Australian aquaculture is a growing industry and has a strong positive outlook. As the world’s growing population brings increasing demand for food, aquaculture is well positioned to meet the ever-growing desire for fish, particularly when wild stocks are under pressure from overfishing. Unlocking the full potential of Australian aquaculture requires barriers to growth to be identified and addressed, and the Committee has sought to make constructive suggestions to help clear any hurdles standing in the way of the industry’s development.
Australian aquaculture already has a reputation for producing premium product and further improvements will strengthen our market position. An expanding Australian aquaculture sector will help meet domestic demand for seafood, boost exports and provide thousands of additional jobs, especially in regional areas.
Innovation is a key to the expansion of output and increased domestic and global market share. The Committee noted the example of offshore aquaculture. With investment in research and the development of new technology, together with appropriate regulatory changes that encourage investment, offshore aquaculture can contribute to a significant increase in total production. Innovations in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) also provide a means to produce fish in a self-contained, tank-based system with environmental controls, with minimal waste and low volumes of water consumption. RAS has many potential applications within Australia’s aquaculture sector and could play an important part in the industry’s future.
Aquaculture, like all industries, has its share of challenges and potential barriers to growth. The Committee has made a number of recommendations with the aim of overcoming these barriers.
The issue of biosecurity and potential threats from imported disease stands out as a key issue for the industry and for regulators. Strong biosecurity regulations are imperative for the growth of aquaculture because they are a prerequisite for investor confidence, while protecting Australia’s reputation for high quality product.
Responding to consumer and community concerns about environmental standards and the ecological sustainability of aquaculture needs to be a high priority, both for producers themselves and for governments.
Future growth in the sector also depends upon the capacity to attract and retain skilled and unskilled workers, including provision of the education and upgraded skills to manage new and innovative technologies.
One of the central issues in the inquiry was the naming and labelling of seafood. The Committee was made aware of flaws in standards that could cause confusion amongst Australian consumers. To cite an example,
60 per cent of Australia’s barramundi market is filled by an imported fish known internationally as Asian sea bass but sold in Australia as ‘barramundi’. Most consumers would not be aware that they are likely to be eating an imported product. The Committee therefore supports reforms to labelling standards, including labelling of imported seafood products in foodservice settings.
The aquaculture sector can be adversely affected by inconsistent or overlapping legislation and regulations across jurisdictions. The Committee notes concerns from industry representatives, and recognises the efforts made by several governments to streamline processes and reduce red tape. The Committee supports the introduction of ‘one-stop-shop’ models of regulation management to reduce duplication and streamline regulatory approval processes.
I would like to conclude by expressing the Committee’s appreciation to the organisations and individuals who made submissions to the inquiry and to those who appeared at public hearings. Your contributions were vital to the Committee’s efforts to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the issues facing Australia’s aquaculture sector.
I would also like to thank my colleagues in the Committee for their involvement in the inquiry and their constructive contributions to the report and its recommendations. Finally, let me express my appreciation for the hard work of the secretariat in supporting the Committee and bringing the inquiry to its completion.