Media release
It’s Friday. It’s been a long week. You’re tired. The thought of cooking makes you cringe. You pick up the take-away menu and think, ‘What am I going to order?’ All of sudden you see it on the menu – Australian pink ling. And you know that’s the answer!
Not only will pink ling taste great tonight as you sit down to the sadness (or relief!) of no Friday night football on television, but you can also feel good knowing that the fish has been caught from a well-managed fishery.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Executive Manager of Fisheries, Dr Nick Rayns said thanks to good management based on science, and a strong commitment from the fishing industry to rebuild the species, the stock was now healthy and in good supply.
“The Fishery status reports 2016 released last Friday by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) showed that following a number of years of uncertainty, pink ling has got the green light and is deemed to be neither subject to overfishing or overfished,” said Dr Rayns.
“Industry, led by the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA), recognises that the future of the commercial fishing industry depends on healthy, sustainable fisheries and it has been great to see the industry take a central role in rebuilding the pink ling stock.
“Importantly, pink ling’s healthy status is fantastic news for seafood lovers across Australia.
“Pink ling is a delicious tasting fish and a popular species for home and commercial cooking because of the large, boneless fillets and thick steaks, which keep their shape well in cooking.
“What’s more, pink ling is just one of many great eating species caught in Commonwealth managed fisheries.
“With the ABARES report also showing that for the third year a row, no fishery solely managed by the Commonwealth was subject to overfishing, there has never been a better time to enjoy Australian seafood.”
Pink ling is found in the seas off New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern Western Australia however they are mainly caught in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) in the south east of Australia.
AFMA uses the best available science to manage Commonwealth fisheries to ensure there is a healthy supply of Australian seafood for both current and future generations to enjoy. For more information on the management of pink ling and other Commonwealth species, visit afma.gov.au.