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Aquaculture Futures Initiative (2008-2012)

Future Farming Strategy

The Aquaculture Futures Initiative (AFI) is part of the Victorian Governments $205 million Future Farming Strategy that takes action across seven broad Action Areas to enable farm businesses in Victoria to become even more productive, competitive and sustainable as they enter an era of unprecedented change. Read more about Future Farming Strategy action areas and action 6: aquaculture industry.

Challenges

The aquaculture industry in Victoria is confronted with a number of challenges which are affecting its competitiveness. The mussel sector does not have a reliable supply of wild spat for seed-stock, the abalone sector is recovering from the impact of a virus outbreak, and the trout and eel sectors have major production problems associated with the drought. There is an urgent need to attract investment in the industry to achieve economies of scale. Future challenges include adapting to climate change and associated water shortages and biosecurity risks; increasing competition in local and global markets; declining terms of trade; and meeting consumer demands (including the sustainability of production systems and integrity of seafood products).

Key challenges will need to be addressed for the Victorian aquaculture industry to capitalise on the opportunities associated with the increasing global demand for seafood, and for it to be part of the significant global aquaculture industry valued at more than $70 billion p.a. The Victorian Aquaculture Strategy (2008) provides a blueprint for future aquaculture industry development, and AFI complements the associated actions. In particular it addresses the priority areas of increasing productivity and sustainability of production systems, attracting new investment in the industry, improving marketing performances in both the domestic and export markets, and developing differentiated products.

Aquaculture Futures Initiative

The AFI is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD) and industry that integrates innovative research, international engagement, market and value chain development, and investment attraction/industry development activities to transform the aquaculture industry in Victoria into globally competitive sectors.

The research program will improve the productivity and competitiveness of the industry through the development of next generation aquatic farming systems, genetically improved species, and products to meet market requirements. Strategic alliances with international research agencies and networks will improve access to information and technologies relevant to the research program and to the industry in Victoria.

The inclusion of aquaculture in whole-of–farm systems for multi-water use will also assist with the diversification and viability of horticultural and dairy industries in northern Victoria. The further development of relationships with Governments and key agribusinesses overseas and of competitive value chains will facilitate market access, investment attraction and improved marketing performance of industry.

The initial focus of the initiative has been on the Murray cod, blue mussel and eel sectors, but work in the trout and abalone sectors is planned.

Research and Development

Targeted research & development for the Victorian aquaculture industry

A component of the AFI is research and development. The research activities are broken down into three areas:

Genetics and reproduction technologies
New products and ingredients
Next generation production systems

The genetics and reproduction technologies research seeks to develop, demonstrate and evaluate advanced genetic and reproduction technologies for the Victorian aquaculture sector, with a focus on blue mussels and Murray cod to improve production efficiencies, add-value, and protect and enhance market access. The AFI also seeks to facilitate industry practice change including commercialisation of intellectual property.

The new products and ingredients (bioactives) research will undertake a scoping study of Victorian blue mussels and Murray cod to detect and determine potential bioactive compounds in these Victorian aquaculture products. We will then develop strategic alliances to enhance capability to identify, extract, and test the efficacy of bioactive compounds in Victoria seafood products to deliver health benefits to the community.

The next generation production systems research is again focused on Victorian blue mussels and Murray cod. For Murray cod, we are developing Better Management Practices (BMPs) for open water aquaculture of Murray cod integrated into existing horticultural and dairy farming systems. This research covers fish health issues, nutrition and the development of a sophisticated modelling system to increase the efficiency of the multi water production systems for Murray cod. The research around Victorian blue mussels is around the development of blue mussel hatchery technologies at the DPI/industry joint venture mussel hatchery at Queenscliff. The work centres on production techniques, genetics, nutrition and spat settlement. Access information on previous research on Murray cod and Blue mussels.

Market & Value Chain Development

Market & value chain development for the Victorian aquaculture industry

Fisheries Victoria, in collaboration with the DPI agribusiness unit is seeking to provide strategic market information for aquaculture products in key international markets, with particular analysis of market opportunities and challenges (including access issues) for Victorian aquaculture products. We will also be facilitating the development of value chain capability for the mussel and Murray cod sectors as well as the development and implementation of industry development strategies for the blue mussel aquaculture sector. Another work area is to establish and maintain relationships with Government officials, investors and the food industry in target markets by undertaking collaborative trade and investment missions with key Victorian stakeholders.

Engaging and linking to the international aquaculture community to promote growth and knowledge in the Victorian aquaculture industry

The purpose of Fisheries Victoria international work is to develop and implement a strategy for engagement with international aquaculture networks/research organisations and Government officials, especially in Asia to increase access to the scientific information, technologies and Intellectual Property, enhance Victorian capability in targeted areas and facilitate market access for Victorian seafood products.

Investment Attraction

Attracting investment for development of the Victorian aquaculture industry

To define investment barriers, and identify and promote investment and development opportunities for Victoria’s aquaculture.
To facilitate strategic off-shore investment where appropriate to enhance international competitiveness and market access.

Department of Primary Industries

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