Australia’s Next Star Fish? Why Pompano Could Be a Game Changer for Sustainable Seafood

Australia’s Next Star Fish? Why Pompano Could Be a Game Changer for Sustainable Seafood

At Fins Choice, we're always looking to the future of seafood—and a new CSIRO project has us genuinely excited. Scientists have been quietly working on a native Australian fish that could transform aquaculture and reduce our reliance on imported seafood: meet the pompano.

Why a New Fish?

With 62% of seafood consumed in Australia coming from overseas, the CSIRO saw a need to develop a domestic, sustainable solution. Their mission? To find a native white-flesh fish that:

  • Tastes great

  • Grows quickly

  • Performs well in farmed environments

  • Can be produced affordably at scale

After years of research, they landed on pompano (Trachinotus anak), found in warm northern waters from NSW’s Yamba to WA’s Exmouth.

How Pompano Stacks Up

Pompano has already passed early trials for taste and farming performance. Chefs across the country tested it in dishes ranging from grilled fillets to Thai curries and even sashimi. Its slightly oily flesh means rich flavour, firm texture, and high versatility in the kitchen—great for modern Australian and Asian-inspired cuisines.

According to feedback from restaurants involved in the trials, pompano is shaping up to be:

  • Similar in taste and cooking properties to premium options like snapper, trevally, and golden pompano (already farmed in Southeast Asia)

  • More cost-effective to farm than slower-growing species like Murray cod

Cost Expectations?

While exact market pricing will depend on scale and efficiency, the CSIRO aims to produce pompano at a price point that sits between barramundi and imported fillets—making it competitive and appealing for everyday Aussie households.

What About Other Fish Alternatives?

Australia already farms several successful species, including:

  • Barramundi – versatile and widely available, but often farmed in Southeast Asia

  • Murray cod – premium, freshwater, native fish with high production costs

  • Atlantic salmon – popular but mostly farmed in Tasmania, with growing concerns about sustainability

  • Rainbow trout – grown in cooler regions, popular in niche markets

Pompano could fill the gap for a warm-water, fast-growing, white-flesh fish that offers consistent quality and supports local producers.

What It Means for the Seafood Industry—and You

If pompano becomes commercially viable by the early 2030s, it could:

  • Reduce our reliance on imports

  • Create local jobs

  • Provide fresher fish to Australians

  • Help lower retail prices through shorter, more efficient supply chains

We Are Always Watching Closely

At Fins Choice, we’re always looking for ways to offer the freshest and most sustainable seafood. While pompano isn’t available yet, we’re keeping a close eye on the progress and hope to one day bring this Aussie-grown star to our menu.

Fresh, local, sustainable—that’s the future we believe in.

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