Aussie shoppers switch to alternatives for this seafood staple
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As conscious consumerism continues to rise in Australia, many shoppers are looking for products that use sustainable and ethical practices.
This shift in consumer behaviour has led to a significant move by a major food delivery service in the country.
Food delivery app Box Divvy has decided to replace a divisive Australian product with an alternative straight out of New Zealand.
Box Divvy, which has been delivering fresh produce to nearly 13,000 households, made the bold decision to stop selling Tasmanian farmed salmon.
This decision came after a series of troubling events for the local fishing industry.
Recently, a bacterial outbreak affected local salmon farming and production, which resulted in the death of over 1 million fish.
Disturbing images of deceased, decaying salmon washing up ashore only added to the public's concern.
The ethical implications of local fishing practices also came under scrutiny.
The RSPCA recently withdrew its accreditation from Huon, one of Tasmania's major salmon companies.
The organisation cited ethical concerns over the handling of live, sick, and injured fish and labelled it as 'inhumane'.
Box Divvy has been offering alternatives to major supermarkets while supporting local farmers.
Box Divvy co-founder Anton van den Berg shared that the company harboured discomfort regarding the salmon industry for years.
After visiting salmon farms in New Zealand, the company was impressed by their sustainable methods and transparency.
The Tasmanian salmon industry has long been under fire from conservationists.
From its impact on local waterways and the potential threat to the state's reputation for clean food, advocacy groups have raised their concerns about salmon farming in the country.
Notably, the industry's effect on water quality in Macquarie Harbour has been linked to the near extinction of the native Maugean skate.
Despite these concerns, major Australian supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths continue to market Tasmanian farmed salmon as 'sustainable' produce.
Wild salmon is not widely available in Australia due to all commercial species being native to the Northern Hemisphere.
Professor Giovanni Turchini, an aquaculture expert from the University of Melbourne, pointed out that management practices could largely determine the environmental impact of salmon farming.
He added that both Australian and New Zealand salmon are being farmed in similar ways.
However, Box Divvy's supplier was impressed with the sustainability focus of the New Zealand farms they visited.
These farms were also recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program.
The switch to New Zealand salmon came with risks, as Australian salmon became Box Divvy's top seafood seller.
Yet, after the switch, sales immediately increased by 15 to 20 per cent despite its higher price point.
Another factor as to why Box Divvy switched to New Zealand salmon was that large foreign companies now own the majority of fish farms in Tasmania.
Van den Berg reflected that, in hindsight, the change should have come sooner.
He emphasised that consumer choices could ultimately shape the industry's future and suggested that if companies continue to prioritise profit over sustainability, it may jeopardise their long-term viability.
While the industry peak body Salmon Tas declined to comment on Box Divvy's decision, Huon addressed the disease outbreak and loss of RSPCA accreditation.
Huon stated that the incident was not reflective of Huon's usual high standards.
Have you tried both Tasmanian and New Zealand salmon? Have you made any changes to your shopping habits to support sustainability and ethical practices? Share your experiences and thoughts about these changes in the comments below!
This shift in consumer behaviour has led to a significant move by a major food delivery service in the country.
Food delivery app Box Divvy has decided to replace a divisive Australian product with an alternative straight out of New Zealand.
Box Divvy, which has been delivering fresh produce to nearly 13,000 households, made the bold decision to stop selling Tasmanian farmed salmon.
This decision came after a series of troubling events for the local fishing industry.
Recently, a bacterial outbreak affected local salmon farming and production, which resulted in the death of over 1 million fish.
Disturbing images of deceased, decaying salmon washing up ashore only added to the public's concern.
The ethical implications of local fishing practices also came under scrutiny.
The RSPCA recently withdrew its accreditation from Huon, one of Tasmania's major salmon companies.
The organisation cited ethical concerns over the handling of live, sick, and injured fish and labelled it as 'inhumane'.
Box Divvy has been offering alternatives to major supermarkets while supporting local farmers.
Box Divvy co-founder Anton van den Berg shared that the company harboured discomfort regarding the salmon industry for years.
After visiting salmon farms in New Zealand, the company was impressed by their sustainable methods and transparency.
The Tasmanian salmon industry has long been under fire from conservationists.
From its impact on local waterways and the potential threat to the state's reputation for clean food, advocacy groups have raised their concerns about salmon farming in the country.
Notably, the industry's effect on water quality in Macquarie Harbour has been linked to the near extinction of the native Maugean skate.
Despite these concerns, major Australian supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths continue to market Tasmanian farmed salmon as 'sustainable' produce.
Wild salmon is not widely available in Australia due to all commercial species being native to the Northern Hemisphere.
Professor Giovanni Turchini, an aquaculture expert from the University of Melbourne, pointed out that management practices could largely determine the environmental impact of salmon farming.
He added that both Australian and New Zealand salmon are being farmed in similar ways.
However, Box Divvy's supplier was impressed with the sustainability focus of the New Zealand farms they visited.
These farms were also recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program.
The switch to New Zealand salmon came with risks, as Australian salmon became Box Divvy's top seafood seller.
Yet, after the switch, sales immediately increased by 15 to 20 per cent despite its higher price point.
Another factor as to why Box Divvy switched to New Zealand salmon was that large foreign companies now own the majority of fish farms in Tasmania.
Van den Berg reflected that, in hindsight, the change should have come sooner.
He emphasised that consumer choices could ultimately shape the industry's future and suggested that if companies continue to prioritise profit over sustainability, it may jeopardise their long-term viability.
While the industry peak body Salmon Tas declined to comment on Box Divvy's decision, Huon addressed the disease outbreak and loss of RSPCA accreditation.
Huon stated that the incident was not reflective of Huon's usual high standards.
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