QUARTERLY UPDATE - November 2009
AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
The Aquaculture Development Council (ADC) is focused on furthering the aquaculture industry in Western Australia through funding various projects.
Open Ocean Aquaculture
In the third quarter of 2009 the ADC continued to progress the Open Ocean Aquaculture (OOA) Project, which is comprised of a number of sub-projects. During the third quarter, the ADC:
- received the final report of the Governance Framework Study;
- engaged a consultant to undertake video transect work within the proposed Two Rocks Aquaculture Zone to ground truth previously collected swathe mapping data;
- continued development of an Economic Case Study Project to assist the ADC in demonstrating the economic potential for a large scale offshore aquaculture industry in Western Australia; and
- Prepared an Industry Development Strategy for the Minister for Fisheries.
Marine Sites Identification
The ADC formed a Steering Committee to develop the Marine Sites Identification Project. The project is in its initial stages with a GIS study to be undertaken that will identify preliminary areas for further assessment off the coast of Western Australia.
Communication
Envirofinfish.org has been launched as a global forum for discussion of aquaculture environmental management, regulation and policy. This site is being managed in conjunction with finfish.org, which was expanded to include pages displaying relevant ADC information.
The Environmental Carrying Capacity Project
The Environmental Carrying Capacity (ECC) Project, which will determine a clear path for licence application requirements and assist in the deregulation of aquaculture from the Environmental Protection Regulations, is ongoing. The Department has approached Murdoch University to put together a program to test and compare various benthic habitat mapping techniques. Liaison with the Department of the Environment and Conservation on monitoring criteria for sensitive habitats is continuing. The scope of the ECC Project is under review due to changes in industry status.
For further information on these projects, please contact Michelle Hanlon, Senior Management Officer ADC on 9482 7377 or michelle.hanlon@fish.wa.gov.au