WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2014 11 South Australia boasts an international reputation for guarding a clean and unpolluted environment. This vital asset is especially true with aquaculture in coastal waters because the State has extensive areas of coastline with little or no urban development. The availability of land in a range of climates and with suitable coastal and fresh water provides the potential to farm a range of species for domestic and export markets. Inland there are saline and freshwater aquifers and warm geothermal waters; offshore there are coldwater upwellings. South Australia features a coastline stretching 3700 km. The State has many sites suitable for the development of a variety of forms of aquaculture. Aquaculture is an emerging industry, with significant production already occurring along the coast, particularly on the Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. There are six ‘types’ of sea-based aquaculture sectors in South Australia: • Southern bluefin tuna (wild-capture for ranching) • Marine finfish (e.g. yellowtail kingfish and mulloway) • Intertidal shellfish (e.g. oysters) • Subtidal filter-feeding shellfish (e.g. mussels and scallops) • Subtidal non filter-feeding shellfish (e.g. abalone) • Algae (e.g. macroalgae) There are also three types of land-based farming sectors: yabby and marron crayfish, barramundi, and coastal abalone farms and hatcheries. The aquaculture industry has firmly established itself as a significant contributor to South Australia’s primary industries and regional communities. In 2010-2011 more seafood was produced in aquaculture than capture fisheries. Aquaculture contributed about 54 percent ($229 million) of the State’s total value of seafood production ($426 million). This value increased by 5% compared to the previous year. Aquaculture production in South Australia is about 200,000 mt. One-third of all farmed seafood produced in the country is produced in South Australia. Tuna continues to be the largest single sector in the industry. The Southern bluefin tuna sector accounts for almost 55% of the State’s gross value of aquaculture production — a 22 percent increase on the previous year — with total production valued at $125 million. This is followed by the oyster and marine finfish sectors, which account for 16 percent and 12 percent of total production value respectively. Overall, there has been positive growth across most sectors, with the value of production increasing for tuna, finfish, oyster, abalone, marron and yabbies while the mussel and freshwater finfish sectors recorded a slight decrease. Eyre Peninsula also maintains its position as the center for aquaculture in South Australia, employing 67 percent of the 1,113 full time equivalent positions directly employed by the sector. These are exciting times for aquaculture in Australia. The first “green crude,” sustainably produced from marine microalgae, has just been unveiled in South Australia by publicly listed Muradel Pty Ltd. West Australian Resources Limited has commenced Project Sea Dragon to develop a new transformational natural resources/food industry in Australia through the sustainable development of large-scale, industrialized, land-based, marine protein production systems. Aquaculture contributes to economic and regional development through: • The development of export products and markets for South Australia. • Support for other regional industries benefiting from aquaculture developments including processing, transport, tourism and other related services. • Provision of new youth job opportunities as the majority of people employed in aquaculture are less than 30 years old. • The injection of incomes and jobs into the regions of South Australia, many of which are economically and socially disadvantaged. • Diversified training and employment opportunities in all aspects of the industry from research and development through to farming, value adding and marketing. Legislative Framework The South Australian aquaculture industry is leading the way in implementing dedicated aquaculture management legislation. South Australia has in place good governance and procedures to (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12) Aquaculture in South Australia LEFT. Oyster racks in high-quality water. RIGHT. Net pen for yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi aquaculture. Photos: Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia.
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