THE ONLY SOURCE OF TASMANIAN, CULTURALLY FISHED ABALONE
We invite you to walk with us and enjoy new tastes and ancient traditions. Our culturally fished seafood is wild-caught, small-scale, and light touch.
Our ancestors swam with woven baskets, expertly levering abalone from rocks using specially crafted tools and carefully placing them inside.
Today, we continue these hand-harvesting practices, passed down by Tasmanian Aboriginal women for tens of thousands of years, to fish Sea Country. We are nurturing cultural fisheries that will nest our children in Sea Country for healthy, employed futures.
THE SIGNING OF THE DEED
In March 2022, the Tasmanian Government and the Land and Sea Aboriginal Corporation Tasmania signed a historic lease agreement granting Aboriginal Tasmanians access to the commercial fishery. Later in December 2024, the Tasmanian Government signed a Deed of Agreement to extend the lease, with buyback at the end of the period, to signify abalone fishing rights will be held in perpetuity for Aboriginal Tasmanians. The 40 abalone quota units are generating employment opportunities and creating a domestic abalone food tourism market.
Through this initiative, we aim to restore cultural practices, enhance economic prospects, and cultivate a deeper connection between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Tasmania.
Sea Country encompasses land and ocean, embracing estuaries, beaches, bays and marine areas. Woven throughout are sacred sites created by our physical and spiritual Ancestral Beings.
Each part of Sea Country is distinct and culturally rich. Foods sourced from Sea Country reveal their provenance in taste, texture and appearance.
Our ancestors gave us law that is thousands of years old. A moral and ethical world that guides how we live with and care for Sea Country.
Join us, and together we can build an industry that is both enduring and durable while caring for Sea Country.
OUR BRAND STORY
In Tasmania, an island known by many names by many peoples – women are of the sea, men are of the land, and everyone comes from night sky country. Our women have governance of Sea Country, we care for it and provide Sea Country foods to nourish and bring happiness to families and communities.
Our ancestor women swam with woven baskets and abalone was levered off rocks with skillfully crafted tools and placed within for careful food handling. This same technique and great care still runs through our abalone harvesting process today, a beautiful product which is now available to you.
Choosing culturally fished abalone for your menu will connect this ancient Sea Country food and its culture, to you and your diners.
IMAGE: BRAND TASMANIA, CRAIG EVERETT
The original artwork that represents our brand is by Craig Everett, a Trawlwoolway man, Palawa/Pakana from Lutruwita.
In working together to care for Sea Country, we develop unbreakable connections with each other that engender kinship. When we have kinship with each other, with the plants and animals, sky and waters, we understand that no part operates independently. Everything is joined. Recognising each other with a generous spirit gives us reciprocity to heal relationships.
AUNTY EMMA LEE
Tasmanian Aboriginal Seafoods is part of the Land and Sea Aboriginal Corporation Tasmania (LSACT). LSACT was formed out of The Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance (TRACA), it was developed to provide a mechanism to engage and advise the Government at all levels in regard to affairs affecting Aboriginal Tasmanians.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TRACA
Tim Russell-Jarvie
General Manager
E: orders@tasmanianaboriginalseafoods.com.au
M: +61 475 459 151
Lee Archer
Program Manager
E: lee@tasmanianaboriginalseafoods.com.au
M: +61 461 489 797
Marnie Ritz
Employment Services Officer
E: marnie@tasmanianaboriginalseafoods.com.au
M: +61 477 628 432
Tasmanian Aboriginal Seafoods is the first global Indigenous abalone commercial fishery with full charity status
