The Committee

The Landbased Aquaculture Consultative Group is the key non-oyster industry consultative body for NSW. It comprises representatives from the different species groups (prawns, silver perch, trout, barramundi, yabbies, ornamentals, native fish hatcheries), relevant industry associations, NSW DPI and the NSW Food Authority. It meets once per year face-to-face to discuss issues relevant to the NSW aquaculture industry. It is a non-statutory committee with an independent Chair.

Update

NSW DPI and the NSW Food Authority are pleased to advise that a new independent Chair, Mr Terrence Healey Barrister-at-Law, has been appointed for a three year term to January 2010.  Mr Healey brings with him a background in agriculture and experience in marketing.

Notes from the latest meeting

The Land-based Aquaculture Consultative Group (LBACG) meeting met in Sydney on the 27 July 2009 and was chaired by Mr Terry Healey. Key agenda items included:

• A project to investigate disease testing standards for the movement of fish fingerlings between Queensland, NSW, and Victoria is underway following representation from NSW hatcheries. The States will contract an independent expert to review current testing protocols and provide recommendations on streamlining policy.
• Industry representatives are seeking to ensure that fish shipped into NSW meet necessary disease and translocation protocols following a recent interstate disease event.
• Industry representatives outlined the difficulty that some new entrants were experiencing in progressing aquaculture developments through the relevant consent authorities in NSW. The gazettal of the new NSW Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy and amendments to State Planning Policy No. 62 - Sustainable Aquaculture prepared by the department should help streamline the assessment of new aquaculture developments and held educate applicants and approval bodies.
• In the last two years industry and the department have successfully worked together to have six commonly used aquaculture chemicals registered with the APVMA. However, one application, for a product called clove oil, cannot be progressed without detailed and expensive investigations. The Aquaculture Research Advisory Committee has written to the National Aquaculture Council seeking assistance to progress an application to allow its use in the aquaculture industry. The NSW Food Authority provided information on approved fish anaesthetics.
• Funding for the departments only dedicated aquaculture extension position terminated on the 30 June 2009. The aquaculture industry expressed regret at this decision and recommended that the department investigate all possible avenues to continue this valuable service.
• Concern was raised about the non-transferability of aquaculture permits. Industry noted and supported the departments current processes but requested a review of fees where an aquaculture permit was re-issued.
• Industry sought assistance from the department for broodstock collection permits to be issued for three to five years rather than annually. The department is preparing a Species Impact Statement to consider broodstock collection to support this request.
• The department provided information on: policy amendments to the Hatchery Quality Assurance Scheme following a survey of accredited hatcheries in early 2009, Regulation amendments, the draft Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy, the upcoming review of standard land based aquaculture permit conditions, the administration transaction report, new rules managing the ornamental fish industry, a site selection project for marine aquaculture sites and research updates from the Grafton Aquaculture Centre and the Aquaculture Research Advisory Committee.
• The NSW Food Authority advised that they were remaking their regulation and to contact the Authority if further information was required.
• It was also proposed by the department to hold a combined aquaculture consultative group meeting in 2010 to clarify the roles of Committees, set a direction for the NSW aquaculture industry to enhance profitability and growth and have a networking event with leaders of the seafood industry.