Aquaculture A Growth Industry for Queensland

18/08/02: Queensland's aquaculture industry is a growing and vital component of the State's primary industry sector, now worth more than $9 billion to the state's economy, the Minister for Primary Industries and Rural Communities Mr Palaszczuk said today.

Addressing the annual conference of the Aquaculture Association of Queensland at Kondari Resort, Hervey Bay, Mr Palaszczuk said the lifestyle enjoyed by Australians would not be the same if it were not for the innovative steps taken by the DPI and industry associations such as the AAQ to advance research, innovation and sustainability of the state's primary industries.

"Freshwater fishing opportunities have been created in many dams and weirs throughout Queensland as a direct result of a fish-stocking program initiated by the Queensland Government and now in operation for more than 15 years," Mr Palaszczuk said.

"Fresh water fishing opportunities provide a boost to Queensland's tourism and recreational fishing industry," he said.

Mr Palaszczuk also said the demand for Queensland produced hatchery fingerlings is strong throughout Australia, making the fingerling sector a growth industry for the state.

"Queensland has the potential to be a major supplier of white flesh fish products both locally and internationally" he said.

Mr Palaszczuk told the conference the health benefits of farmed fish are beyond doubt or dispute with many native fish species offering among the highest levels of Omega-3.

The DPI has worked closely with the AAQ to promote the development of state's aquaculture industry - and was a major sponsor of the conference.

One million hectare target for protected fish habitat areas

15/08/02: The Queensland Government plans to increase the marine and freshwater fish habitats protected under Fish Habitat Area (FHA) declarations to one million hectares over the next two years, State Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said today.

Speaking at the World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas in Cairns today, Mr Palaszczuk said FHAs protect important nursery and feeding grounds for the fish stocks of a region and usually also contain important recreational and commercial fishing grounds.

"A Fish Habitat Area may be declared in marine and freshwater environments to protect important juvenile and adult fish habitats. These habitats include sand bars, shallow water areas, undercut banks, snags, rocky outcrops, pools, riffles, seagrass beds, mangrove stands and yabby banks."

"Fish Habitat Areas currently cover more than 710,000 hectares in Queensland. The Department of Primary Industries' Queensland Fisheries Service anticipates that this area will increase to one million hectares by the end of 2004," Mr Palaszczuk said.

The proposed new Fish Habitat Areas are in Elliott River south of Bundaberg, Fitzroy River delta in the Rockhampton region, Edgecumbe Bay near Bowen, Annan River near Cooktown and three areas in Cape York - Starke River, Margaret Bay and Kirke-Love System.

"The declaration of a Fish Habitat Area involves considerable negotiations with stakeholders to determine suitable boundary locations and awareness of future management arrangements," Mr Palaszczuk said.

"A Fish Habitat Area does not impose constraints on legal fishing activities or the day-to-day community use of the area."

"However, there are constraints on development while maintaining fish habitats as a public resource accessible for public use."

"In general, the only new development allowed in a FHA is public infrastructure that is directly related to fisheries based activities such as public jetties and boat ramps."

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