What this class covers
ANZSIC class 3604 applies to Australian businesses primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of fresh or frozen fish and seafood products, excluding canned items. These operations typically function as intermediaries between seafood producers/processors and retail outlets, restaurants, or institutional buyers. The classification focuses on distribution activities rather than production or processing.
Examples of businesses that typically fall under this classification include:
- A wholesale distributor supplying fresh fish to metropolitan restaurants and fish markets
- A specialty seafood wholesaler importing and distributing frozen prawns to supermarket chains
- A regional distributor supplying fresh oysters and mussels to local retailers
- A wholesale operation focusing on processed (but not canned) seafood products like frozen fish fillets
- A seafood merchant distributing to both domestic and export markets
This classification is used across Australian government and industry contexts including business registration, statistical reporting, market research, and policy development related to the wholesale grocery sector.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class are mainly engaged in:
- Wholesaling fresh or frozen fish to retailers, restaurants, or other businesses
- Distributing crustaceans like prawns, crabs, and lobsters (including processed forms but excluding canned)
- Wholesaling molluscs including oysters, mussels, and scallops (processed but not canned)
- Operating as seafood merchants or distributors handling various fresh or frozen seafood products
These activities typically involve storage, handling, and distribution of temperature-controlled seafood products through established wholesale channels.
Exclusions and nearby codes
Several related activities are specifically excluded from this classification and fall under other ANZSIC codes:
Businesses that operate vessels which both catch and process fish or seafood are classified under Group 041 Fishing rather than this wholesaling class.
Operations involving cleaning, cooking, or freezing crustaceans or molluscs (including shelling and bottling oysters) or freezing filleted fish are included in Class 1120 Seafood Processing.
Wholesalers dealing with canned fish or seafood products fall under Class 3609 Other Grocery Wholesaling.
Businesses that wholesale fish or seafood as part of a broad range of grocery items are classified under Class 3601 General Line Grocery Wholesaling.
Practical guidance
When registering your business with the Australian Business Register, you'll need to select the appropriate Business Industry Code (BIC). For fish and seafood wholesaling, the corresponding BIC code is 36040. This classification may affect your business in several practical ways:
Your workers' compensation premiums will be calculated based on this industry classification, which typically carries different risk profiles than retail or processing operations. Some state-based grants or industry support programs may be targeted specifically to wholesale trade classifications.
For tax purposes, you'll need to report under this classification in your Business Activity Statements and tax returns. Keep in mind that classification can affect eligibility for certain tax concessions or industry-specific deductions, so maintaining accurate records of your primary business activities is important.
If your business activities change significantly (for example, if you begin processing seafood rather than just wholesaling it), you may need to update your classification with the Australian Taxation Office.