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On-going aquaculture projects
Inland saline aquaculture
Integrated agri-aquaculture
Indigenous aquaculture
In March 2001 DAFF released A National Aquaculture Development Strategy for Indigenous Communities in Australia (Indigenous aquaculture strategy) 
PDF [1mb].
The report recommended a framework to accelerate Indigenous involvement in the aquaculture industry and, the establishment of an IAU.
In February 2003, DAFF in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission jointly funded the establishment of the IAU.
The objective of IAU is to:
- provide advice to the Indigenous community about aquaculture
- implement recommendations of the Indigenous Aquaculture Strategy under the Aquaculture Industry Action Agenda strategic initiative ten ‘to create an industry for all Australians’
- promote Indigenous aquaculture development within government and to industry
- assist in appraisal of Indigenous project proposals
- help source and/or coordinate funding support from other government agencies and stakeholders.
The Indigenous Aquaculture Strategy recognised that:
- many indigenous people possess a traditional affinity for fishing and aquaculture related activities, and
- many Indigenous communities have access to prime aquaculture sites and have access to land suitable for the development of aquaculture, and these communities have expressed interest in participating in aquaculture projects for commercial reasons, for food production or for creating employment.
DAFF is working in collaboration with other agencies of the federal, state and territory governments to facilitate the timely development of aquaculture ventures in Indigenous communities.
Projects that have been supported by the IAU for the 2003-2006 include but not limited to the following:
- sponge aquaculture projects in northern Queensland and Northern Territory
- mud crabs aquaculture projects in Northern Territory
- barramundi aquaculture project in Yarrabah
- Palm Island Primary School aquaculture education/training project
- pearl farming project in Torres Strait
- Snowy River Native Fish Hatchery project
- mussel farm project at Port Lincoln.
Inland saline aquaculture
The Fisheries R&D Corporation has funded an inland saline aquaculture project:
‘Development of industrial-scale inland saline aquaculture: coordination and communication of R&D in Australia’.
The objectives of this project are to:
- facilitate rapid commercialisation of regionally appropriate inland saline aquaculture technology
- manage communication and technology transfer among research providers, funding agencies, salinity managers (federal, state and local government and the Murray Darling Basin Commission), industry and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality
- identify and review national priorities for research, development and extension on inland saline aquaculture
- help ensure scientific methodology is ‘world-best-practice’ and consistent with the National R&D Plan for inland saline aquaculture
- production of an investment directory
- production of economic feasibility studies on the selected state projects
- establishment of demonstration facilities at key locations.
Preliminary research indicates that saline groundwater is suitable for farming marine fish provided potassium is added. In order to generate enough accurate data to allow the economics of inland saline aquaculture to be evaluated, research agencies in various states and territories of Australia are focused on proving the commercial validity of inland saline aquaculture.
The Aquaculture Industry Inland Saline website provides access to the collective information available on inland saline aquaculture development in Australia.
The links below provide information on state demonstration facilities.
Integrated agri-aquaculture
There is great potential for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of Australia’s water resources and improving economic returns to farmers and rural Australia by encouraging integrated agri-aquaculture farming.
Encouraging development of integrated aquaculture production in Australia will require a focus on research and development resources being specifically aimed at improving our knowledge of integrated aquaculture production.
Increased research needs to be undertaken to develop technology (systems, etc), but also to determine the types of species that can be successfully produced and marketed from such systems. For maximum gain, research findings will need to be actively disseminated through industry extension support, training and education for farmers, investors, regulators and legislators.
Through the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation the Australian Government has assisted in funding the preparation of a research and development plan for integrated agri-aquaculture.
R&D Plan for Integrated Agri-Aquaculture Systems 1999-2004 PDF [91kb]
