Jo Palmer,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The global community is converging on Hobart today to consider the latest research and best practice in aquaculture, innovation and opportunities in contemporary offshore and associated land-based aquaculture systems.
The 2022 Salmon Symposium, hosted by the independent Blue Economy CRC, is one part of the community conversation underway which will help inform the Tasmanian Government's new 10-Year Salmon Plan.
Importantly, Tasmania's own Blue Economy CRC is playing a broader role in a global conversation about sustainable ocean economies to sustainably produce the food and energy the world needs.
Tasmanian salmon is the single biggest primary industry sector in the State with a production value exceeding $1 billion dollars.
The direct and indirect employment opportunities created through the many businesses that make up the industry supply chain is clearly important to Tasmania's prosperity.
The Tasmanian Government is committed to enabling a vibrant and sustainable aquaculture industry which strives to be world leading, innovative and underpinned by sound regulation.
Fostering research, collaboration, conversations, respect and shared learning is vital as we chart a future course and vision for a sustainable salmon industry in Tasmania. Today's symposium is one step towards that vision.
In April this year, a formal fisheries management arrangement was executed between the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to enable marine aquaculture research activities to be conducted in offshore Commonwealth waters adjacent to Tasmania, and managed and regulated by the State.
Enabling this research will allow us to fully examine the economic, environmental, and operational feasibility for aquaculture in these waters, and help inform the development of contemporary legislative frameworks to support future sustainable aquaculture in our oceans.
