Barramundi farmers want exclusive naming rights for Australian fish

Like Champagne in France, farmers are pushing for Australia to have naming rights for the word “barramundi” to address shockingly high importations of the fish.

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Barramundi could hold the same status as Champagne if a new campaign for exclusive naming rights goes to plan.

While barramundi is native to Australia, 60 per cent is imported from Asian countries.

Firedoor head chef Lennox Hastie in his Surry Hills restaurant with a barramundi. Picture: Brett Costello

To combat this, the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association is lobbying for exclusive naming rights, meaning that a fish cannot be called barramundi unless it is produced in Australian waters.

“A majority of consumers understandably think all barramundi is Australian with its Aboriginal origin name and longstanding position as our ‘national fish’,” ABFA chief executive Jo-Anne Ruscoe said.

“The reality is very different, with 60 per cent of barramundi eaten in this country being imported from Asia.

“Just like Champagne is reserved, having barramundi reserved for Australian-produced fish will clear up confusion and support our industry to prosper.”

A barramundi spread created by chef Santosh Kumar Shah at Snapper Rocks, Waterfront, Darwin. Picture: Che Chorley

ABFA have created a petition for the Australian Fish Names Committee to enforce naming rights for Australian barramundi, adding it to a select list of food and beverages with naming rights including Champagne, tequila, Dijon mustard and prosecco.

Firedoor chef and owner Lennox Hastie, who received global acclaim on Emmy nominated TV show Chef’s Table, said the naming rights would provide greater transparency for consumers.

“The consumer should be able to distinguish what is Australian barramundi and what is not,” he said.

“Barramundi should have this certification so that we, as chefs and consumers, can support our Australian barramundi farmers as without them we wouldn’t have beautiful, sustainably grown, fresh barramundi to cook with.”

The petition to award Australia exclusive use of the name barramundi is available to sign on change.org.

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Originally published as Barramundi farmers want exclusive naming rights for Australian fish