The Turning the Dial event in Western Australia in late February 2023, provided a break-through in the AFCCC's plan to develop cold chain product management processes and temperature guides for the Australian seafood industry.
The big picture is to establish the AFCCC website as the main resource centre for all cold chain participants – producers, wholesalers, transporters, retailers and consumers.
Already completed is 'Guiding principles of fresh product transport in the Australian cold chain – product specifications' covering fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Because of the variations in seafood operations state-to-state and territory, it is difficult, if not impossible to develop a universal code or practice to suit all regions. AFCCC will therefore use its new-found connection in Western Australia to begin the process of developing a code for this industry.
At the meeting in Western Australia in February 2023 to discuss the challenges for the seafood industry in the modern cold chain were: (from left) with Adam Wade – AFCCC director, Carmel Lyttleton – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Marshall Thompson – WA Fishing Industry Council, Mark Mitchell – AFCCC chairman, Terry Burnage – DPIRD, Brett Henderson and Caitriona Callaghan – AusIndustry’s Entrepreneur’s program.
Australia's commercial fishing and aquaculture industry is worth around $3.1 billion per year and employs about 17,000 people. Each year, commonwealth fisheries generate over $390 million in value alone and produce about 52,000 tonnes of catch. (The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences)
Western Australian fisheries contribute a significant proportion of edible seafood to the eastern states. The pristine waters along the Western Australia's coastline yield a wide variety of the highest quality seafood in the world. The Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) is the peak body representing professional fishing, pearling and aquaculture enterprises as well as processors and exports in Western Australia.
AFCCC will be collaborating with WAFIC to develop a Cold Food Code covering all seafood.
