This recently published report gives some good background on Australia’s aquaculture industry highlighting its base in rural coastal regions.
It discusses the past decade where changing global economic and trade conditions have resulted in Asia supplying an ever-increasing amount of seafood to Australian consumers which had an impact on Prawn farming on the eastern seaboard.
The Southern Cross University’s National Marine Science Centre, based at Coffs Harbour, researched the feasibility of farming the finfish Mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) as an opportunity for
Australian prawn farmers to diversify their production base. In this context, they investigated the effect of imported products on the viability of the northern NSW prawn farming industry by reviewing the output and cost structures of a local prawn farm before (2002-2003) and after the influx of competing imports (2006-2007).
Australian prawn farmers to diversify their production base. In this context, they investigated the effect of imported products on the viability of the northern NSW prawn farming industry by reviewing the output and cost structures of a local prawn farm before (2002-2003) and after the influx of competing imports (2006-2007).
Additionally, the findings of a two year trial of farming Mulloway in ponds on a converted prawn farm are evaluated, and possible opportunities are identified.
Regional policy implications of the case study are examined and current constraints and limitations to the uptake of Mulloway farming in northern NSW are also identified.
Source:
Journal of Economic and Social Policy (Vol. 16, Iss. 1 [2014], Art. 6) a new report authored by Guy, McIlgorm and Waterman
Read more here.