state of australian aquaculture

sa aqua

what is the state of aquaculture businesses in australia(land based)

RupertofOZ

Stagnant to dying.... regulations were made so tight, albeit with good intent, that it's almost impossible to start a new enterprise unless you've got $millions... and a legal team...

Margins aren't that great, licensing (especially water) fees are set to soar, energy costs likewise....

There is a major re-write of the legislation underway... with significant input from those actually in the business...

But it's still a high cost, high risk investment...

Selective export oriented business niche markets can be profitable... but like so many things, people have found it's cheaper, laxer and easy to setup overseas...

sa aqua

funny how all governments are the same!guess it'll take people starving or depleted ocean stocks for governments to change their tune.was thinking of moving to aus from south africa and doing something in aquaculture,so much for that!

RupertofOZ

It does vary enormously from state to state... in terms of legislation, and species selection...

Think the capital investment is pretty large wherever you go... Australia has a unique set of constraints...

Aquaculture requires access to good water... something that is both scarce and in great demand in Australia... consequently land with access to water is limited and priced accordingly...

Or so far from markets that the transportation cost make it almost unviable...

As I said... there is a complete "re-think" happening within the industry and government... perhaps some good may come of it...

Troutman

C'mon Rupe its not that bad.
I thought aquaculture was still Australia's fastest growing rural activity.
Crustacean production like Marron and Redclaw is continuing
to expand at a rapid rate yet still canot meet the demand for the product.
The prices received by the farmer have actually increased over the past
few years and with Rock Lobster and Crayfish numbers declining this trend
looks set to continue.
As far as licence fees go, for around $300 per yr (in WA) you can farm
Marron, Yabbies, Trout, Silver Perch, Barramundi and Murray Cod if fisheries
approve you to do so.
I pay nothing for my water as it comes free from the sky!!!
I know that in NSW the licence fees are higher and regulations tougher.

RupertofOZ

... tried to cover myself by saying "things vary enormously from state to state" ...

WA is somewhat of an anomoly... :roll:

.... but seriously Troutman... take away the marron and redclaw market.... and just how expansionary would the WA aquaculture industry be???

Admittedly, much of what I said applies (particularly to NSW) to the Eastern states and Vic... most related to land prices and water allocations.... and the regs.... :evil:

RupertofOZ

Silver Perch are essentially a "niche" market to the "live" Asian restaurants... and still struggle to find consumer acceptance....

If it wasn't for the $ for $ restock program... a lot of people over this way probably would shut up shop....

And setting up for Barramundi is almost impossible in NSW.... not just in terms of obtaining fingerling stock... but meeting the legislative requirements for site selection and NOD virus control....

True though... most of the emphasis has been on pond based aquaculture on the eastern seaboard.... and recirc tank farms probably haven't been given proper appraisal....

Of course Tilapia would solve most of our problems... :mrgreen:

Troutman

RupertofOZ wrote:

WA is somewhat of an anomoly... .... but seriously Troutman... take away the marron and redclaw market.... and just how expansionary would the WA aquaculture industry be???

Yes your pretty much spot on there, Marron comprise well over 90% of all the aquaculture licences in WA and I dont see that changing in the future.
I know of several recirc farms over here though any growth dosent cover the ones that drop out. With the predicted big rises in electricity costs I think making a quid from recic systems will get even harder.

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