Recently I posted a video that was sent to Al and I that explored Basa fish farming in Vietnam. Pretty horrible stuff and one of the reasons I push catching your own, or if not possible buying Australian produce. We had the below email in response... Please read on

Message: 

Hi Alistair Your comment that Basa is imported without regulation is entirely incorrect. All incoming seafood is tested on arrival by AQIS and the testing regimes and results are posted on the AQIS website. Imported seafood is the most tested food to come to Australia, and the most compliant with our import/expert food safety standards (which are much higher than our domestci standards). So clearly something is wrong with the commentary in that video (which was produced by US catfish growers seeking to protect their own industry). The vision accurately shows fish farming and modern factories, but the water is not polluted to the extent described, due to its high turnover. You as a fisherman should know that polluted water cannot support increasing growth in fish populations, yet the Mekong will produce 2.5 million tonnes of fish this year. There are about a dozen NGOs certifying sustainable farming practice in Vietnam (and yes the government is telling farmers to comply). I have been there three times this year and personally inspected daily testing data from the ponds. There are no carcengenic residues in Basa flesh - do you think the USFDA, EU, and AQIS are totally incompetent? If the thought that our future fish supply will come from the Mekong upsets you - get used to it. Capture fisheries from the remaining water outside marine parks will feed about 15% of us (at $40 kg). Local aquaculture will feed even less of us. Lets hope the people making fish farming safe and sustainable in Asia continue to get it right - for all our sakes. They deserve our help - not the misinformation being spread by rich US catfish farmers trying to kill competition. 

Name: Norm Grant 

I think it is great that we open up these topics for discussion and quell the media hype (and greenies/companies hype) over fisheries around the world....

I still can’t help but think that if they spent as much time and passion selling sustainable aussie fish to the aussie market and protecting it from overseas illegal fishermen as they do in championing overseas fisheries then we would care.......and oh what a healthier system all round we would have...and Norm no I don't think they are incompetent they are just playing a political and big business agenda, I think they have taken their eyes off the ball...Let’s  take out the politics and big business and rather think about the big picture and this beautiful earth we inhabit.

Cheers

Rach McGlashan

My first foray into the book world has finally arrived with the publication of “Dinner with The Fishwife” to be released May 1st, 2010.

Eating fish 4-5 nights a week means I have had to become fearless in my search  for new ways to present fish to family and friends. My book and my cooking is about not being scared to cook with fish, but about making it a staple in your cooking. Fish is adaptable and lends itself to be used in many successful and delicious ways.

My Blog on the other hand is a window into my life - a little cooking, a little Al, a little family and a little fishing!!!

Please join me on my journey, and you too can discover the wondrous world of fish, fishing and fisherman!!!!