SCS Awards Marine Stewardship Council Certification to Austral…

EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

The Macquarie Island Patagonian Toothfish fishery, operated by Austral
Fisheries and Australian Longline, has earned the Marine Stewardship Council
(MSC) certification (http://www.scscertified.com/fff/fisheries-msc.php ) for
sustainable fisheries based on an assessment conducted by Scientific
Certification Systems (SCS). The fishery is located in Australian territorial
waters around Macquarie Island, located in the Southern Ocean, approximately
halfway between Australia and Antarctica.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120406/MM83171LOGO-c )

This is the third MSC certified fishery for Austral Fisheries and
Australian Longline, having already earned certification for their Toothfish
fishery and Mackerel Icefish fishery around Australian Heard Island and
McDonald Island. SCS has carried out the MSC assessment for all three fisheries.

"We applaud Austral Fisheries and Australia Longline for their continued
commitment to sustainable fishing practices," said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes, Senior
Vice President of SCS. "Each new fishery certified under the MSC standard sets
an important example."

The fishery entered the assessment process in May 2011. The assessment
team examined the sustainability of the fish stock, the environmental impact of
the fishing activities and the management and governance systems in place at
the fishery. Austral Fisheries and Australian Longline have continued improving
their environmental practices since the assessment, resulting in further
reductions in seabird bycatch from longlines, protection from illegal fishing,
and detailed mapping of key sea floor habitats and support of protected areas.

"The certification of the Macquarie Island fishery demonstrates the
importance of the cooperative efforts from industry, conservation groups,
national governments in combating illegal fishing for Patagonian Toothfish in
Australian waters," said Dr. Sabine Daume, Sustainable Seafood Certification
(http://www.scscertified.com/fff/fisheries.php ) Manager at SCS.

Patagonian Toothfish, also known as Chilean Sea Bass, from the Macquarie
Island fishery may now bear the MSC ecolabel, signifying their origin from a
sustainable source.

Scientific Certification Systems (http://www.scscertified.com ) (SCS) has
been a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability
certification, auditing, testing and standards development for more than 25
years. SCS programs span a wide cross-section of sectors, recognizing exemplary
performance in natural resource management, green building, product
manufacturing, food and agriculture, retailing and more. SCS is a Certified B
Corporation(TM), reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally
responsible business practices. http://www.scscertified.com

CONTACT: Nick Kordesch
+1-510-452-8035
nkordesch@scscertified.com

SOURCE: Scientific Certification Systems