Australian conference unveils new aquaculture techniques
Cage rearing of valuable highly migratory tuna species and the requirements of “recirculating” aquaculture technology were among the topics discussed at the Australian Innovation in Aquaculture conference in Adelaide in August.
Te Ohu Kaimoana's fisheries and policy development manager Kirsty Woods and policy analyst Francene Wineti were among 1300 aquaculture specialists from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Asia to attend the three-day meeting sponsored by private and Government interests.
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| Sea cage aquaculture farms demonstrated at Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. |
The aims of the conference were to build and share knowledge in marine farming and promote innovative ways to improve the industry.
“We all know the rate of growth in the aquaculture industry. It's gone from growing a few shellfish species 15 to 20 years ago and grown into an innovative industry that farms many different species of fish, as well as shellfish,” says Kirsty. “Aotearoa is still well-placed to improve its aquaculture industry despite the setbacks from the moratorium that was put in place in the early years of this decade.”
Francene says developments in the industry are very exciting with such advances as methods for rearing valuable and highly migratory species such as tuna. “Tuna propagation is especially interesting. Initially Japanese seafood companies perfected the technique and now Australia has come up to speed with the technology.”
“The worldwide demand for tuna is growing every year and offsetting this through aquaculture would have great benefits for the sustainability of the wild fishery,” she says. Other species to feature in the conference were mussels, paua and advances in the rearing of kingfish, which has a fast growth rate and can mean a good turnover.
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However, Kirsty says a number of “reality checks” were discussed, including the high costs of establishment for new aquaculture developments. “It is an exciting industry, but participants in Australia all urged caution in terms of costs,” she says.
So, her message to iwi is: “Work collaboratively with others.”
“The cost is high to set up new farming initiatives, so iwi should consider working together and pooling their resources so individual iwi don't have to bear the full cost,. Aquaculture initiatives require a need for careful planning and also thinking about the financial returns for the species,” she says.
She says the healthy Australian aquaculture situation was buoyed by a progressive South Australian Government, which assisted with ensuring the regulatory environment was industry friendly.
Kirsty said it was encouraging that the Australian Federal Government had developed a strategy for “indigenous aquaculture” but that this had yet to fully flow through at a State level. “In light of the fisheries settlements, Maori are in a better position with regard to fisheries than indigenous peoples in Australia and it will take some time before the effect of the Australian aquaculture strategy is fully known.”
Francene spent two days at workshop there on recirculating aquaculture technology, which is an aquaculture production system that recycles and renovates water for the culture of aquatic organisms. Recirculating aquaculture systems are based on land. “It's classified as recirculating by its daily volumetric water exchange rate, less than 20 percent water exchange is commonly used in the industry today.” she says.
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A technical tour of Eyre Peninsula close to Adelaide demonstrated the advantages of land based aquaculture, but also highlighted the necessity of off shore cages too. “Recirculating technology is extremely good for the hatchery stage, but caged farming off shore is better for growing. If iwi are to get into aquaculture, they need to think more about juvenile supply as well as growing their species,” Francene says.
As busy as the conference was, they both say, there was still enough time to partake in a feast on aquacultured products with a large seafood lunch on Eyre peninsula.
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