QUARTERLY UPDATE - JUNE 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 second quarter of 2009 (April - June), the ADC continued to progress its key project, the Open Ocean Aquaculture (OOA) Project.  The OOA Project comprises a number of sub-projects, during the second quarter, the ADC:

• received the final draft report of the Governance Framework Study. The ADC is currently reviewing this and will utilise the preliminary findings to determine a clear path forward for the OOA Project;
• continued to pursue options for providing tenure in Commonwealth waters and continued to liaise with relevant Commonwealth departments seeking short term options for progressing the OOA Project as soon as possible in spite of legislative impediments;
• began development of an Economic Study Project to assist the ADC in demonstrating the economic potential for a large scale offshore aquaculture industry in Western Australia.    

Roadmapping

The finfish.org site, developed through the Roadmapping process, has been taken over by the ADC Management Officer and has been developed to incorporate a fish health database to assist industry.  A partner site, envirofinfish.org, is being developed as a global forum for discussion of aquaculture environmental management, regulation and policy. 

The Environmental Carrying Capacity Project 

The Environmental Carrying Capacity Project, which will determine a clear path for licence application requirements and assist in the deregulation of aquaculture by the EPA, is ongoing.  A workshop has taken place with relevant experts to assist in defining and understanding the pressure-response relationships for key ecological receptors. 

For further information on these projects, please contact Michelle Hanlon, Senior Management Officer ADC on 9482 7377 or michelle.hanlon@fish.wa.gov.au