Australia's aquaculture sector opens itself for discourse

Fish farmers in Australia will soon become more involved with animal health discussions, which are expected to benefit the aquaculture industry.

The National Aquaculture Council has joined Animal Health Australia, the top body for animal disease planning and biosecurity.

The council represents both ocean and land-based fish farmers among other fishery industries. It is important for council members to be seen as part of the farming sector, said the council. 

The industry can learn a lot from other livestock producers as it grows, and it will be growing animals in a controlled fashion, according to Dan Machin, CEO of the Aquaculture Council of Western Australia.

There will be more conversations on trade and market access, logistics. There will also be discussions on the same type of bottlenecks and constraints and opportunities as in the livestock industries, said Machin.