Sustainability
Certified ‘sustainable’ by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Skull Island tiger prawns come from the world’s first certified sustainable tropical prawn fishery. They are caught during the months of August to November each year, and only caught during the night to ensure minimal impact on bycatch. The remainder of the year is closed to fishing to ensure juvenile tiger prawns have ample time to grow into adults and reproduce.
Skull Island Tiger Prawns are now also completely carbon neutral, with Austral Fisheries being certified under the Australian Government Carbon Neutral Program.
The fishery has reduced fishing efforts from 312 boats in the early 1980’s to the current efficient fleet of 52 boats. Bycatch has substantially reduced as a result, and continued efforts to redesign nets and change operational aspects to further reduce impacts continues. Turtle bycatch is insignificant following new technology and designs for turtle excluder devices in the prawn nets which allow the escape of turtles and other large fauna unharmed and into the environment again.
Prawn stocks are maintained at healthy, sustainable levels with annual scientific sampling and surveys, as well as multi-year scientific review of the status of the fishery.