FACTS ON FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE

 

 

 Historical Fishing

• 9 out of 10 large predator fish have disappeared from the worlds oceans in the past 100 years. 
• Port Stephens had numerous large deepwater oyster reefs when Europeans first arrived in the area.  Environmental impacts caused these reefs to become permanently extinct approximately 120 years ago. 
• Australia's capture fisheries have remained static since the early 1990s at around 200,000 tonnes per annum (p.a.).  This is in light of recent advancements in fishing technologies and increased demand for seafood products.
• 60% of our fisheries are currently listed as overfished or critical

 

Community Perceptions (Source: Bureau of Resource Sciences)

• 77% of the community consider Aquaculture to be environmentally sustainable compared to only 4% who consider aquaculture to be unsustainable.

 

Current Domestic Seafood Statistics (Source: Canberra University)

• Current domestic demand for seafood is around 440,000 tonnes p.a.
• Australia imports 280,000 tonnes of seafood product p.a. 
• NSW imports 120,000 tonnes p.a.
• Australian aquaculture produces around 35,000 tonnes p.a.

 

Estimated Domestic Requirements in 2050 (Source: CSIRO)

• By 2050 Australian seafood consumption will be over 1.1 million tonnes p.a.
• By 2050 it is estimated that 925,000 tonnes of seafood product will be imported p.a.

 

At the Crossroads

• As the demand for wild caught seafood products increase and the volume of available product decreases there will be an emerging lifestyle and trade dilemma in the seafood industry.
• Aquaculture is growing slowly in Australia and is unlikely to meet much of future demand if current social and planning constraints prevail.
• Technological innovation is rapidly advancing, resulting in sustainable forms of aquaculture that can operate within a small footprint and be compatible with both the environment and local communities.