AQUACULTURE ZONES

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries questions about the government's aquaculture zones policy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Eyre Peninsula recreational fishers, as well as many others who travel long distances to that region, will be directly impacted by the proposed aquaculture zones in the Lower Eyre Peninsula area of the state. Many are anxious about the potential impact that aquaculture leases may have on recreational fishing. My questions to the minister are:

1. Will the minister provide an update on the proposed Draft Aquaculture (Zones—Lower Eyre Peninsula) Policy?

2. What form of public consultation will a proposed aquaculture lease be subject to under this policy?

3. Will the minister indicate the distance from the shoreline for new aquaculture leases that will be featured in the zones policy?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for his questions. The Aquaculture Act allows for aquaculture zones to be created specifying specific species. It also enables things like where and how much is permitted to be farmed. The ability to zone for aquaculture is something that is recognised internationally as a very important and quite fundamental planning tool, which is fundamental to supporting industry sustainability, industry confidence and investment.

South Australia has been able to attract corporate investment from within Australia and overseas, with a number of industry testimonials crediting its management arrangements as one of the key reasons for its investment; so it is something that is very important to us. There are 11 aquaculture zone policies that cover a number of regions, including Coffin Bay, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Arno Bay and a number of others.

Combined, these policies, I am advised, allocate over 6,300 hectares for aquaculture activity. They accommodate industry medium-term growth forecasts and include a range of aquaculture species and farming techniques for fin fish, intertidal and subtidal shellfish and algae. A zone policy is currently being drafted for Tumby Bay, with comments from and responses to the public consultation process going to the Aquaculture Advisory Committee in early 2012. The Draft Aquaculture (Zones—Lower Eyre Peninsula) Policy is at the same stage as the Draft Aquaculture (Zones—Tumby Bay) Policy, and new zone policies for Franklin Harbour and Ceduna are also planned for 2012.

The zone policies are developed through scientific processes, obviously, involving consultative processes. Of particular importance is having sufficient data to be able to determine the activities for each zone, and this information is obtained through technical investigations of the area, scientific research results, information gathered through the licensing and environmental monitoring program requirements and consultation with key stakeholders, the public and other relevant government agencies. A thorough public consultation process is undertaken as part of the policy development, as I have said, and this also assists in identifying broader resource uses and other issues of community concern. In relation to the distance from the shoreline, I will have to take that on notice and will be happy to bring back a response.