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Spring Tide Safaris put this happy client on to yet another big Mary River barramundi

Matt Flynn's Northern Territory
fishing report: May 15, 2005

Also available in the Darwin Sunday
newspaper, Sunday Territorian


The barramundi (Lates calcarifer) has different names in other parts of Australia and the world.

It is also known as Asian sea bass, siakap, kim bak lor, kapong khao, Palmer perch, giant perch, silver perch and - in India - cockup.

It is sometimes incorrectly called Nile perch - the Nile perch does look remarkably similar, but it is a different species.

In Darwin "barra" are often referred to by locals simply as rats (little ones) or horses (big ones).

So iconic is the barramundi that if a Top End fisherman says simply that he or she has caught two "fish", it invariably means two barramundi.

And then there's the countless colourful nouns and adjectives used to describe the fish, especially when one of the sharp dorsal spines penetrates an anglers' flesh.

But the name barramundi is the one most tourists and Australians use, and it appears the name could be worth a few bob.

Territory barramundi farmers want to protect the name for commercial purposes.

They believe only barramundi grown or caught in Australia should use the name.

"We don't want the imported product sold in Australia under the Australian name of barramundi, said Julii Tyson, marketing manager of Australian Barramundi Culture Pty Ltd.

"Logic would indicate that a word that is both native to a country and where it has achieved iconic status in that country would 'belong' to that country."

The Territory Government has joined the fight for the name "barramundi" to be protected.

Fisheries Minister Kon Vatskalis said the iconic Australian fish was at risk of losing its identity with overseas producers cashing-in on the name.

"The barramundi is as Australian as Vegemite and meat pies, and something must be done to protect its iconic status," Mr Vatskalis said.

"While the barra has a wide geographic distribution, the name 'barramundi' is derived from the Aboriginal word burramundi meaning 'large scales'."

Mr Vatskalis said he has written to his federal counterpart Senator Ian Macdonald, urging the Commonwealth to ensure barramundi imported from overseas were correctly labelled with the names from the country of origin, such as Asian sea bass.

"The Federal Government's Fish Naming Committee stands by its 'one fish species/one marketing name' policy," Mr Vatskalis said.

"In the case of the barramundi, I believe the Fish Naming Committee must make an exception to adequately recognise and protect the iconic status of this fish."

Ms Tyson said it would be wrong for imported product to be called barramundi.

"This issue is not about stopping trade. We aren't against the importing of Lates calcarifer (barramundi),'' she said.

"However it would appear that Australia seems determined to 'give away' part of its cultural heritage."

"Do we want to see product from Vietnam or Indonesia called 'imported barramundi' while our Australian product is only differentiated by not having imported on its label?" she said.

"Would it not be easier for consumers to choose if the product from Australia was labelled as barramundi and imported product was labelled as 'imported Asian sea bass'? Asian sea bass is the name it is already marketed under in Asia.

"Also, the name barramundi is synonymous with Australia and its reputation for quality, clean, green product.

"Barramundi represents an authentically Australian experience, as part of the national cuisine, as an integral part of Australia's wildlife and as a sporting experience in a remote wilderness.

"We are greatly concerned that this iconic Australian product is losing its national identity."

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