Sustainable seafood in Australia recognised at 2026 national awards

This article was contributed by Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

The winners of the Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia have been announced, recognising the organisations setting the standard for responsible seafood across Australia. 

Led by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), these awards celebrate the brands, producers and retailers driving measurable progress across Australia’s seafood sector, from responsible sourcing and production to transparency and consumer engagement.

Announced at this year’s awards event, the room brought together industry leaders, retailers, producers and innovators all working towards the same goal: a more responsible and transparent seafood system.

This year’s winners reflect progress in how seafood businesses are being evaluated. Sustainability is no longer a standalone initiative. It is embedded in procurement decisions, supply chain requirements and brand trust.

At the centre of this shift is certification.

The ASC green label and the MSC blue label provide independently verified assurance that seafood products meet recognised environmental and social standards. They give businesses a credible way to demonstrate responsible practices, and give consumers and buyers confidence in the claims being made.

These awards celebrate the organisations turning that credibility into action.

2026 Award Winners

Across both ASC and MSC categories, this year’s winners highlight what leadership looks like in practice, from responsible sourcing and aquaculture innovation to product transparency and retail accountability.

ASC Award Winners:

• Best Responsible Seafood Retailer: ALDI Australia
• Best Responsible Seafood Brand: I&J
• Best Responsible Producer: Humpty Doo Barramundi
• Best Responsible Seafood Product: Birds Eye – Steam Fresh Prawns, Garlic Butter & Oil
• Changemaker: Bidfood Australia
• Making Waves: Skretting Australia
• Young Person in Aquaculture: Ryan Stallard (Skretting Australia) and Laura Hodge (Tassal Group)
• Aquaculture Champion: Woolworths Group

MSC Award Winners:

• Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket: Coles Supermarkets
• Best Sustainable Seafood Product: Walker’s Tuna Preserved Australian Albacore Tuna (3kg Pouches)
• Sustainable Fishing Hero: Grant Walter (Tasmanian Seafoods)
• Community Champion: Woolworths Group and John West ‘Trace your Tuna’
• Lifetime Achievement: Paul Maguire (Taronga Zoo)
• Best Sustainable Seafood Brand: Little Tuna

Each of these winners demonstrates what it looks like to embed sustainability into core business strategy and deliver outcomes that hold up under scrutiny.

From major retailers like Coles, Woolworths and ALDI, to producers and innovators across the supply chain, the message is consistent: verified sustainability is becoming a baseline expectation, not a differentiator.

As regulatory requirements expand and expectations continue to rise, independently verified sustainability performance is becoming a defining factor in how businesses compete and grow.

These awards offer a clear signal of where the industry is heading, and the organisations already leading it.

Congratulations to the leaders setting the pace for sustainable seafood in Australia.