surveillance and reporting obligations. Supporting Queensland seafood means supporting Queensland livelihoods.

What Consumers Are Rarely Told

Commercial fisheries must:

• Operate under quota and harvest strategies

• Carry vessel monitoring systems

• Submit catch records.

• Meet food safety and traceability laws.

• Comply with closures, seasons and gear limits.

Yet the seafood you see in shops and restaurants is often discussed publicly as if it is unmonitored or unregulated - which is simply not true.

At the same time, recreational fishing catch is largely not systematically reported, meaning a major source of fish removal is often not fully accounted for in management decisions.

Good policy needs good data - from all sectors.

Seafood Is Food - Not Just a Hobby

Commercial fishing provides food for millions of people who do not fish - families,
elderly residents, remote communities, hospitality businesses and regional towns.

Food security should matter just as much as recreation.

A fair fisheries system must consider:

• Who feeds the wider community.

• Who is required to report catch and comply with strict controls.

• Who carries the cost of sustainability monitoring and compliance.

Right now, is that balance slipping?

What You Can Do

1. Choose Queensland Wild-Caught Seafood

Support local fishers and keep money in regional communities.

2. Ask Where Your Seafood Comes From

Ask “is it local?” – Imported seafood often replaces local supply when fisheries are restricted.

3. Add Your Voice

Join our seafood consumer network to stay informed and help shape fair, balanced fisheries policy.

Add Your Voice for Queensland Seafood

If you care about:

➤ Access to local food
➤ Fair and science-based fisheries management
➤ Regional jobs and coastal communities
➤ Transparency and accountability in decision-making

Then we’d love to keep you informed and involved!

Join the Queensland Catch Consumer Network

Your details are used only to send you seafood updates by email communication. You can unsubscribe at any time.

🤝 Working Together for a Fair Future

Queensland Catch works alongside fishers, seafood businesses, researchers and community groups to promote:

✔ Responsible fishing

✔ Honest sustainability conversations

✔ Balanced policy that considers food production as well as recreation and conservation

Protecting our fisheries doesn’t mean shutting down those who harvest food – it means managing all impacts responsibly and transparently.

Queensland Catch

Supporting local seafood. Supporting local families.
Supporting your right to choose.

Our Australian Seafood Pledge