Austral exec to lead world sustainable fishing project

Perth has notched another success amid international efforts to improve the health of the world's oceans, with Martin Exel chosen to lead a global movement supporting sustainable fisheries.

Mr Exel is the general manager of environment and policy at Austral Fisheries, where he has worked more than two decades.

He’ll now be spending about six months a year in Europe as managing director of Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship, a movement by 10 of the world’s largest fisheries businesses to encourage sustainability in the industry.

It comes about a year after Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation committed $100 million to ocean conservation, which will include a focus on overfishing and pollution.

Part of the money will be used to create a Global Fishing Index to keep an eye on overfishing.

In June this year, The University of Western Australia placed fifth in the Academic Ranking of World Universities’ marine/ocean engineering subject rankings.

Mr Exel started in his new role at the beginning of July. 

The 10 businesses that make up Seabos, including CPF and Cargill, together catch about 12 per cent of the world’s fishery production.

They are known as the Keystone Actors.

Seabos is funded by the Walton Family Foundation, David & Lucile Packard Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

“My mandate at SeaBOS is to work with the Keystone Actors in their desire to transform the global seafood industry, Mr Exel said. 

“It’s the sort of challenge I thrive on, and I will be working hard in collaboration with those businesses to help secure the long-term future of the seafood industry and the health of our oceans. 

“SeaBOS is a unique partnership of industry leaders, with goals which include reducing illegal fishing and eliminating modern slavery practices in the seafood industry; implementing traceability and transparency in supply chains; ensuring sustainable aquaculture and feed production; working to reduce plastics and antibiotics in the marine environment, as well as working with governments to help introduce legislation and regulations.”  

He said Austral had been a leader in Australia’s seafood industry in moving towards sustainable fishing.

Austral Fisheries chief executive David Carter will speak at the Business News Success & Leadership breakfast on July 16.