SafeFish, provides technical advice to support Australia’s seafood trade and market access negotiations and helps to resolve barriers to trade. It does this by bringing together experts in food safety and hygiene to work with the industry and regulators to agree and prioritise technical issues impacting on free and fair market access for Australian seafood.

SafeFish has a record of success in reopening markets and in responding quickly when issues arise. By involving all relevant parties in discussions and, where necessary, commissioning additional research to fill any knowledge gaps, an agreed Australian position is reached that is technically sound and defensible. This robust process builds knowledge and relationships, and results in better outcomes for industry in maintaining fair market access and ensuring that the seafood they sell is safe.

SafeFish is governed by a Charter of Operations, that has been developed by the SafeFish partners to detail how the program operates (defining the terms of reference and processes required to be undertaken within the different bodies that make it up), details the reporting and chain of command arrangements, demonstrates how the program provides value to its stakeholder (including outlining its strategic objectives and plan), defines the stakeholder relationships that are developed and maintains and outlines the communication strategy that SafeFish operates within. To access the Charter of Operations, please click here.

A Strategy and Performance Plan has also been developed to monitor, evaluate and report on key activities and outcomes that SafeFish delivers to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our key stakeholders. To access the Strategy and Performance Plan, please click here.

2024-046 SafeFish 2025-2030 is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) on behalf of the Australian Government. Funding comes primarily from the FRDC public goods pool, which represents all seafood commodities, however it also receives direct contributions from the Australian Abalone Growers Association, Australian Barramundi Farmers Association, Abalone Council Australia Ltd., Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries, Australian Prawn Farmers Association, Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association, Oysters Australia, Salmon Tasmania, Southern Ocean Fisheries, Southern Rock Lobster Ltd, Southern Ocean Fisheries, Sydney Fish Markets, and Western Rock Lobster.

What we do

SafeFish provides technical advice to support the resolution of issues and challenges relating to the export, import and domestic trade of Australian seafood products. It undertakes the following key functions:

  1. Providing technical input to international multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations to open new markets or resolve trade disruptions.
  2. Providing technical input to Australian submissions on the development of seafood standards, guidelines and codes of practice at Codex Alimentarius.
  3. Providing research and technical support to food safety incidents to minimise trade disruptions, including supporting appropriate risk communication.
  4. Identifying emerging food safety issues and determining appropriate research and technical responses to protect Australia’s continued access to markets.
  5. Conducting research on seafood hazards to support risk management decisions.
  6. Facilitating and coordinating national and international expert networks (including networks between researchers, industry and regulators).
  7. Developing and supporting food safety research and diagnostic capabilities.
  8. Supporting productive partnerships between industry and regulators to enable utilisation of research findings and to facilitate considered responses to food safety issues.
  9. Capability development through workshops, post graduate students, online resources for stakeholders such as reports, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and articles.

Vision

SafeFish is a partnership of experts that assists to resolve technical trade impediments, especially in relation to food safety and market access in seafood.

The purpose of SafeFish is to:

  • Provide technical expertise to enable rapid response to sustain free and fair access to key markets.
  • Underpin the safety and integrity of seafood sold commercially.

Strategic Objectives

  1. To deliver robust food safety research and advice to industry and regulators that underpins Australia’s reputation as a producer of safe seafood.
  2. To maintain and enhance the capabilities in Australia to provide that research and advice in a cost effective, efficient and timely manner.
  3. To implement governance and engagement of SafeFish to facilitates cost effective, efficient, and timely operations and maximize impacts.