Seafood Industry

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the recent funding announcement by the state government for the establishment of an industry-wide seafood peak body in South Australia?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his question. I was very pleased to be able to stand with key seafood industry figures last week to announce that the state government will provide $300,000 towards the establishment of a state-based seafood peak body. The new body, Seafood Industry South Australia Incorporated (SISA for short) will be independent and wholly industry driven.

SISA will be tasked with advocating for the seafood industry across a broad range of sectors, with its membership comprising of wild catch, aquaculture, processing and retail, which makes this new body unique in its whole-of-industry focus within our state. SISA will also have an important role as a voice for the industry on the national and international stage.

South Australia, as one of Australia's largest and premium seafood states, will now have a further enhanced ability to communicate its achievements, championing our diverse and world-class range of sustainably sourced seafood, as well as our fantastic processers and retailers. The new industry-wide seafood peak body is an initiative that key figures across the seafood sectors have long called for, including Northern Zone Rock Lobster Association Executive Officer, Kiri Toumazos, and owner of Barossa Fine Foods and Angelakis Brothers, Franz Knoll, who joined me last week in making this announcement.

It has taken a huge effort from a range of key people across the industry sectors, who have contributed to getting SISA to the point it is now. It strikes me often, when talking with seafood leaders within South Australia, the sheer passion and pride they have for our state and for ensuring that we rightly take our place as one of the most recognised and respected commercial fisheries anywhere in the world, not only for our premium seafood, which of course is incredibly important, but also for the sustainable way in which it is produced, and that is something we should be proud of.

The seafood industry is an important part of our state's economy, generating $440 million across wild catch and aquaculture and employing approximately 6,700 FTEs, many of whom are based in regional South Australia. The new peak body will make the industry stronger, and I look forward to working with Seafood Industry South Australia in the coming months and years.