Aquaculture growth in Qld

The 2018–19 Aquaculture Production Summary for Queensland has revealed that aquaculture is a multimillion-dollar industry, providing jobs for over 600 Queenslanders. Jobs in Queensland aquaculture increased by 18.7% during the last financial year, with 525 full-time positions rising to 623.

“The annual Aquaculture Production Summary confirms we are on track with our goal to grow Queensland’s aquaculture industry, which will create hundreds more jobs in the regions. This is why we set our goal of making Queensland the aquaculture capital of the world, so we can attract millions of dollars’ worth of investment and create jobs for hundreds more Queenslanders,” said Mark Furner, Minister for Agriculture Industry Development and Fisheries.

The annual aquaculture report demonstrates the strength of the industry, with the prawn sector growing at a substantial rate. From 2018–19, prawn production increased by 18.1% to 4630 tonnes, with the total value of prawn production increasing by 7.6% to $80.4 million. The number of prawn-producing farms also increased from four to 20. The value of Queensland aquaculture increased by 3.7% to $118.4 million, with a 6.1% increase in total production.

“The prawn industry continues to recover from white spot disease as affected farms restock their ponds. The continued recovery of the prawn sector, the release of six Aquaculture Development Areas and investment in aquaculture farms by companies such as salmon producer Tassal mean a very bright future for the industry in Queensland,” Furner said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Vladislav Gajic