Aquaculture & fishing

Claire Rankin. Evans Head Fish Co-op may be forced to close temporarily because of covid, its chair Bill Litchfield said. He was “extremely concerned” about how the snap lockdown has impacted the co-op and fishing industry.

Australia’s aquaculture sector continues on a trajectory of steady growth, but the entire industry has experienced disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the  latest edition of ABARES’s  Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics.

NSW Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has announced that anglers around the state could get back to reeling in some of our finest native sportfish when the Australian Bass and Estuary Perch season opens on Wednesday, 1 September 2021.

Developing a blood test to predict the stress of aquatic species and help industry develop a more sustainable fish economy is the focus of a new research project at The University of Western Australia in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Local businesses need to adapt and innovate to keep up with the constantly changing world and build resilience into their business. Advance Rockhampton is teaming up with key players in the business innovation and AI industries to show how emerging technologies can help Rockhampton businesses thrive.

Two new sites in Queensland have been identified as land-based marine aquaculture development areas (ADAs), leaving new space for the industry to grow. “My vision is to make Queensland the aquaculture capital of the world,” said Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities. The two new sites comprise 1,974-hectares for future aquaculture development in the Hinchinbrook Shire.

Two local contracts have been awarded to Territory businesses as construction begins for Seafarms’ Project Sea Dragon ... Project Sea Dragon is a $1.87 billion aquaculture project, which will ultimately see the development of up to 10,000 hectares of ponds for black tiger prawns production facilities.

The barramundi is Australia's most recognisable estuarine sportsfish, with many recreational fishers travelling to northern Western Australia to try to catch one. Local recreational fishing and indigenous communities have long pressed for the restocking of barramundi into their natural range within Lake Kununurra, and eight years ago their dream became a reality when the first fingerlings were released.

One of the only licensed freshwater aquaculture properties in North Queensland has entered the market and is expecting offers in excess of $4 million. The 80-hectare Ausgold Aquaculture property, that sits 45km outside of Townsville, is a supplier for major fish markets, restaurants and supermarkets across the countries east coast.