Environment group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says many states have adopted a Marine Stewardship Council program, but Queensland and NSW haven't.
WWF's sustainable fisheries manager, Jo McCrea says the push toward sustainability in fisheries is coming from consumers, not just green groups.
In 2012, Western Australia made a commitment to get all its fisheries into the Marine Stewardship Council, covering lobster, squid, all fin fish like snappers and crabs.
"That's great for consumers because all they have to look out for is the blue MSC label and they'll know it's a sustainable seafood.
"There's an MSC program in South Australia, covering prawns."
But she says Queensland, particularly with the Great Barrier Reef, struggles to do "really standard stuff, with fisheries management; really understanding what stocks are there."
And in NSW there's room for improvement, with no Marine Stewardship Council certified products in the state.
Ms McCrea says it's a slow process and the fisheries industries want to see results.
She says it's tricky and expensive, so WWF has to get it right for the long term.
So for your sustainable fisheries this Christmas, look for prawns from the North Coast of Australia, from the Spencer Gulf of South Australia, fin fish from Lakes and Coorong in South Australia, and the WA rock lobster. Also from New Zealand, the hoki or blue grenadier and southern blue whiting.
