New strategy to guide aquaculture industry in the Hunter and Central Coast

A new strategy to encourage the growth of a sustainable aquaculture industry in the Hunter and Central Coast regions was launched today by the NSW Government.

The strategy had been developed after extensive consultation with aquaculture organisations, community groups and local councils.

The strategy aims to assist future aquaculture development by providing information on business planning, species and site selection, planning and design, and best practice guidelines for aquaculture.

It also simplifies the application and development processes by cutting through red tape, with all government agencies involved now working co-operatively together.

The strategy applies to three types of intensive land-based aquaculture:

• Estuarine and marine pond and raceway aquaculture for endemic species such as mulloway, snapper and bream;
• Freshwater pond and raceway aquaculture for species such as silver perch, golden perch and yabbies;
• Tank-based high intensity aquaculture for species such as barramundi.

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and is expected to meet 40 per cent of international demand for seafood by 2010.

In Australia, the industry is expected to increase four-fold in size to $2.5 billion annually within the next decade.

The Hunter and Central Coast regions provide the ideal setting for most forms of aquaculture as they offer a clean, disease-free growing environment, good quality water, and suitable infrastructure and government services.

The new strategy was developed by the Departments of Primary Industries, Natural Resources, Planning, Environment and Conservation, Lands, and State and Regional Development, in conjunction with the Premier’s Department.