The sustainability behind Australian farmed barramundi

Our Australian barramundi farmers are deeply committed to the future of our beloved environment. So, we want to share with you on how our farmers protect the future of our planet and how you can help as well. Hold on tight, we have answered your questions about the sustainability behind barramundi farms.

1. How is farmed barramundi sustainable?
2. How does farmed barramundi compare to wild caught?
3. How to tell if your barramundi is sustainable?

#1 How is farmed barramundi sustainable?

Our Australian farmers must meet the strictest environmental standards and are committed stewards of the environment. Member farms are certified sustainable requiring annual reporting and audits of responsible feed sourcing, waste management, energy usage, water quality, and environmental impact. We understand that the community expects us to always behave responsibly and we share those values.

From the water quality, to the production and the feed, our Australian barramundi farms are highly controlled and monitored. This means, the environment is always considered and there are minimal impacts. Farms operating in sensitive areas including Great Barrier Reef catchments operate under strict regulations so that the water leaving our farms is as clean, or cleaner, than the intake water.

Our Australian barramundi farmers prove through voluntary annual testing that there are no chemical residues in our fish. No antibiotics, no hormones, no artificial growth promoters.

Australian barramundi farmers invest in innovations to continually improve performance including:

• Real time monitoring of water quality and mechanisation of pond management
• Recycling of our organic waste materials to create plant fertilizer
• Bioremediation of barramundi farm wastewater

Many farmers actively nurture wetlands, in many cases reserving over a third of their property, as part of water quality management and recycling, with these areas becoming havens for wildlife.

#2 How is farmed barramundi compared to wild caught?

According to leading aqua feed company, Ridley, farmed barramundi eat less when compared to wild barramundi. In fact, farmed barramundi eat less than 1.5kg of high quality feed to grow 1 kilogram in weight and wild barramundi eat (estimate) 15-25kg of fish.

Australia’s sustainable seafood guide, Goodfish marks farmed Australian barramundi to be a better choice compared to wild caught barramundi.

 

#3 How to tell if your barramundi is sustainable?

It can be confusing for consumers to assess all the sustainability claims and labels on your supermarket shelves. With Australian seafood production regulated to perhaps the world’s most stringent environmental and food safety standards, always ask for Australian and you can enjoy our delicious and healthy seafood bounty with a clear conscience.

But if you want to do more to support those farmers who are going the extra sustainability mile, look for the golden tick of approval on the packaging! Barramundi displaying the gold tick means it is sustainably farmed to meet our high Aussie standards and approved by the Australian Sustainably Farmed Barramundi Certification Program. Don’t forget! You can also check if your barra is local, by asking for Aussie barra at the store!

By choosing sustainable Australian sustainably farmed barramundi, you’re making a positive impact to environment and to Australian communities. 

To find out more about our Australian barramundi farms that you can trust for premium quality sustainable barramundi, click here.