National Aquaculture Strategy: Doubling Australia’s aquaculture industry value, increasing employment, and reducing dependency on seafood imports at +- 66%.

In a country with the world’s second-largest ocean territory of about 8.2 Mil. SQ.KM in the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean – why import seafood?

Australia has a National Aquaculture Strategy 2017-2027, penned in 2017 when Aquaculture gross value was A$1.36 Bil., was aiming to increase the value of Australia’s aquaculture industry to A$2 Bil. per year by 2027. In 2024 ABARES forecasts  report, predicted overall real value of aquaculture to reach A$2.21Bil by 2028–29. Not much of an improvement. Why? Green tape?

Australia produces about 34% of the seafood it consumes, while the remaining 66% is imported to meet domestic demand. (ARBAS). This figure reflects the gap between local seafood production and the growing reliance on imports – predominately canned and frozen from Asia -to supply the market. In Australia, seafood production is divided between wild-catch and aquaculture, with each sector playing a significant role.

How many times a year do you go to the supermarket and buy 1kg+ prawns? Often frozen from Asia.

The seafood industry in Australia contributes approximately 0.2% to 0.3% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (ACCC). (Sheep and Beef industry is 1.7% GDP). Australia’s fisheries and aquaculture production is forecast to reach A$3.56 Bil. (USD2.2Bil.) in 2023–24. In comparison, Vietnam’s seafood industry, where Australia imports 35,120 tons of prawns annually-) accounts for 4 – 5% of GDP, reaching USD 11 Bil. in 2022, accounting for 9 – 10% of the nation’s total export turnover.

Next to tuna, prawns are the most important seafood item consumed by Australians.

During 2020-21, Australia produced 8,700 tons of prawns and in 2022, we imported more than 38,000 tons of prawns to meet local demand.(DAFF)

For Australian consumers, prawns are a popular seafood item: the annual per capita consumption of prawns amounts to more than 1.5 kilograms per person, which is at the same level as French consumers, but lower than Japan (1.8 kilograms), USA (2.7 kilograms) and Spain (3 kilograms), the three nations with the highest consumption (2022 GoodFish)

Sustainability and traceability in both wild-catch and aquaculture sectors are becoming increasingly important due to environmental concerns and consumer demand for responsibly sourced seafood.

Wild-Catch (Wild Fisheries)

The challenges that Wild-catch faces are overfishing in certain areas, environmental sustainability issues, and the need for better management practices to prevent stock depletion. Australia Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) monitors sustainable fishing practices within wild-catch fisheries certified by sustainability programs

The Proportion of Wild-Catch represents about 70-75% of Australia’s total seafood production. In terms of exports, about 60-65% of Australia’s wild-catch seafood is typically exported. This includes high-demand species such as rock lobster, prawns, abalone, tuna and snapper which are especially sought after in markets like China, Japan, and the United States.

In effect about 10% is kept for domestic consumption. Based on available data, Australia’s wild-catch production typically ranges from 200,000 to 250,000 tons per year (i.e., 200,000,000 to 250,000,000 kilograms)  = 6 – 7.8 kg per year per capita for 31.97 mil. population including students. Not factoring in 8 mil tourists.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture in Australia makes up approximately 25-30% of the country’s total seafood production, with a focus on salmon, oysters, mussels, prawns (shrimp), and barramundi.

In 2023-2024, Australia produced approximately 3,000 tons (3mil.kg) of prawns through aquaculture, of which 70% of Australian prawns were exported to international markets, while the remaining 30% (+- 1mil kg) is consumed domestically. (Aust.Gov)

Tasmania is the hub for salmon farming, while Queensland and New South Wales are major producers of prawns. South Australia is renowned for its oyster and mussel production. The aquaculture sector, particularly salmon and prawn farming, has seen significant growth, driven by both domestic and international demand for seafood.

A large portion of Australia’s seafood production, particularly wild-caught products like lobster and prawns, is exported to international markets, particularly China and the Asia region, and the United States.

Australia’s fisheries and aquaculture production was forecasted to reach A$3.56 billion in 2023–24, despite price pressures from global supply growth and currency appreciation. Salmonids now comprise 37% of production and are expected to expand, while rock lobster and abalone may see value growth driven by renewed Chinese demand. Aquaculture’s share will rise from 60% to 64%, reaching A$2.21 billion by 2028–29, with salmonid production remaining the key driver. (ABARES)

Employment in Australian fisheries and aquaculture

According to ABARES 2021 figures, total employment in Aquaculture in Australia was 5387, with Victoria trailing behind at 314, second to NT 213 – with top employers being NSW at 1008 and Tasmania at 2221. The Fishing sector employment total was 4837: Victoria 406, NSW 882, with top employment in QLD 1039, and WA 1107.

Clearly, the Fisheries processing and wholesaling sector is where employment is most buoyant at 14,408 – still a drop in the ocean.

This could support the theory that increased aquaculture, marine ranching and fish framing production would directly result in increased jobs, exports and domestic consumption- and in effect, decrease / illiminate the +- 66% of seafood currently being imported.

Annual employment estimates. Current available data cited from ABARES

 

The Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment was renamed on 1 July 2022. It became the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), while some functions were transferred to the new Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water.

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