AUSTRALASIA
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2004
PROBLEM-SOLVING PROF Professor Sena De Silva of Deakin University is leading a project intended to help Indonesia resolve serious fish-farming problems in three reservoirs in Java. The project, funded to the extent of hundreds of thousands of dollars by the Federal Government, is to address problems which began occurring in 1993, under circumstances in which now thousands of tonnes of fish can be lost. Professor De Silva now has $390,000 from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and will depart for Indonesia in September to commence the three-year study. He'll be working on the optimal density for farming caged fish, an issue related to water quality. It's a problem which has become more evident in the last ten years. Source: Eve Lamb in the Warrnambool Standard (23/7/2004)
MUSSELS HEALTHY MUSSELS When a study by Sydney University's Professor McIntyre indicated only two sites on the NSW coast suitable for the activity, Andrew and Julie Harvey began farming mussels at Jervis Bay and Twofold Bay. They have a 1ha site at Twofold Bay where they place new ropes to collect spawners. When the mussels reach 100mm they move them to Jervis Bay where they're spread out to grow. Mr Harvey describes his farm as a floating reef, supplying 200 tonnes of product a year in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly industry. He's recently been granted permission to sell mussels from the wharf at Huskisson Source: South Coast Register (Nowra) ( 23/7/2004).
MARKETING INDUSTRY ACTION PLAN FOR THE HASTINGS The Hastings Council is to fund an industry action plan intended to support sales of fish from five local farms into the Hastings community – currently the farmers mostly sell into Sydney. Under the plan, which would establish an entirely new market, the five farmers will share marketing and transport costs and become more capable of meeting what's hoped to be a growing demand. Two local restaurants are have already agreed to use the local fish – some caters have been importing Northern Territory barramundi because they were unaware of the local sources. Group chairman and farmer Brian Irving says the intent is to promote local fish farm produce, especially silver perch and barramundi. The Hasting Council's philosophy in funding the push is that it will create more jobs and help preserve the environment, since fish farming eases the pressure on wildstock fish. Source: Port Macquarie News (2/8/2004).
EYRE PENINSULA SEAFOOD & AQUACULTURE TRAIL The Eyre Peninsula Seafood and Aquaculture trail is believed to be the first of its kind in Australia – it's a self-drive trail from Whyalla to Ceduna designed to promote the region's aquaculture industry. It provides for visits to commercial operations ranging from small family businesses to very large facilities, with guides explaining how things are done. It's been predicted the Eyre Peninsula's aquaculture activity is likely to double capacity by 2010 – in 2000-2001 there were sales of $428.5 million and employment for around 2000 people. The Trail was recently boosted by a State Government grant of $20,000 for additional signs and car parking, which will help businesses which are new in joining the Trail. Some 24,000 tours were sold last year, an 11 percent increase on the previous year. Those using the Trail can discover the fishing, and in many cases the farming and tasting of southern bluefin tuna, crayfish, abalone, shark, scallops, seahorses, crabs, snapper, oysters, yellow-tail kingfish, mulloway and King George Whiting. Direct sales to the public are also available on many tours. For more information check out www.tep.com.au. Source: Stock Journal (26/8/2004); Port Lincoln Times (2/9/2004) 58
A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E
KINKAWOOKA MUSSELS Diners should take the chance to sample Kinkawooka mussels, grown in Boston Bay off Port Lincoln. The mussels, smaller and sweeter than conventional, are part of a special deal on offer at 40 SA restaurants during August – order a dish of mussels and there'll be a free glass of wine in the deal. A crisp, citrus-style Richmond Grove reisling provides the best companion. Source: Adelaide Advertiser (18/8/2004).
O R N A M E N TA L S RIRDC WINNER PROGRESSES Carnarvon's Diana Morrison, who won a bursary of $15,000 under the Federal Government's 2004 RIRDC Rural Women's Award, has been investigating the economics of farming exotic aquarium fish in saline artesian water. The interest lies in the fact that 80 million ornamental fish are imported into Australia each year. Currently Diana's work has resulted in varieties of catfish, rainbow fish and goldfish now being marketed in Perth and Karratha. She'll soon visit the eastern states to meet with appropriate industry people before travelling to Singapore to attend the annual Aquamara Expo, which is the ornamental fish showcase of South-East Asia. Those involved with agriculture and/or natural resources can take a leaf from Diana's book and investigate the possibilities for a Rural Woman's Award. Visit the website at www.ruralwomensaward.gov.au. Nominations open on 1 August and close on 15 October. Source: Northern Guardian (28/7/2004).
ORNAMENTALS IN ARTESIAN WATER There are opportunities for Gascoyne farmers to diversify into ornamental fish farming in artesian water, advocates Di Morrison. Ms Morrison, winner of the RIRDC Rural Women's Award for her aquaculture project, has been growing ornamental fish for 12 to 18 months in artesian water – once she developed a treatment system for it. The temperature and iron content was too high, and the water was devoid of oxygen. Although the ornamental industry has its fads, she's had no problem