The Aquaculture Industry in Australia

Aquaculture production occurs throughout Australia, from the tropical north to the temperate south. The industry is largely based in regional Australia and makes a significant and positive contribution to regional development.

Aquaculture is a relatively new industry in Australia, and has grown in volume at an average rate of around 12 per cent per annum since 1992–93. In 2008–09, the industry was worth in excess of $887 million.

Most of the value of Australian aquaculture production comes from high value species such as pearls, salmonids and tuna but there are over forty species being commercially produced in Australia. The top five aquaculture species groups, in terms of production value, are:

• salmonids
• tuna
• pearl oysters
• prawns
• edible oysters.

Other species groups include:

• abalone (greenlip, blacklip, Roe’s)
• freshwater finfish (barramundi, Murray cod, silver perch etc.)
• brackish water or marine finfish (barramundi, snapper, yellowtail kingfish, mulloway, groupers, etc.)
• mussels
• ornamental fish
• marine sponges
• mud crab
• sea cucumber.

Australian aquaculture producers must comply with relevant federal, state and local government laws and codes of practice. These are aimed at ensuring best practice and the long-term sustainability of the industry.

Markets and future direction

Australia has established a reputation as a supplier of safe, high quality seafood which is produced using environmentally sustainable practices. Australian aquaculture producers target niche high value domestic and overseas markets.

The increasing demand for Australian native species and the proximity to Asia and Pacific markets, together with world recognised seafood quality and standards, means Australian aquaculture is competitively positioned to take on high value aquaculture products.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) predicts that from 2001 any further increase in global consumption of seafood is expected to be met by aquaculture. The FAO has also predicted that this trend will continue to the point that by 2030, more than half of the fish consumed will be produced by aquaculture.

Aquaculture in Commonwealth Waters

The Australian Government is working with state and territory governments to develop a regulatory framework for aquaculture in Commonwealth waters.