Preparing the way for growth in aquaculture in Northern Australia: Industry priorities and vision 2028 Dean Jerry , Jennifer Cobcroft, Kyall Zenger, Jan Strugnell, Amy Diedrich, Rob Bell, Roger Barnard, Simon Irvin, Kylie Penehoe, Michael Davis, Kim Hooper, Jo-anne Ruscoe
Project Objectives • Identify key challenges and opportunities facing the aquaculture sector in northern Australia • Explore potential solutions and/or identify the most strategic research projects for further investment
Project Scope Aquaculture • infrastructure • policy • investment • environmental Research or alternative • production solutions to address • knowledge roadblocks • training and human capital gaps
Project Approach Capacity & Current & Strategy for Industry scalability emerging future Vision 2028 limitations issues growth • Species and • Industry • SWOT • Socialisation regions supported • PESTEL • Incorporate • Lit review • Identified goals feedback • Scenarios • Survey • ID solution • Stage I Report providers • Focus Groups • Stage II Report • Final Report
Surveyed participants Distribution of respondents in Northern Australian Regions, and throughout Australia 120+ responses
R e s p o n d e n t s Online Survey Respondent Location Species produced: Barramundi 35% Tiger Prawns 29% 12% Pearl Oyster 16% Rock Oyster 10% 17% Cobia 6% 56% Grouper 6% Banana Prawns 3% 15% Redclaw 3% Software Other 26% Including sea cucumber, QLD WA NT Outside Northern Aus black lip oyster, milky oyster, tropical rock lobster & cherabin
C h a l l e n g e r a t i n g Online Survey Species specific responses: Please choose how you would like to answer the following challenge rating questions: Barramundi 20% Tiger Prawns 18% Redclaw 13% Species specific Rock Oyster 11% 21% Grouper 9% 35% Industry wide Pearl Oyster 7% Cobia 2% 44% Do not feel qualified to respond Other 21% Software Including giant clams, tropical rock lobsters, slipper lobsters, cherbin, ornamentals, black- lip oysters, eel, seaweed, marron & sea cucumber
C h a l l e n g e r a t i n g Online Survey Weighted average – Industry wide challenges (all respondents) Other key challenges identified Power (costs/reliability) Labour recruitment/availability by respondents: Environmental risks/pressures (extreme weather etc.) Building/infrastructure costs - Business management capacity Breeding programs (absence of) - Red tape & bureaucracy Labour costs - Discharge limits/restrictions Livability/remoteness of operations Transport costs - Access to technology and innovation Regulatory burden (time/cost) - Social license to operate Supply chain and infrastructure - Lack of suitable sites Feed costs Access to capital - Biosecurity risks Disease - Public perception of industry Broodstock (quality/supply) Fingerling, PL and/or spat (quality/supply) - Land ownership Competition (domestic and international) - Water quality Market access and development Market sales price Stock performance Feed quality 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00
C h a l l e n g e r a t i n g Online Survey Weighted average - Industry wide challenges (producers only) Labour recruitment/availability Regulatory burden (time/cost) Power (costs/reliability) Breeding programs (absence of) Labour costs Environmental risks/pressures (extreme weather etc.) Broodstock (quality/supply) Access to capital Disease Building/infrastructure costs Feed costs Transport costs Fingerling, PL and/or spat (quality/supply) Livability/remoteness of operations Competition (domestic and international) Stock performance Market sales price Supply chain and infrastructure Market access and development Feed quality 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00
Perception of industry level challenges for aquaculture development in northern Australia Environmental Risks severe Regulatory Burden Access to Capital Competition moderate Market Sales Price Market Access/Development Supply Chain Infrastructure minor Transport Building Infrastructure Power no response/don’t know Liveability Labour Recruitment Labour Costs Absence of Breeding Programs Feed Quality Feed Costs Disease Stock Performance Fingerling (supply and quality) Broodstock 0 20 40 60 80 100 Percent
Perception of industry level challenges for aquaculture development in northern Australia Environmental Risks Regulatory Burden Access to Capital Competition Market Sales Price Market Access/Development Supply Chain Infrastructure Transport Building Infrastructure Power Liveability Labour Recruitment Labour Costs Absence of Breeding Programs Feed Quality Feed Costs Disease Stock Performance Fingerling (supply and quality) Broodstock 80 100 100 0 20 40 60 80 0 20 40 60 Percent Percent
Perception of industry level challenges for aquaculture development in northern Australia Environmental Risks Regulatory Burden Access to Capital Competition Market Sales Price Market Access/Development Supply Chain Infrastructure Transport Building Infrastructure Power Liveability Labour Recruitment Labour Costs Absence of Breeding Programs Feed Quality Feed Costs Disease Stock Performance Fingerling (supply and quality) Broodstock 100 100 0 20 40 60 80 0 20 40 60 80 Percent Percent
F u t u r e e x p a n s i o n Online Survey Future expansion credit allocation - % total “Other” future expansion Training, skills and workforce availability options identified by respondents: Selective breeding programs - Transport subsidies Research, development & extension - Independent environmental impact assessments Infrastructure - Reducing power costs Government policy and regulation - Expanding biosecurity capacity and resources Expanding markets - Improving reliability of power Access to capital Other 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
F u t u r e e x p a n s i o n Online Survey R&D Credit allocation - % total “Other” R&D expansion Live/fresh transport identified by respondents: Breeding and genetics - Transport subsidies - Independent environmental Environmental management impact assessments - Reducing power costs Culture water quality management - Expanding biosecurity capacity Nutrition and resources Disease management Automation Other 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Industry SWOT analysis • Strong reputation of Australian • Disease outbreak/introduction of produce (17.6%) exotic diseases (17.6%) • High growth rates due to warm • Increase in power/fuel costs (10.3%) average temperatures (13.8%) • Regulatory processes hindering • Large areas of suitable land expansion and/or market (11.7%) development (9.8%) • Strong scientific support (11.1%); • Competition from international and competitors (9.2%); and Strengths Weaknesses • Access and availability of fresh • Consumers unable to correctly identify water (10.0%) Australian produce (8.4%) • Improve clarity and regulation of Country of Origin labelling (10.6%) Threats Opportunities • Complex and duplicate regulatory • indigenous engagement, employment processes (13.2%) and commercial opportunities (9.2%) • High power costs (12.3%) • Increase and improve breeding • High transport costs (11.7%) programs (8.7%) • High labour costs (10.8%); and • Increase production efficiency • Lack of skilled/experienced labour through automation/other (10.2%) technology (8.7%); and • Increase and improve hatchery/seedstock supply (8.1%)
Industry growth predictions ~$200M 2025 ~$100M 2019 2028 $410 million - $1 2019 billion $220 million 1200 direct new ~$150M ~$74M 2027 jobs 2019
Recommendations Biosecurity Increased pathogen understanding, documented risks, transmission pathways, and practical surveillance implemented for the aquaculture industry in northern Australia by 2023. Skilled personnel Meet the gap in skilled personnel to fill at least 1200 jobs in aquaculture in northern Australia by 2028. Supply chain capacity Improved aquaculture supply chains in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Northern Territory and northern Queensland to reduce operating costs in northern Australia. Collaboration in Innovative Technologies and Community Engagement Enhancing networking and industry cohesion to deliver solutions to facilitate industry problem-solving. Science-based policy and regulation Continued improvement in clarified, science-based policies for aquaculture regulation, with transparent processes and timelines, enabling environmentally responsible and timely aquaculture expansion . Stronger and adaptive governance
Northern Australian Aquaculture Industry Vision 2028 Aquaculture will grow to a mature, cohesive, sustainable and respected industry through innovative people providing more premium products to Australian and international markets, contributing to the prosperity and diversification of regional and Indigenous communities in the north.
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia and the support of its investment partners: the Western Australian, Northern Territory and Queensland Governments. We also acknowledge the financial and in-kind support of the project participants. Thank you to all the industry, government and education stakeholders who provided their perspective and input.
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