While international trade can stabilise food systems, improve food security, stimulate economic growth and allow for more environmental protections by wealthier populations, import-reliance could also disproportionately burden areas with fewer or less effective regulations on production1. We estimate that Australia imports ~70% of the seafood consumed in the country. Better management strategies and changes in local marine ecosystems have led to a decline in catches from Australian fisheries in the past decade2. The expansion of aquaculture is hindered by strict policies and the negative public perspective of the industry, limiting production to high-value species, particularly salmon3. As consumption of seafood continues to increase in the country, our research highlights the implications that import-dependence has on the sustainability of the products consumed. We found that 17 of Australia’s top 20 trade partners place lower than Australia in environmental sustainability metrics, while most also have greater vulnerability to slavery in their supply chains and higher risk of illicit trade. As Australia progresses towards a more sustainable future, it is imperative that we understand the implications of imported products to support responsible consumption, as well as sustainable production.