Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government is a passionate supporter of Tasmania's wild fisheries and aquaculture industries, and the vital role they play in building a stronger economy and creating jobs.
New research released today shows Tasmanian fishing and aquaculture injects $1.5 billion into our economy, more than any other state, and employs 11,647 direct and indirect jobs.
The 'Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry 2017-18: Economic Contributions Estimates Report' forms part of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Contributions Study funded by the Fisheries and Research Development Corporation.
The report shows Tasmania is again punching above our weight, with more than one in four Australian seafood industry jobs located in our state, supporting families and communities in our regional and rural areas.
The Government has a plan to support and grow our world class wild catch and farmed seafood sector, including our Sustainable Growth Plan for the Salmon industry and our $26 million investment to help build our sustainable seafood sector, with $13.8 million in the 2019-20 Budget including:
- $800,000 per annum over four years to support the new Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre to deliver initiatives in aquaculture and seafood production, marine renewable energy production and offshore engineering;
- $1 million for Analytical Services Tasmania, which delivers product quality testing services to a range of sectors including shellfish and rock lobster;
- $11.4 million to continue vital commercial fisheries development initiatives including the East Coast Rock Lobster Translocation program, the Fisheries Digital Transition Project for efficient fisheries management and quota monitoring, Abalone Industry Development, and Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council policy support and research into sustainable fisheries opportunities through the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies; and
- $600,000 to continue the revamped Shellfish quality assurance and aquaculture market access program (ShellMAP) and oyster and shellfish real time sensor monitoring.
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government is investing to benefit all Tasmanians, strengthening our economy, backing businesses and creating real jobs.
The report can be found here: Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry 2017/18: Economic Contributions Estimates Report
