Seafood toolkit

South Australia ensures the ecological and sustainable development of its fisheries and aquaculture through robust policy and legislative frameworks.

Some of the world’s most sought-after seafood is found in the state's waters, including:

  • rock lobster
  • tuna
  • abalone
  • oysters
  • prawns.

Around 74,600 tonnes of seafood was produced in 2022–23, generating farmgate revenue of $448 million.

Image gallery

Download high and low resolution images from the image gallery. Please credit Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) when using the images.

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Infographic

This infographic provides a visual representation of key information on the seafood sector including:

  • major export products
  • major export markets
  • figures and statistics on production amounts and values
  • sector credentials and attributes.

Seafood infographic (PDF 1.2 MB)

Videos

Transcript

[Text] The Department of Primary Industries and Regions acknowledges and respects Aboriginal people as the State's first people and nations.

We recognise Aboriginal people as traditional owners and occupants of South Australian land and waters. We pay our respects to Aboriginal cultures and to Elders, past, present and emerging.

[Music]

[Narrator] South Australia's clean waters are home to some of the world's most sought after premium quality and sustainable seafood.

Port Lincoln is the seafood capital of Australia with one of the largest fishing fleets and the most diverse aquaculture hot spots in the southern hemisphere.

However, South Australia's seafood industry goes well beyond Port Lincoln. It extends from Ceduna in the west, right along the state's 3800 kilometre coastline into the southeast, and on to Kangaroo Island.

We're home to a diverse range of commercial fisheries and seafood processors, all producing large-scale commercial and high value niche products including rock lobster, southern bluefin tuna, oysters, mussels, prawns, and abalone.

South Australia has seven main oyster-growing regions extending from Ceduna, across to Eyre and York Peninsulas, and Kangaroo Island.

South Australia is recognised internationally for world-class fisheries and aquaculture management, supporting our reputation for producing premium quality sustainable seafood.

We also have a thriving land-based aquaculture industry with species farmed including fresh water and marine finfish, barramundi, trout, marrin, yabbies, algae, and marine molluscs. Management of the marine ecosystem through environmental monitoring, aquatic animal health programs, and strict zoning requirements, ensure South Australian seafood retains high sustainability standards. This includes internationally recognised independent accreditation of several of our key seafood industries.

Research and innovation are the cornerstones of the South Australian seafood industry and the state is home to SARDI, the South Australian Research and Development Institute, a world-class leader in seafood and sea species research.

South Australian seafood is exported throughout the world, with particularly strong demand coming from Asia, China, Hong Kong and Japan.

From our highly prized and valued southern bluefin tuna being a feature on menus at upmarket Japanese sushi bars, to our rock lobsters being showcased in five-star restaurants in Hong Kong, South Australia's premium quality seafood continues to be enjoyed around the world.

[Music]

[Logo]
Government of South Australia
Department of Primary Industries and Regions

Scorecard report

Find detailed information on the food and wine sectors, see Industry scorecards.

Page last reviewed: 01 Sep 2017

 


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