At Raptis we are dedicated to responsible fishing practices that work towards ensuring Australia’s fisheries are managed in an ecologically sustainable manner. Raptis predominately fishes in the Northern Prawn Fishery and Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery which are both managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). AFMA has set out guidelines in regards to sustainable fishing practices including, size limits, gear restrictions, temporal and spatial closures, marine pollution and total allowable catch. Raptis rigorously ensures each of its vessels complies with these regulations and as a result, The Northern Prawn Fishery has been granted an exemption from export restrictions under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The Northern Prawn Fishery is becoming certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as being a sustainable fishery. The MSC provides the world’s leading certification and eco-labelling program which is strongly supported by Raptis as it allows us to meet a growing demand for certified sustainable wild caught seafood.

Raptis is an Accredited Member of Friend of the Sea, an international non-profit, non-government organisation, who provide international certification for products originating from sustainable fisheries, and that are caught using fishing practices that support sustainable seafood resources. The Northern Prawn Fishery has also undergone extensive assessment to become Friend of the Sea certified.

Raptis has taken a leading step forward to reduce bycatch, by fitting T90 trawl nets to Raptis vessels. These nets are constructed of thicker more rigid twine that allows non-target species and undersized target species to escape. Water flow through the net is also increased resulting in minimised drag which in turn reduces the amount of fuel used, and emissions produced by each vessel.

Raptis has also fitted each trawl net with a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) to minimise our impact on non-target species. A TED is a metal grid that is placed in the trawl net to act as a guide that allows turtles, sharks and other large marine life to escape the net through a nearby opening.

Raptis are proud of their Australian fishing and seafood trading history and are committed to safeguarding wild-caught Australian seafood stocks. We understand the importance of sustainable fishing practices and look forward to providing wild caught seafood for future generations of consumers to enjoy.