May 25, 2010
Restrictions affect Australia's aquaculture growth
Difficulties such as currency fluctuations hinder Australia's aquaculture industry to expand despite increasing demand, says Roy Palmer of the World Aquaculture Society.
He was speaking this week at the three-day Australasian Aquaculture Conference in Tasmania, which attracted about 800 delegates from around the world. Demand for local aquaculture produce was strong and growing.
"To actually get the water and then get the environmental impact statement approved, you're looking at a minimum of US$1 million and heaps of time," he said.
"It took 19 years to get a mussel farm licence in NSW and there has not been a new aquaculture facility approved in Queensland for 19 years."
