Responding to Ocean — What the Film Didn’t Show About Australia
Sir David Attenborough is one of the world’s most respected communicators and advocates for the natural world. His extraordinary legacy will inspire generations to better understand and protect the ocean — a mission we deeply share.
His latest documentary, Ocean, serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to care for our marine environments. It is true that in some parts of the world, bottom trawling practices are in urgent need of reform. The film highlights damages caused when trawling is poorly managed and depicts the lasting damage to sensitive habitats.
However, Australia is different — and proudly so.
“While we are relatively a small player on the global fishing stage, we are recognised as a leader in sustainable marine management,” said Veronica Papacosta, CEO Seafood Industry Australia. “Thanks to decades of rigorous science, strong regulation, and continual innovation, Australia has some of the healthiest ocean floors in the world.”
An international team of marine experts, led by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), found that Australia trawls less than 10% of its designated trawl zones — equating to less than 1.1% of our 8.2 million km² marine estate. In contrast to the alarming scenes depicted in Ocean documentary, Australian trawl fisheries are highly regulated and required to avoid sensitive habitats like reefs and seagrasses. For instance, prawn trawling is conducted only on sandy or muddy seabeds, which are far more resilient.
“Australia has mature fisheries regulations that deliver sustainable fisheries and mitigate the negative environmental consequences that can easily occur from unregulated fishing”, said Wez Norris, CEO of Australian Fisheries Management Authority. “With 30 fisheries independently certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and a high degree of oversight by fisheries and environmental agencies, Australia has a strong track record.”
While we are proud of Australia’s performance, we acknowledge we haven’t always got it right. Government assessments have identified areas that are still recovering from past impacts. However, the transformation in Australian fishing practices over the past 30 years has been substantial. Modern gear used by the Australian seafood industry includes bycatch reduction devices that allow turtles and small fish to escape, and continued research into animal behaviour continues to refine these approaches. Turtle exclusion devices, for instance, have been mandatory in Australian prawn fisheries since the early 2000s.
The Australian seafood industry is committed to continuous improvements and sustainable practices. This includes ongoing investment in improved codes of practice to reduce impacts on threatened and endangered species, as well as continued research in animal behaviour to help avoid interactions with marine life, such as whale entanglements. Our fishers work closely with researchers to collect data and monitor species across Australian waters. The industry also supports regenerative programs aimed at restoring sensitive fish breeding habitats.
When trawling is carefully managed — as it is in Australia — (CSIRO) concludes that its impact on seabed ecosystems is minimal.
At Seafood Industry Australia, we are proud of our nation’s sustainable fishing practices. Like Sir David, we are passionate about the ocean’s power to sustain life and nourish communities — and we are committed to ensuring it thrives for generations to come. And as part of this commitment, we stand by Our Pledge: to care for our oceans, support our people, respect marine life, and continually improve our practices, so that the Australian seafood remains something we can all be proud of.
Media contact
Sarah Bakic
Seafood Industry Australia
Communications Manager
