AQUACULTURE

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:01): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about aquaculture.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Many of us enjoy fish, though I suspect few of us have a real appreciation of one of the ways these fish are brought to market, and that is through aquaculture. My question is: will the minister provide to the chamber details of the economic impact of this form of food production?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. It is very pleasing, as Minister for Fisheries, to bring to members' attention confirmation that our aquaculture industry is doing extremely well. A report by independent consultancy EconSearch examined the effect this form of activity has in South Australia, under the title 'The economic impact of aquaculture on the South Australian state and regional economies 2011-12', a very catchy title, Mr President, you will note.

This annual examination of the industry found that the value of aquaculture production grew by an impressive 11 per cent, or more than $23 million, which is quite a significant contribution to our economy—and that is just from the previous financial year. Scanning the industry as a whole, it found that the growth was driven by an increase in production of our fabulous seafood and, in particular, in the 2011-12 year, the southern bluefin tuna harvest, which increased by 22 per cent during the period 2010-11, and oysters increased by 18 per cent during that period as well, so both of those, in particular, are doing extremely well.

Most of these aquaculture businesses are regional businesses, and it is a testament to the ingenuity and enterprise of our regional communities that they have grown so quickly. I am advised that aquaculture now makes up 54 per cent of our seafood production—and 54 per cent is a remarkable statistic.

Added to their production growth, this sector is also a very significant employer. It provides around 1,147 full-time jobs directly created by aquaculture and a further 1,510 FTEs through indirect employment. Most of these jobs, as you would expect, are located in regional South Australia, with 65 per cent of them based outside the Greater Adelaide area, and the bulk of those regional jobs are, I am sure you would not be surprised to know, to be found on Eyre Peninsula.

Members have previously heard me speak glowingly about our fabulous seafood and aquaculture industry, whether it is growing tuna or oysters, it definitely exemplifies our premium food and wine from our clean environment, the attraction of wonderful seafood which is produced in a pristine environment and obviously also helps drive the regional tourism. In 2011-12 data was collected for the first time on aquaculture operations which also acted as a tourist drawcard.

I understand that swimming with the tuna in their pens was undertaken during that period by two tuna farms and the report found that about 12,000 visitors at an estimated $620,000 were recorded, and that activity is expected to be even more popular in future. You can see how important it is that we are able to bring visitors—particularly interstate visitors—to South Australia out to our regions so they can enjoy these incredible tourism experiences.

Much of our valued aquaculture product is exported with Japan being a major market for our tuna, while South Australian oysters continue to grow from a small base of Asian markets including Hong Kong and Singapore. It is a varied sector with production in aquaculture including mussels, abalone, freshwater finfish, marine finfish, as well as marron and yabbie farming, with much of the product being eaten here in Australia.

South Australia benefits from this innovative industry and I can announce that this innovation will be on show when the world's aquaculture producers come to Adelaide for the World Aquaculture Conference and Trade Show. That will be held between 7 and 11 June 2014. This conference has not been hosted here since 1999 so it will be a great opportunity to highlight our successes and show the world how it is done. If members would like more information, the conference can be found online and I encourage members to put those dates in their diary and to come along and have a look at that wonderful trade event.