 |
|
|
|
|
| Production | ||||
| Fast facts | ||||
| In 2006-07 | ||||
 The total volume of Australian fisheries production fell by 2 per cent to 240 000 tonne. The gross value of production increased by 2 per cent in nominal terms to $2.18 billion, although in real terms it fell by 1 per cent. Western Australia accounted for the largest share of production value (22 per cent), followed by Tasmania (22 per cent) and South Australia (18 per cent). The gross value of aquaculture production rose by 7 per cent in nominal terms to $793 million. Aquaculture now accounts for approximately one-third of Australia’s gross value of fisheries production. |
||||
| Since 1999-2000… | ||||
| The total volume of fisheries production has increased by 17 500 tonne (8 per cent), while the real gross value of production has fallen by $0.8 billion (26 per cent). The increase in production volume is largely the result of growth in the production of Australian sardines. The driving factor behind the fall in production value has been the decline in the value of rock lobster, prawns, abalone and tuna. The combined value of these four species has fallen by $0.7 billion (in real terms) over this period. Farmed salmonids from Tasmania have emerged as a key production species in terms of both volume and value, surpassing tuna as Australia’s most valuable finfish species group. |
||||
| Production, by species | ||||
| The gross volume and value of Australian fisheries production, by species, is presented in tables 3–5. Production and value summaries are also presented in table 2 (wildcatch sector), tables 7–14 (individual jurisdictions) and tables 15–17 (aquaculture sector). Despite changes to management arrangements in many jurisdictions, the volume of Australian fisheries production over the past decade has remained relatively stable, particularly for key species such as rock lobster and abalone. In 2006-07, the total volume of Australian fisheries production was 240 000 tonne, approximately 3 per cent (7900 tonne) higher than in 1997-98. There have, however, been changes to the species composition of Australian fisheries production over this period. Of particular note is the strong growth that has occurred in the production of Australian sardines (figure a). Predominantly caught in South Australian waters and used as feed in southern bluefin tuna aquaculture, production in the South Australian sardine fishery rose by more than 1000 per cent between 1999-2000 and 2004-05, from 3.8 kilotonne to 48.9 kilotonne. In 2006-07, Australian sardines accounted for 14 per cent of total fisheries production. Farmed salmonids, comprising salmon and trout species, have also emerged as a key species group in recent years, accounting for 11 per cent of total fisheries production in 2006-07. As a very low-value species, the growth in sardine production has had a negligible impact on the gross value of fisheries production (figure b). In contrast, the increase in production of farmed salmonids, combined with higher unit prices, has resulted in a $158 million increase (in real terms) in the value of this species group since 1999-2000. In 2006-07, farmed salmonids were valued at $281 million, surpassing tuna as Australia’s most valuable finfish species group. However, the increase in the production value of salmonids has not been sufficient to offset a decline in the gross value of Australian fisheries production. After reaching a peak of $2.96 billion (in real terms) in 1999-2000, the gross value of Australian fisheries production fell by 26 per cent, dropping to a 10 year low of $2.18 billion in 2006-07 (figure c). Driving this decline were reductions in the value of other key species, particularly rock lobster, prawns, abalone and tuna. The combined value of these four species, which typically account for at least half of Australia’s gross value of fisheries production, has fallen by 39 per cent ($0.7 billion) since 1999-2000 (figure b). This is largely the result of falling unit prices (figure d). Since the production of these species is export-oriented, prices are strongly influenced by exchange rate movements. The strength of the Australian dollar against the currencies of major trading partners, particularly the US dollar and the Japanese yen, has reduced the competitiveness of Australian fisheries exports in recent years (box 1). In 2006-07, rock lobster remained Australia’s highest value individual catch, valued at $441 million, followed by salmonids ($281 million), prawns ($265 million), abalone ($216 million) and tuna ($161 million) (figure f). Australian sardines accounted for the highest individual catch by volume (14 per cent), followed by salmonids (11 per cent), prawns (9 per cent) and rock lobster (6 per cent). |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
| Rock lobster | ||||
| Key jurisdictions: Western Australia (w), South Australia (w) and Tasmania (w) | ||||
|
||||
| In 2006-07 the gross value of rock lobster production fell by $17.9 million (4 per cent) to $441 million. Driving this decline was a 12 per cent (1900 tonne) fall in production. Approximately two-thirds of Australia’s rock lobster production is from Western Australia. However, in recent years, production in that state’s rock lobster fishery has declined because of prevailing El Niño conditions (Chubb and Barker 2005). In 2006-07, the volume and value of Western Australia’s rock lobster production fell by 1800 tonne and $45.5 million. The impact of this decline on the gross value of rock lobster production was partially offset by higher unit prices in 2006-07, particularly in Australia’s other main rock lobster fisheries in South Australia (17 per cent of total catch in 2006-07) and Tasmania (11 per cent). Production values in these two states increased by $15.6 million and $6.5 million respectively in 2006-07. The majority of rock lobster production is exported. Major export markets include Hong Kong, Japan and the United States. Prices in overseas markets have recently risen because of stronger demand, which is the result of increased promotion and a reduction in supply from competing producers. However, the effect of these higher unit prices on Australian producers’ incomes has been somewhat dampened by the relatively high value of the Australian dollar. Although domestic prices for rock lobster have recovered in recent years, they are still approximately 20 per cent lower in real terms than in 2001-02 (figure d). |
||||
| Salmonids | ||||
| Key jurisdictions: Tasmania (aquaculture) | ||||
|
||||
| In 2005-06, farmed salmonids emerged as a key production species, overtaking tuna as Australia’s most valuable finfish species group. The value of farmed salmonids continued to rise in 2006-07, increasing by a further $49.5 million to $281 million. This increase is the result of several years of rapid growth in production, mostly in Tasmania. Between 2002-03 and 2006-07, Tasmanian farmed salmonid production increased by 74 per cent (10 000 tonne) in volume and 130 per cent ($154 million) in real value. In 2006-07, more than 23 600 tonne of salmonids, mostly comprised of Atlantic salmon, was produced in Tasmania, worth an estimated $272 million. Unlike the majority of Australia’s key species which are export oriented, Tasmania supplies most of its salmonids to the domestic market. A key factor contributing to its rapid growth in recent years has been the focus on marketing salmon to Australian consumers. Another factor behind the sector’s strong growth is the role of research and development, which has allowed the sector to adopt improved feeding techniques and apply better disease control measures. |
||||
|
||||
 |
||||
|
||||
| Prawns | ||||
| Key jurisdictions: Queensland (w,a), Commonwealth northern and Torres Strait prawn fisheries (w) and South Australia (w) | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of prawn production continued to decline in 2006-07, falling $41.3 million to $265 million. This was largely the result of declining catches in the Queensland wildcatch sector, which fell by 1600 tonne (24 per cent), as well as lower catches in Western Australia and the Commonwealth’s northern and Torres Strait prawn fisheries. Since 2000-01, the real value of Australian prawn production has fallen by 50 per cent or $270 million (figure b). This is the result of a decline in overall production quantity, the effect of which has been compounded by falling unit prices. In particular, production in Australia’s two main prawn fisheries — the northern prawn fishery and the Queensland trawl fishery — has fallen by 47 per cent (4390 tonne) and 28 per cent (1950 tonne) respectively over this period. Meanwhile, average real prawn prices have fallen by 27 per cent. However, in the northern prawn fishery prices have fallen much more than the average, declining by 38 per cent. A key factor contributing to this decline has been the appreciation of the Australian dollar, which has resulted in local producers facing strong competition from imported prawns, particularly from Viet Nam and China. Over the 10 years to 2006-07, the quantity of imported prawns has more than doubled, while real average unit import prices have nearly halved. As an export-oriented species, the appreciation of the Australian dollar in recent years has also reduced the price that domestic producers receive for their product in export markets. |
||||
| Abalone | ||||
| Key jurisdictions: Tasmania (w), Victoria (w) and South Australia (w) | ||||
|
||||
| As a high-value product, even small percentage changes in the production volume or price of abalone can result in large absolute changes in gross value of production. Between 2000-01 and 2003-04, the real gross value of abalone production fell by 34 per cent ($111 million). This was almost entirely the result of a 36 per cent drop in average unit price, which fell from approximately $58 a kilogram to $37 a kilogram over this period. As is the case with rock lobster, a large proportion of abalone is exported, mostly to Hong Kong, China and Japan. Hence the continued appreciation of the Australian dollar has had a significant effect on abalone exports to Asia since 2000-01, resulting in lower prices on both the domestic and export markets. Average unit prices partially recovered over the two years to 2005-06, before falling again in 2006-07. Over this period, declining production levels in several states as a result of total allowable catch (TAC) reductions and a disease outbreak in Victoria have been offset to a large extent by increased production in the aquaculture sector. Nonetheless, a small drop in both production volume and unit prices in 2006-07 resulted in the gross value of production falling by $9 million (4 per cent) to $216 million (figure b). |
||||
| Tuna | ||||
| Key jurisdictions: South Australia (a) and Commonwealth eastern tuna and billfish fishery (w) | ||||
|
||||
| After reaching a peak of $388 million in 2000-01, the real value of tuna production has more than halved over the six years to 2006-07 (figure g). As approximately 90 per cent of Australia’s tuna production is exported, mostly to Japan, prices during this period have been strongly influenced by the appreciation of the Australian dollar against the Japanese yen. Between 2000-01 and 2006-07, average unit prices for tuna species fell by 49 per cent (in real terms), the effect of which has been compounded by a 19 per cent fall in production quantity. Approximately half of Australia’s wildcatch tuna production is comprised of juvenile southern bluefin, the majority of which are towed to aquaculture farms in South Australia for fattening. Catches in the Commonwealth’s southern bluefin tuna fishery are based on annual allocations from the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) and have been relatively stable in recent years at around 5200 tonne. Farm output has averaged around 8300 tonne. Other important tuna species include yellowfin, bigeye and more recently, albacore, which are captured in the Commonwealth’s eastern tuna and billfish fishery. In value terms, southern bluefin tuna accounts for approximately 85 per cent of the total value of Australian tuna production. Since 2000-01, the real value of southern bluefin tuna production has fallen by 56 per cent ($174 million). The main factor contributing to this decline has been falling unit prices, particularly in the aquaculture sector where average real prices have almost halved over the six years to 2006-07. In 2006-07, the value of tuna production continued to fall, dropping a further $14 million (8 per cent) to $161 million. The total volume of tuna production increased slightly, with a 2110 tonne (66 per cent) increase in catch in the eastern tuna and billfish fishery offsetting a 1320 tonne (15 per cent) decline in southern bluefin tuna aquaculture production. However, the shift by eastern tuna and billfish fishery operators toward targeting albacore, a comparatively low-value tuna species, resulted in an increase in production value of only $3.9 million. By comparison, the fall in southern bluefin tuna aquaculture production resulted in an $18.1 million fall in the total production value (wildcatch and aquaculture) of this species. |
||||
| Production, by jurisdiction | ||||
| The gross volume and value of Australian fisheries production, by jurisdiction and location of catch, is given in tables 3–6. Production and value summaries for each jurisdiction are given in tables 7–14. In 2006-07, Western Australia had the largest gross value of production, accounting for 22 per cent of total fisheries production, followed closely by Tasmania (22 per cent) and South Australia (18 per cent* ) (figure h). By location of catch, once Commonwealth catch is distributed to the states according to where it was caught, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia accounted for 65 per cent of Australia’s gross value of production. Western Australia’s share of gross value of production has declined significantly over the past decade, falling from 30 per cent in 1997-98 to 22 per cent in 2006-07 (figure i). This reflects strong growth in aquaculture production in Tasmania and South Australia over this period. The share of Commonwealth fisheries production also fell over this period, from 19 per cent to 13 per cent. |
||||
|
||||
 |
||||
|
||||
| New South Wales table 7 | ||||
| Key species: oysters (a), prawns (w), abalone (w) and sea mullet (w) | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of fisheries production in New South Wales rose slightly in 2006-07, increasing by $1.3 million to $127 million. The gross value of production in the wildcatch sector rose by $300 000 to $80.7 million, with a $1.1 million fall in the value of king prawn production offset by a $1 million increase in the value of rock lobster production. The former was the result of a 12 per cent fall in the quantity produced, while the later was because of increases in both production volume and unit price. In 2006-07, the effect of a decline in the production value of key mollusc species was also offset by increases in the production value of fish species, particularly Australian salmon, sea mullet and bream. In 2006-07 the gross value of New South Wales aquaculture production rose from $45 million to $46 million. This was driven mostly by a $2.4 million increase in the value of oyster production, which compensated for a $800 000 fall in the value of farmed prawn production. |
||||
| Victoria table 8 | ||||
| Key species: abalone (w), rock lobster (w) and trout (a) | ||||
|
||||
| In 2006-07 the total value of fisheries production in Victoria fell by $4.5 million to $93.9 million. The value of production in the wildcatch sector fell by $2.2 million, with the value of abalone production falling by $5 million and the value of rock lobster, Australian salmon and king george whiting production increasing by $1 million, $500 000 and $400 000 respectively. The fall in the value of abalone production was largely caused by an 8 per cent fall in unit price. The value of aquaculture production fell by 11 per cent, from $21 million in 2005-06 to $18.7 million in 2006-07. The production value of salmonid and abalone, the two main aquaculture species, fell by $1.2 million and $1.3 million respectively. The fall in the value of abalone was partially caused by lost production from farms affected by the outbreak of viral ganglioneuritis in December 2005. The fall in the value of salmonid production was the result of a combination of decreased production and lower unit prices. The value of ornamental fish production also fell by $1.2 million in 2006-07, while higher unit prices for mussels compensated for a decline in production and resulted in a $400 000 increase in production value. |
||||
| Queensland table 9 | ||||
| Key species: prawns (w,a), coral trout (w), crabs (w) and barramundi (a) | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of fisheries production in Queensland rose from $257 million in 2005-06 to $273 million in 2006-07. This was despite a 26 per cent decline in the value of wildcaught prawn production, which fell by $21.3 million to $59.2 million. This fall was the result of a 24 per cent decrease in the volume of prawn production, the effect of which was compounded by declining unit prices, particularly for endeavour prawns. Offsetting the fall in the value of prawn production was a $17 million increase in the value of coral trout production, which was a result of higher prices. The production value of wildcaught bugs, crabs, scallops and tropical snapper also rose in 2006-07, by $6.2 million, $4.5 million, $2.8 million and $2.7 million respectively. The gross value of aquaculture production rose by 6 per cent ($4.2 million) to $71.9 million in 2006-07. With the exception of prawns, which fell by $4 million to $42.5 million, the production value of all other aquaculture species increased in 2006-07. In particular, the value of barramundi production rose by $4.3 million to $18.3 million, driven by higher production levels and unit prices. |
||||
| Western Australia table 10 | ||||
| Key species: rock lobster (w), pearls (a), prawns (w), abalone (w) and scallops (w) | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of fisheries production in Western Australia fell by 12 per cent in 2006-07, from $545 million to $480 million. Contributing to this decline was a 17 per cent fall in the production of rock lobster, which resulted in the production value of this species falling $45.5 million to $247 million. The decline in rock lobster production was largely caused by the influence of El Niño conditions on stock abundance in the fishery. The volume and value of prawn production also fell in 2006-07, by 740 tonne (22 per cent) and $9.2 million (24 per cent) respectively, as did the volume and value of other key species, including abalone, scallops, tropical snapper and sharks. The total value of aquaculture production remained relatively unchanged in 2006-07, at $129 million. |
||||
| South Australia table 11 | ||||
| Key species: southern bluefin tuna (a), rock lobster (w), prawns (w), abalone (w) and oysters (a) | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of fisheries production in South Australia rose by $23.3 million to $426 million in 2006-07. In the wildcatch sector, production rose by $26 million to $219 million, largely attributable to increases in the value of rock lobster and prawn production, which rose by $15.6 million and $5.7 million respectively. Driving these increases were higher unit prices, particularly for rock lobster which rose by 18 per cent in 2006-07. The value of South Australian aquaculture production fell slightly in 2006-07, dropping $2.7 million to $208 million. The value of southern bluefin tuna, which typically accounts for a large proportion of aquaculture production, fell $18 million to $138 million. This was the result of a 15 per cent fall in production* . Offsetting this decline was a 43 per cent increase in oyster production, which resulted in a $14 million rise in production value. The real value of farmed oyster production has more than doubled in the past five years and now accounts for 41 per cent of the state’s aquaculture production in terms of volume and 18 per cent in terms of value. The majority of southern bluefin tuna caught in Australia is captured by Commonwealth endorsed boats that net juvenile fish in the Great Australian Bight and tow them to aquaculture farms off Port Lincoln in South Australia for fattening. Almost all of the farmed tuna is exported to Japan. In recent years, exchange rate movements and competition from farmed northern bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and Mexico have reduced the price received by Australian producers in the Japanese market. The real unit price of southern bluefin tuna from South Australian aquaculture farms has almost halved since 2000-01, with production value falling by $174 million (in real terms) over this period. |
||||
| Tasmania table 12 | ||||
| Key species: salmonids (a), abalone (w) and rock lobster (w) | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of production from Tasmanian fisheries rose by $60 million (14 per cent) to $475 million in 2006-07. Production value in the wildcatch sector rose by $10 million (6 per cent) to $180 million, reflecting higher unit prices for rock lobster and increased scallop and abalone production. The value of Tasmanian aquaculture production continued to rise, increasing a further $50 million to $295 million. Over the five years to 2006-07, the state’s aquaculture sector has approximately doubled in value in real terms. Driving this increase has been a 65 per cent increase in the volume of salmonid production, the effect of which has been compounded by a 28 per cent increase (in real terms) in unit price. In 2006-07, the value of farmed salmonid production was $272 million, accounting for 57 per cent of the state’s total gross value of production. |
||||
| Northern Territory table 13 | ||||
| Key species: crabs (w), mackerel (w), gold band snapper (w), barramundi (w) and sea perch (w) | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of fisheries production in the Northern Territory rose from $52.3 million in 2005-06 to $53.5 million in 2006-07. This increase was mainly the result of a 26 per cent rise in the production of mud crabs, as well as a 290 per cent increase in total mollusc production (which is mostly comprised of sea cucumbers). In 2006-07 the value of aquaculture production fell by $1.4 million in 2006-07 to $24.6 million. |
||||
| Commonwealth table 14 | ||||
| Key species: prawns, tuna and sharks (w) | ||||
|
||||
| Since 2000-01, the real gross value of Commonwealth fisheries production has almost halved, declining from $563 million to $293 million in 2006-07 (figure j). This decline is the result of several factors, including falling unit prices for key species such as prawns and tuna, and a 21 per cent (15 500 tonne) decline in production. In particular, the real value of prawn production fell by $152 million (67 per cent) over the six years to 2006-07. This was the result of a 5200 tonne (46 per cent) decline in production volume, the effect of which was compounded by a 40 per cent fall in average real unit prawn prices. The real value of tuna production also fell by $82.7 million (56 per cent) between 2000-01 and 2006-07, driven by a 51 per cent fall in average real prices and an 11 per cent (1280 tonne) fall in production volume. Another factor contributing to this decline is a $38.6 million fall in the real value of broadbill swordfish production, from $47.3 million in 2001-02 to $8.7 million in 2006-07. This was the result of a 65 per cent fall in production volume and a 48 per cent fall in average price over this period. Similarly, the real value of orange roughy production fell from $31.3 million in 1998-99 to $3.6 million in 2006-07. The main factor driving this fall was an 85 per cent decline in production volume, which is largely the result of total allowable catch reductions for this species. In 2006-07, the volume of production from Commonwealth-managed fisheries continued to decline, falling a further 6000 tonne to 56 800 tonne. However, the effect of this decline on gross value of production was largely offset by a general increase in prices received for fisheries products in 2006-07, resulting in the value of production rising by 5 per cent to $293 million. Despite a 14 per cent fall in value, prawns remained the most valuable Commonwealth managed species, accounting for 25 per cent ($73.6 million) of total Commonwealth production value in 2006-07. This decline was the result of a 9 per cent fall in production quantity (mostly banana prawns) and lower unit prices for the three main prawn species: tiger, banana and endeavour prawns. In the northern prawn fishery, the Commonwealth’s major prawn fishery, the production value of prawns fell by $9.8 million to a 10 year low (in real terms) of $62.3 million. The value of tuna production, the next most valuable species, rose by 14 per cent ($7.8 million) in 2006-07 to $63.9 million, driven by an increase in production in the Commonwealth’s two main tuna fisheries. In the southern bluefin tuna fishery, production value rose by $3.5 million to $41 million. This was the result of a combination of higher catches and prices during 2006-07. In the eastern tuna and billfish fishery, the gross value of production rose by 14 per cent to $32.6 million. Operators continued to target albacore, with production rising from 1300 tonne in 2005-06 to 2800 tonne in 2006-07. Although albacore is a comparatively low-value species, the higher catch combined with a 11 per cent rise in average unit price resulted in the production value of this species rising by $3.4 million in 2006-07. The value of yellowfin tuna also rose by $1.1 million, despite a 15 per cent fall in price. The value of Commonwealth shark production increased by $500 000 to $18.7 million in 2006-07, despite a 13 per cent fall in production. On average, approximately two-thirds of shark production in volume and 80 per cent in value is taken in the gillnet, hook and trap sector of the southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery. In 2006-07, the value of shark production in this sector increased by 7 per cent to $15.2 million in 2006-07, which was mostly the result of higher unit prices, particularly for key species such as gummy shark, school shark and saw shark. Of the remaining shark production, the majority is taken in the Commonwealth trawl sector and the Great Australian Bight trawl sector. Higher shark prices were observed in both sectors in 2006-07, however, the value of production in the former fell by $500 000 (21 per cent) because of a proportionally higher fall in production quantity. Other valuable species landed from Commonwealth waters include flathead, valued at $18.3 million in 2006-07, blue grenadier ($14.3 million), rock lobster ($9.6 million), broadbill swordfish ($8.7 million) and ling ($6.2 million). |
||||
| Production, by sector | ||||
| The gross volume and value of Australian production, by sector, is given in table 1. Production and value summaries for each sector are given in table 2 (wildcaught) and tables 15–17 (aquaculture). The total volume of Australian fisheries production fell by 5740 tonne, or 2 per cent, in 2006-07 to 240 000. Production in the aquaculture sector continued to rise, increasing by 5100 tonne (9 per cent), while production in the Commonwealth and state wildcatch sectors fell by 5990 tonne (10 per cent) and 4690 tonne (4 per cent) respectively. Despite the overall decline in production volume, the gross value of production increased by 2 per cent ($44.3 million) to $2.18 billion (figure k). This increase was the result of a 7 per cent ($49.4 million) increase in the value of aquaculture production and a 5 per cent ($15 million) increase in the value of Commonwealth wildcatch production. These increases more than compensated for a 1 per cent ($16.2 million) decline in the value of the state wildcatch sector. Aquaculture accounted for 34 per cent of the gross value of fisheries production in 2006-07, up from 26 per cent in 1998-99. Over the same period, the contribution of state fisheries to total wildcatch production value has increased from 74 per cent to 80 per cent. |
||||
| Wildcatch table 2 | ||||
| Key species: rock lobster, prawns, abalone and tuna | ||||
|
||||
| The total value of wildcatch fisheries production remained relatively stable in 2006-07, falling $1.2 million to $1.43 billion. The value of finfish production rose by $44.3 million to $438 million, driven by higher unit prices for coral trout and flathead as well as increased production of Australian sardines and tuna. The value of crustacean production fell by $43.9 million, the result of declining production volumes for rock lobster and prawns. The value of mollusc production fell by $1.7 million with the effect of a drop in the unit price of abalone greater than the effects of increases in both scallop and squid production. Despite a $25.4 million fall in production value, rock lobster remained the most valuable wildcatch species, accounting for 31 per cent of total value of wildcatch fisheries production in 2006-07. Other key species included prawns ($220 million), abalone ($199 million) and tuna ($64.2 million). Over the five years to 2006-07, the real value of wildcatch fisheries production has fallen by $619 million, or 30 per cent (figure l). In particular, the value of prawns has fallen by $198 million (47 per cent) over this period, while the value of tuna, rock lobster and abalone has fallen by $88.5 million (58 per cent), $133 million (23 per cent) and $81.8 million (29 per cent) respectively. These falls have been the result of declining unit prices, which, as export-oriented species, is largely the result of the strong appreciation of the Australian dollar against the currencies of major trading partners. |
||||
| Aquaculture tables 15-17 | ||||
| Key species: salmonids, tuna, pearl oysters, edible oysters | ||||
|
||||
| The gross value of aquaculture production continued to rise in 2006-07, increasing by $49.4 million to $793 million (figure m). The value of finfish aquaculture rose by $35.7 million, with a $49.5 million rise in the value of salmonid production compensating for an $18.1 million fall in the value of southern bluefin tuna production. The value of crustacean production fell by $3.7 million, the result of declining prawn production, while the value of mollusc production rose by $15.8 million, driven by a 19 per cent increase in the production of edible oysters. In 2006-07, the most valuable aquaculture species was farmed salmonids, accounting for 42 per cent of total production volume and approximately one-third of total value. The emergence of farmed salmonids as a key species, not merely in terms of aquaculture production but in fisheries production overall, follows several years of rapid growth in Tasmania. Between 2002-03 and 2006-07, the volume and real value of farmed salmonid production in Tasmania increased by 10 000 tonne and $154 million. Meanwhile, the real value of southern bluefin production from South Australia has more than halved, falling from a peak of $311 million in 2000-01 to $138 million in 2006-07. The main factor contributing to this decline has been lower prices, affected by the appreciation of the Australian dollar against the Japanese yen. |
||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|