Sustainable Fishing
A purse seine is a large net drawn around a school of fish and then closed at the bottom using a line passing through rings attached to the bottom edge of the net
Schooling fish are usually of the same species, same age and size. these schools become huge moving along coastlines or migrating across open oceans, with some schools having as many as 10 million individuals
Sardines are the top most sustainable fish species in the world, and the stable Australian marine environment conditions are even more favourable for fishing with Australian Sardines covering an area of 6700 km the largest geographical of all sardine populations world wide, They are fast growing with females reaching maturity earlier than males at only 2 and a half years old. The population of a school of sardines will generally have 58% Female and 42% Male with little to no bycatch. Sardines will spawn several times over a season with a large female producing up to 200,000 eggs in a season.
Dispite the Australian Stable Environment There has been two mass fatalities of Sardines in 1995 and 1998 a virus killing almost the entire population, The stocks have recovered , and have exceeded the pre-virus catches, they are resiliant and have a strong capacity for re-growth.
SARDINES ARE THE SUPERFOOD OF THE WORLD THEY ARE HEALTHY SUSTAINABLE AND INEXSPENSIVE.
Company Policy
Background
This code of practice applies to all skippers employed by Mitchelson Fisheries Pty Ltd.
It covers issues such as, Vessel operation and avoidance of environmental damage.
Purse Seine Fishers conduct operations in accordance with a variety of legislation put into place by the commonwealth and under OCS arrangements with State jurisdictions. Fishing operations must be undertaken in accordance with the management strategies prepared for the various purse seine fishery so as to meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection and biodiversity conservation Act 1999.
This Code of Conduct largely reflects standard industry practice and/or the requirements of relevant legislate instruments.
This Policy is subject to review to make updates, changes adjustments as required.
1. General
Skippers will not undertake any activity that brings the Mitchelson Fisheries Pty Ltd into disrepute or contravenes State or Commonwealth law.
2. Recreational obligations
to minimise conflict and provide more fishing time for all users Skippers should where practical, -
Avoid fishing in areas where recreational fishing tournaments are in progress
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Avoid The area 1 Km west of Lakes Entrance to 1 Km East of Lake Tyers and 1 Km offshore on weekends and all Victorian public holidays.
3. Environmental impacts
When Manufacturing nets for use in the fishery, fishers will utilize net building techniques which minimize the possibility of harm to captured marine mammals
Fishers will return any captured individual of an endangered of threatened species to the water in a manner that minimizes distress.
If a cetacean is captured the fishing operation shall make every endeavour the release the animal without distress. Should a cetacean exhibit distress the fishing operation will be terminated and the net opened to allow release of the animal from the net.
If a protected species or a species listed under the EPBC Act (1999) is captured, the fishing operation shall make every reasonable endeavour to release the animal alive- having priority of consideration for the safety of the vessel crew members engaged in the release of the animal.
The skipper of the vessel concerned will report any interaction with endangered species, Threatened Species, or species listed under the EPBC Act (1999) to the Mitchelson Fisheries Pty Ltd Fishing manager.
Skippers will dispose of waste material from their vessels in the proper manner required by marine pollution control legislation – Waste materials will be disposed of on land.
4. Handling of Bycatch
Skippers will use best available knowledge and appropriate technology when Fishing to reduce their impact on bycatch.
Skippers will use best-practice techniques for the handling of incidentally captured organisms
5. Handling of catch
Mitchelson Fisheries Pty Ltd will undertake appropriate seafood safety training and ensure appropriate measures are implemented on their vessels.
Mitchelson Fisheries will minimize deterioration and loss of product quality by
use of appropriate processing techniques such as rapid chilling, minimizing any physical damage and preventing contamination.
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