Is it bred in a sewer?

I had an interesting experience the other day when we ventured out to get some old fashioned fish and chips. I prefer to have Australian fish so naturally I asked what was on offer. We drove to three well known fish and chipperies of which not one stocked Australian fish. Under the new food laws, it is compulsory to label each fish accurately by variety and country of origin. Not one of the establishments complied. These laws were introduced to stop operators from misleading the public and it seems to me that operators are taking their chances to enjoy their patron’s ignorance until authorities catch up with them. It is an appalling practice to sell imported Bassa, claimed to be bred in the sewers of Asia according to current affair shows under various guises including most often Dory. Generally the average Australian cannot identify fish let alone their origin. They trust the operator thus leaving the professional responsibility with the operator. A faith most often left to abuse.

On the other hand we have thousands of restaurants serving plated or value-added fish which in my opinion also share the professional responsibility. Major chain, Sizzler currently has a calamari and whiting promotion of which the question I pose is whether the seafood is local or imported. The same is questionable of chains like McDonalds with their fish burgers. If we expect our retail outlets to accurately present the choice to our consuming public the same should be expected of our restaurants.