September 27, 2004

Australian Aquaculture Industry Aims For EU Markets

The Australian aquaculture industry will benefit greatly if it expands seafood exports into the European Union.

The fast-growing industry has been told it needs to adapt to the demands of highly educated consumers to gain a foothold.

The Fisheries Minister, Ian Mcdonald, says aquaculture has a more positive future than forestry, with the Tasmanian forest debate raging.

It is close to being the fastest growing sector of Australia's economy, but it has the potential to leap to the front.

"The European Union contains 6 of the 10 top seafood importing countries on this planet," he said.

Dr Graham Dear, from Scotland-based feed and Marine Harvest companies, says producers have to respond to the demands of highly informed consumers

"You got food safety, food quality, animal welfare, husbandry methods," he said.

Dr Dear says honest producers of high quality, sustainable farmed seafood will find the EU a good market.