FISHING

PRODUCTION AND TRADE

Production and value of fisheries

Australia's major fishery products are salmonids (salmon and trout), rock lobster, prawns, abalone, tuna, pearls and oysters. Australian fishing operators concentrate their efforts on estuarine and coastal species, and pelagic (water column-living) and demersal (bottom-living) species that occur on the continental shelf.

Table 17.11 shows the quantity of production and table 17.12 the gross value of production of the Australian commercial fishing industry (including aquaculture) in 2009–10.

In quantity terms, Australian fisheries production increased by 2% during 2009–10 to 241,100 tonnes, with finfish (other than tuna), prawns, oysters, tuna and rock lobster the major contributors to the total. However, the gross value of production fell slightly to $2.2 billion, with falls in the value of tuna ($62m) and rock lobster ($46m), and rises in finfish (other than tuna) ($41m) and prawns ($34m) (table 17.13).

17.11 FISHERIES PRODUCTION, Quantity(a)—2009–10
		NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	Cwlth	Aust.
		tonnes	tonnes	tonnes	tonnes	tonnes	tonnes	tonnes	tonnes	tonnes
Finfish
	Tuna	–	–	–	7 284	4	–	6	7 593	10 957(b)
	Salmonids(c)	150	815	–	na	na	30 950	–	–	31 915
	Other	11 494	3 386	14 335	44 697	10 445	1 820	5 573	27 986(d)	119 736
	Total	11 644	4 201	14 335	51 981	10 449	32 769	5 579	35 579	162 607
Crustaceans
	Prawns	1 266	130	12 268	2 669	2 790	–	–	7 911(e)	27 034
	Rock lobster	122	274	159	1 554	5 947	1 302	–	270	9 628
	Crab	299	18	2 917	663	1 238	44	na	6	5 185
	Other	66	39	616	42	103	–	–	112	978
	Total	1 752	461	15 960	4 928	10 078	1 347		8 299	42 825
Molluscs
	Abalone	73	882	–	1 142	271	2 613	–	–	4 981
	Scallops	–	–	2 920	na	2 525	–	–	2 094	7 539
	Oysters(f)	4 960	–	na	6 123	na	3 724	–	na	14 807
	Other	540	690	141	2 246	769	1 283	21	652	6 342
	Total	5 573	1 572	3 061	9 511	3 565	7 620	21	2 746	33 670
Other fisheries production		168	256	–	1 319	171	101	–	6	2 021
Total		19 138	6 490	33 356	67 739	24 263	41 837	5 600	46 630(g)	241 123(b)
– nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) na not available (a) Includes estimates of aquaculture production (except NT), but excludes hatchery and inland commercial fishery production. (b) Total has been adjusted so as not to double-count some southern bluefin tuna caught in the Commonwealth Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery which was used as input to aquaculture in SA. (c) Includes salmon and trout production. (d) Includes the finfish component of Commonwealth Fisheries, plus catch from Commonwealth Fisheries that cannot be disaggregated due to confidentiality. (e) Includes the Northern prawn, Torres Strait, South East and other fisheries. (f) Excludes pearl oyster production (which only occurs in Qld, WA and NT). (g) Totals include all fisheries under federal jurisdiction. Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Australian Fisheries Statistics 2010.

Australian fisheries production covers total production from fisheries (including aquaculture) managed by the Australian, state and territory governments, 'Commonwealth fisheries' are those managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority on behalf of the Australian Government. They accounted for 15% of the total gross value of Australian fisheries production in 2009–10. State and Northern Territory governments manage inland fisheries and aquaculture, in addition to those salt water fisheries not managed by the Australian government, as described in Offshore Constitutional Settlement Arrangements.

17.12 FISHERIES PRODUCTION, Gross value(a)—2009–10
		NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	Cwlth	Aust.
		$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Finfish
	Tuna	–	–	–	102 175	32	na	37	58 430	125 299(b)
	Salmonids(c)	1 602	5 102	–	na	na	362 422	–	–	369 126
	Other	49 924	11 659	107 555	73 692	36 682	4 920	27 506	149 014(d)	460 951
	Total	51 526	16 761	107 555	175 867	36 714	367 342	27 542	207444	955 376
Crustaceans
	Prawns	16 004	904	155 860	31 142	27 940	–	–	92 242(e)	324 092
	Rock lobster	6753	14 422	5 850	85 834	184 101	65 219	–	6 660	368 839
	Crab	3 977	721	28 570	4 804	6 897	1 903	9 262	59	56 193
	Other	1 099	314	12 463	898	2 295	–	–	2 271	19 340
	Total	27 832	16 361	202 743	122 678	221 233	67 122	9 262	101 232	768 464
Molluscs
	Abalone	1 904	21 919	–	38 445	9 227	102 132	–	–	173 628
	Scallops	4	–	10 250	na	9 141	–	–	6 407	25 801
	Oysters	43 000	–	520	35 027	–	21 264	–	–	99 811
	Pearls	–	–	na	–	85 500	–	18 980	–	104 480
	Other	4 038	3 069	710	12 086	4 718	5 192	206	1 638	31 657
	Total	48 946	24 988	11 480	85 558	108 586	128 588	19 186	8 045	435 376
Other fisheries production		4 597	–	1 940	10 260	1 188	768	730	16	19 499
Total		132 902	58 110	323 718	394 363	367 721	563 819	56 721	316 737(f)	2 178 716(b)
– nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) na not available (a) Includes estimates of the value of aquaculture production, but excludes the value of hatchery and inland commercial fishery production. (b) Total has been adjusted so as not to double-count the value of some southern bluefin tuna caught in the Commonwealth Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery which was used as input to aquaculture in SA. (c) Includes salmon and trout production. (d) Includes the finfish component of Commonwealth Fisheries, plus catch from Commonwealth Fisheries that cannot be disaggregated due to confidentiality. (e) Includes the value of Northern prawn, Torres Strait, South East and other fisheries. (f) Totals include all fisheries under federal jurisdiction. Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Australian Fisheries Statistics 2010.

Table 17.13 shows the quantity produced and gross value of fishery production in the years 2007–08 to 2009–10.

17.13 FISHERIES PRODUCTION, Quantity and gross value(a)
		2007–08		2008–09		2009–10
		'000 t	$m	'000 t	$m	'000 t	$m
Finfish
	Tuna	14.7	210.0	13.7	187.1	11.0	125.3
	Other	144.0	733.6	145.8	789.5	151.7	830.1
	Total	158.7	943.6	159.5	976.6	162.6	955.4
Crustaceans
	Prawns	22.8	272.3	24.2	290.0	27.0	324.1
	Rock lobster	14.3	426.0	12.2	414.8	9.6	368.8
	Crab	6.0	56.3	5.3	57.8	5.2	56.2
	Other	0.4	7.1	0.4	8.2	1.0	19.3
	Total	43.5	761.8	42.1	770.8	42.8	768.5
Molluscs
	Abalone	5.3	188.8	5.6	188.5	5.0	173.6
	Scallops	10.3	33.0	7.6	26.2	7.5	25.8
	Oysters	13.5	89.1	14.2	93.0	14.8	99.8
	Pearls	na	114.3(b)	na	90.0(b)	na	104.5
	Other	6.8	29.9	6.6	32.1	6.3	31.7
	Total	36.0	455.1	34.0	429.8	33.7	435.4
Other fisheries production		2.3	46.6(c)	1.9	36.8(c)	2.0	19.5
Total		240.5	2 207.1	237.5	2 214.1	241.1	2 178.7
na not available (a) Includes estimates for aquaculture; excludes hatchery and inland commercial fisheries. (b) Excludes the value of NT pearl production. (c) Includes the value of NT pearl production. Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Australian Fisheries Statistics 2010.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing primary industry in Australia, and is an alternative to harvesting the naturally occurring wild fish stocks of aquatic organisms, such as fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Aquaculture operations may involve the farming of captive-bred stock or the ‘grow-out’ of ‘naturally occurring’ larvae and juveniles of wild caught stocks. In all cases, it involves intervention in the rearing process designed to enhance production, through activities such as regular stocking, feeding and protection from predators. Unlike wild-caught fisheries in which fishers access and harvest a common resource, farming implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated, which provides operators with greater control over their operations. In 2009–10, the gross value of production of Australian aquaculture increased slightly to $870 million, or 40% of the total value of fisheries production (table 17.14).

Aquaculture commenced in Australia in the late 1800s with the successful introduction of trout from the northern hemisphere and cultivation of the native Sydney rock oyster. The industry remained centred on these two species until the 1950s when the first cultured pearl farm was established in north-western Australia. A new wave of aquaculture development began in the 1980s with the beginning of the Atlantic salmon industry in Tasmania and commercial cultivation of native freshwater finfish, freshwater crayfish, prawns and Pacific oysters. The value of aquaculture production increased significantly in the 1990s, based on increased production and processing of Pacific oysters, prawns, Atlantic salmon, pearls and southern bluefin tuna.

Aquaculture operations occur in diverse environments including tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. The location of aquaculture is dependent on seasonal factors, the type of species being cultivated and the life cycle stage of aquatic organisms. More than one-third of people employed in the Fishing, hunting and trapping industry are employed in aquaculture, which provides development opportunities in regional Australia and contributes to export income.

In quantity terms, Australian aquacultural production for 2009–10 increased 5% over the previous year. Salmon, with 31,915 tonnes, remained the major aquaculture product in 2009–10, while edible oysters (14,804 tonnes) was the second most plentiful product. In value terms, salmon ($369m) continued as the species contributing the most to total gross value of Australian aquaculture, with pearl oysters ($105m) ranking second. Tuna production and edible oysters followed, with $102 million and $100 million respectively.

17.14 AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION, Quantity and gross value(a)
		2007–08		2008–09		2009–10
		tonnes	$m	tonnes	$m	tonnes	$m
Finfish
	Salmon(b)	25 867	302.3	30 036	326.1	31 915	369.1
	Tuna	9 757	186.7	8 786	157.8	7 284	102.2
	Other(c)	5 906	58.3	7 282	72.2	8 396	72.7
	Total	41 530	547.3	46 103	556.1	47 595	544.0
Crustaceans
	Prawns	3 088	44.2	3 985	56.8	5 381	77.5
	Yabbies	84	1.4	60	1.0	51	0.9
	Other(d)	140	3.2	144	3.2	132	3.0
	Total	3 312	48.7	4 189	61.0	5 564	81.4
Molluscs
	Pearl oysters	na	114.3(e)	na	90.0(e)	na	104.5
	Edible oysters	13 536	89.1	14 227	92.9	14 804	99.8
	Other(f)	3 762	25.3	4 022	31.9	3 918	25.5
	Total	17 298	228.8	18 250	214.8	18 723	229.8
Other fisheries production(g)		1 892	44.4(h)	1 550	34.7(h)	1 660	15.2
Total		64 032	869.3	70 092	866.6	73 542	870.4
na not available (a) Excludes hatcheries production, crocodiles, microalgae and aquarium worms. (b) Includes trout production. (c) Includes silver perch, barramundi, eels, aquarium fish and other native fish. (d) Includes marron and redclaw. (e) Excludes the value of NT pearl production. (f) Includes mussels, scallops, giant clams and abalone. (g) Includes production of species unable to be assigned to a specific category because of confidentiality restrictions. (h) Includes value of NT pearl production. Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Australian Fisheries Statistics 2010.

Processing of fish, crustaceans and molluscs

Processing establishments vary in size, scope of operations and sophistication of technologies employed. The majority of establishments undertake relatively basic cleaning, filleting, chilling, freezing and packaging processes, although some have the capacity for significant product transformation. Much of the value that is added to the catch is due to correct handling and quick delivery to local or overseas markets. Processing aims to maintain quality and freshness of export product by superior handling, cold storage and rapid transport to markets. This quality aspect is important in generating high values.


Trade

Exports of fisheries products come under Australian Government jurisdiction, while domestic market activity is the responsibility of the state and territory governments.

A significant proportion of Australian fisheries production – edible and non-edible – is exported. However, in 2009–10, the total value of exports (including live fish) fell by 18% to $1.2 billion (table 17.15), leaving Australia as a net importer of fisheries products by value, for the third year in a row. Although the value of rock lobster exports fell 13% in 2009–10, it was still the highest earning fisheries export, accounting for 32% of total value of exports of fisheries products. Abalone exports rose 4% and remained the second most valuable single edible fisheries export product.

Exports of the highest value non-edible earner, pearls, slipped back 33% to $244 million in 2009–10 after a big increase the previous year.

In 2009–10, Hong Kong (SAR of China) continued as the major destination for Australian exports of fisheries products, taking $629 million worth of product (excluding live) and accounting for 52% of the total value of Australian fisheries exports (excluding live). Japan was the number two destination, accounting for 29%, with a value of $353 million. The United States of America and China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) followed, with $64 million and $44 million respectively.

Western Australia was the highest earning state or territory from exports of seafood in 2009–10, with income of $267 million, accounting for 27% of the total value of Australia's seafood exports. The state earned $225 million (84%) of this income from exporting rock lobster. South Australia had the next highest earnings from seafood exports with $258 million, 46% earned from exports of fresh or frozen fish ($119m). Abalone earned Tasmania 57% of its total seafood export income of $183 million.

The total value of Australian imports of fisheries products in 2009–10 fell 11% to $1.5 billion. The major items of imports, in value terms, were fish ($752m), pearls ($171m) and prawns ($159m). The two main source countries for imported fisheries products were Thailand ($323m) and New Zealand ($220m) which together accounted for 36% of the value of imports.

17.15 EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF FISHERIES PRODUCTS(a)(b)
		2007–08		2008–09		2009–10
		Exports	Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports	Imports
		$m	$m	$m	$m	$m	$m
Fish		324.8	715.0	334.0	824.6	258.4	751.5
	Tuna (whole)	202.3	1.6	175.5	1.1	117.0	1.2
	Other fish (including canned and fillets)	122.5	713.4	158.5	823.5	141.4	750.3
Prawns		68.6	166.6	82.2	135.0	61.5	159.2
Rock lobster		400.9	14.1	461.7	9.2	399.7	11.2
Abalone		217.2	–	208.2	–	216.4	–
Scallops		27.8	28.1	33.3	29.9	29.5	33.5
Pearls(c)		264.0	166.4	366.4	320.6	243.9	170.8
Other fisheries products		38.3	307.7	43.6	390.5	37.4	388.5
Total		1 341.7	1 397.9	1 529.4	1 709.8	1 246.7	1 514.7
– nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) (a) Includes non-edible products (e.g. marine fats and oils, fishmeals, pearls and ornamental fish). Exports exclude sea products landed abroad directly from the high seas. (b) For some fisheries categories, the value of exports exceeds the value of production because exports are valued on a free-on-board basis which includes the value of packaging and distribution services to the point of export. (c) Export data include items temporarily exported. Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Australian Fisheries Statistics 2010.

FISHERIES RESOURCES

The Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) covers an area of almost 9 million square kilometres. This amounts to an expanse 16% larger than the Australian land mass and is the third largest fishing zone in the world. Despite the size of the AFZ, the Australian fisheries catch is small by world standards, as the waters of the AFZ tend to be relatively poor in nutrients and therefore not highly productive.

The Fishery status reports provide an independent review of the biological status of fish stocks and the economic status of fisheries managed, or jointly managed, by the Australian Government. They provide an assessment of whether or not stocks are overfished (i.e. their stock biomass is below a prescribed level) or subject to overfishing (the rate of mortality due to fishing exceeds a prescribed level).

The Fishery status reports of 2009, produced by the (then) Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics – Bureau of Rural Sciences (ABARE–BRS), provide assessment information for 101 species or groups of species (hereafter referred to as ‘stocks’) in fisheries for which the Australian Government has management responsibility. The Fishery status reports also provide economic information on Commonwealth fisheries. These fisheries may be managed solely by the Australian Government, through the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) or through joint authorities with state or territory governments, bilateral international agreements or broader regional or global international management entities.

Map 17.16 shows the status of 101 fish species (or groups of species) in Australia's Commonwealth-managed or jointly-managed fisheries in 2009.

Of the 101 stocks assessed in 2009, 59 were classified as not overfished, 12 as overfished and the status of the remaining 30 species was uncertain. In terms of the overfishing status, 73 were classified as not subject to overfishing and 10 were classified as subject to overfishing. A further 18 stocks were classified as uncertain if subject to overfishing. Of the 101 assessed stocks, 56 were classified as being both not overfished and not subject to overfishing, while seven stocks were classified as both overfished and subject to overfishing.