As aquaculture continues to rise in popularity around the world, it seems there is one place that has yet to align with the trend – Australia.
This according to Queensland prawn farmer Nick Moore, who told the Queensland Country Hour that Australian aquaculture hasn’t been able to flourish over the past decade due in large part to over-regulation. A draft report from the Queensland Competition Authority, published last year, corroborates Moore’s claim that regulation reform for the industry could spur growth and increase investments. A final report is in the works, but hasn’t been released.
"We just can't keep taking from the wild. It's not going to be there to take," said Moore to the QLD Country Hour.
"It's the only way we'll be able to feed the population of the planet. Australia has the great opportunity to follow that, but it seems we're the only country in the world where aquaculture isn't the fastest growing industry and that's just wrong. I just wish that somebody would realize if you're going to grow food in this country, they've got to start helping what we do," Moore added.
Moore and the Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) are eager to see the final report from the State Government.
"We're really hoping that will change soon so that the relevant government organizations that are involved in the whole process can start streamlining themselves and working together," said APFA president Matt West to the County Hour.
Queensland Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne and the State Government are working diligently to release the updated report in “due course for consultation,” noted the County Hour. Byrne, who is himself “an enthusiastic supporter of aquaculture,” assured that those behind the report “want to ensure that we make the right decisions so that aquaculture can thrive and prosper in the future."
Reform has been hindered partially due to concerns about whether fish farms could harm the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem with nutrient and sediment run-off, according to both Moore and West. In response to such concerns, the industry has been working to implement a Stewardship Action Plan that would serve to cut back on runoff over the course of the next five years.
