The Australian fishing and aquaculture commercial, recreational and indigenous sectors
Australia's Fisheries Australia's marine domain, our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), is one of the largest in the world, covering around 10 million square kilometres. This is larger than
mainland Australia (7.69 million square kilometres). Australia has a long history of Indigenous, commercial and recreational fishing (including charter fishing) in our waters.
Wildcatch Australia's commercial fisheries are diverse, operating from estuaries and bays, across the continental shelf to oceanic waters and, in some cases, on to the high seas. The seafood caught is also diverse, including scallops, prawns and squid, coastal fish such as whiting and flathead, reef fish such as Coral Trout, and oceanic tuna and billfish. Australian fisheries supply fresh seafood for local and domestic markets, as well as exporting high-value products. The Gross Value of Production (GVP) for all of Australia's commercial fishing and aquaculture in 2017-18 financial year was over $3 billion a year with wild-capture fisheries contributed around 57 per cent ($1.71 billion) of the total value of Australia's fisheries production and produced more than 166 022 tonnes (t) of seafood, for local, domestic and export markets. Aquaculture (to be included in the future) contributed $1.35 billion and produced more than 93 965 tonnes. For the latest information on fisheries statistics refer to Australian Fisheries Statistics.
Aquaculture Australia has an international reputation as a producer of safe, sustainable and high quality seafood products. Most of the value of Australian aquaculture production comes from high value species such as pearls, salmonids, tuna and oysters but there are over forty species commercially produced in Australia. Aquaculture production occurs throughout Australia, from the tropical north to the temperate south. The aquaculture industry is largely based in regional Australia and makes a significant and positive contribution to regional development.
Post-Harvest Elements of the post-harvest sector have previously been considered part of the aquaculture or commercial fishing sectors but, more recently, they have become a sector in their own right. The post-harvest sector includes some businesses that are vertically integrated controlling a product from harvest to delivery to the consumer. However, many businesses only operate in one area of the supply chain. There are many opportunities to improve profitability through better supply-chain connections.
Recreational Fishing Australian's enjoy a wide range of recreational fisheries as part of anything from the annual summer holiday to the more regular game fishers and even recreational tournament fishers. Geographically this spans from northern Australia for species such as Barramundi, Tropical Snappers, Coral Trout, Giant Trevally, Marlin and Tuna, to southern waters for Snapper, King George Whiting, Bream, Flathead and Southern Bluefin Tuna, and inland waters for trout and native fish such as
Murray cod. The last national survey of recreational fishers was undertaken in 2000. At that time: • about 80 per cent of the recreational catch is from salt water – in estuaries, off beaches and from the ocean. • The remaining 20 per cent is fished from fresh water – from rivers, lakes, dams and ponds. • Recreational fishing is a huge activity in Australia with about 3.5 million people fishing each year. • It is also big business with anglers spending about $650 million just on tackle. • This doesn't include the $2.5 billion spend on boats 4×4 vehicles, accommodation, travel, charters, and all the other accessories. For most people, the major reason for recreational fishing is to relax and unwind, but it is thought that people fish for a range of other reasons including some for the provision of food. Apart from being a source of food, fisheries resources are valued by the community in other ways. People derive reassurance knowing that the environment and the diversity of species are being maintained and that fisheries resources exist. The aquatic environment is also used by people, particularly tourists, who do not capture the resource, but simple observe and enjoy it.
Indigenous Fishing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have developed a close, interdependent relationship with the land, water and living resources of Australia through customary fishing practices over tens of thousands of years. That relationship includes indigenous rights and responsibilities of particular indigenous groups to particular areas of land, water and resources. Fishing by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people covers the full spectrum of fishing practices: customary, recreational and commercial. ==References==