Australians love seafood. Whether it’s fish and chips by the seaside or prawns on the barbie at Christmas, it’s integral to many of our traditions and social gatherings. Given that Australia is surrounded by ocean, this is hardly surprising. Yet very little of the seafood consumed in Australia is actually caught or farmed domestically. Approximately 70% of the seafood Australians eat is imported. In this presentation Carissa Klein will reveal where Australia's seafood comes from and explore the social and environmental sustainability implications of consuming seafood sourced from different regions around the world. You will discover whether the seafood you know and love may have come from threatened species, been caught illegally, or been linked to modern slavery.
Australia has made international commitments to consume sustainable seafood, in fisheries policy and through subscribing to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Biodiversity Framework. Meeting these commitments will require being more careful about what we import from other countries, how we manage our own fisheries, and the seafood choices you make. Carissa Klein will discuss what the Australian government can do to improve the sustainability of the seafood consumed in Australia. The presentation will also give some practical advice on how to keep your seafood diet as sustainable as possible.
Associate Professor Carissa Klein, ARC Future Fellow at The University of Queensland and Director of The Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science.
Carissa Klein is a conservation scientist and group leader of the Ocean Conservation Team, a group of students and post-doctoral researchers focused on developing science to support marine and coastal conservation. Her research is motivated by real-world conservation management and policy problems in three areas: land-sea conservation planning, marine spatial planning (ocean zoning), and sustainable seafood. In partnership with numerous non-government organisations government departments around the world, she integrates social, economic, and ecological information to develop solutions that improve outcomes for nature and people.
This lecture was made possible through the generous support of:
Wen Giving Foundation, supported by Hawaiian Property Group, The Jock Clough Marine Foundation, the Forrest Research Foundation, and the UWA Oceans Institute.
Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Time: 6.00pm arrival for 6.30pm start
Venue:
Theatre Auditorium, Ground Floor The University Club of Western Australia
Queries: Contact donor-relations@uwa.edu.au