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PRAWN AquAcultuRe iN WesteRN AustRAliA PDF

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PRAWN AquAcultuRe iN WesteRN AustRAliA: FiNAl esD Risk AssessmeNt RePoRt FoR PRAWN AquAcultuRe FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PAPER NO. 230 Published by Department of Fisheries 168 St. Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 January 2009 ISSN 0819-4327 Prawn Aquaculture in Western Australia: Final ESD Risk Assessment Report for Prawn Aquaculture January 2009 Project manager and author: Fiona vom Berg Fisheries Management Paper No. 230 ISSN 0819-4327 ii Fisheries Management Paper No.230 coNteNts DisclAimeR...................................................................................................................... 1 AckNoWleDGemeNts ................................................................................................ 1 GlossARy .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.0 iNtRoDuctioN ........................................................................................................ 5 1.1 Prawn Aquaculture in WA ....................................................................................... 5 1.2 What is ESD? .......................................................................................................... 6 1.3 How does the ESD framework fit with Aquaculture? ............................................. 6 1.4 What are the major components of ESD for Aquaculture? .................................... 7 1.5 How does the ESD Framework operate? ............................................................... 8 1.6 How are the specific issues identified? ................................................................... 8 1.7 Prioritising issues .................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Risk Assessment ..................................................................................................... 8 2.0 metHoDoloGy ....................................................................................................... 10 3.0 ReGioNAl/cAtcHmeNt AReAs FoR leVel 2 AssessmeNts ................ 13 3.1 IBRA Regionalization ............................................................................................. 13 4.0 Results ...................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Summary of Issues & Risk Rankings ..................................................................... 18 5.0 DiscussioN................................................................................................................ 21 5.1 Impacts on the General Environment (Whole of Industry) .................................... 22 5.1.1 Wild stock of cultured species ....................................................................... 22 5.1.2 Cultured stock/businesses (husbandry) ......................................................... 27 5.1.3 Other species/communities processes ........................................................... 32 5.2 Impact of the Industry on the Catchment/Region (Cumulative Impacts) ............... 44 5.2.1 Water use quality/quantity ............................................................................. 45 5.2.2 Ecological/community structure and biodiversity ......................................... 54 5.2.3 Physical structures and construction & tenure .............................................. 68 5.2.4 Production ..................................................................................................... 77 5.3 Impacts of Individual Facilities on Environmental Wellbeing ............................... 82 5.3.1 Site selection/construction/infrastructure ...................................................... 82 5.3.2 Operations ..................................................................................................... 94 6.0 APPeNDix 1 – WoRksHoP PARticiPANts ...................................................... 113 7.0 ReFeReNces ............................................................................................................. 114 Fisheries Management Paper No.230 iii iv Fisheries Management Paper No.230 DisclAimeR The information in this document is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of release. The publisher disclaims any responsibility or duty of care towards any person for loss or damage suffered from any use of this publication for whatever purpose and in whatever manner. While considerable care has been taken in producing this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. The information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters contained or discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements, information and advice. No person should rely solely on this publication for the purpose of making business or investment decisions. © Department of Fisheries AckNoWleDGemeNts A number of government officers contributed to the development of this report. • Rick Fletcher Department of Fisheries • Peter Skitmore Department of Environment and Conservation • Kerrod Beattie Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries The author would also like to thank the following people for providing thoughts, ideas and constructive comment during the development of this report. • Steve Nel Aquaculture Development Council & Department of Fisheries • Greg Jenkins Aquaculture Development Unit, Challenger TAFE • Dan Machin Aquaculture Council of WA • Emma Glencross Department of Environment and Conservation • Cameron Sim Department of Environment and Conservation • Peter Ryan Department of Water • Jo McCrea Department of Fisheries Fisheries Management Paper No.230 1 GlossARy APVMA Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Aquafin CRC Aquafin Cooperative Research Centre BAM Act Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act BAMB Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Bill CALM Department of Conservation and Land Management CoP Code of Practice DEC Department of Environment and Conservation DIA Department of Indigenous Affairs DoF Department of Fisheries DoW Department of Water DPI Department of Planning and Infrastructure ESD Ecological Sustainable Development EMP Environmental Monitoring Program EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Program EPA Environment Protection Authority EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 EPBC Act Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 FCR feed conversion rate FRDC Fisheries Research and Development Council FRMA Fish Resource Management Act 1994 FRMR Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 GAV Gill Associated Virus GMO genetically modified organism HAB harmful algal bloom IHHNV Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus IDCA Inter-Departmental Committee of Aquaculture IFM Integrated Fisheries Management MCMS Mid-crop Mortality Syndrome MPG8 Ministerial Policy Guideline No. 8 PIRSA Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia PL post larvae RAMSAR The Conservation of Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat, signed at Ramsar Iran, in 1971 SARDI South Australia Research and Development Institute 2 Fisheries Management Paper No.230 Seafood CRC Seafood Cooperative Research Centre SMV Spawner Mortality Virus SBT Southern bluefin tuna SWQMS State Water Quality Management Strategy WAPC Western Australian Planning Commission WQ water quality WQPN Water Quality Protection Note Fisheries Management Paper No.230 3 4 Fisheries Management Paper No.230 1.0 iNtRoDuctioN Aquaculture is one of the faster growing industries in Australia having grown in value by over 13 per cent over the past 10 years. It is currently valued at $743 millionwith an industry vision to achieve $2.5 billion in sales by 2010. In Western Australia, the industry is still in its infancy, with a total of 446 aquaculture licensees across the State producing a variety of species from finfish (barramundi, silver perch, rainbow trout, pink snapper and black bream), to marron and yabbies, black pearls, mussels and ornamental fish. Not counting marine algae production, the value of aquaculture production in 2001/02 was around $6.5 million (338 tonnes). This value has dropped slightly over the last few years, due to a lower price being received for some products. There are a number of potential impediments to achieving continued growth of this industry. These include the need for increased investment, an expansion in markets and ensuring environmental sustainability. However, one of the most important is meeting the growing expectations of the community that all aquaculture sectors can clearly demonstrate that they are operating within the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) (see Section 2). The Western Australian Department of Fisheries is responsible for the management of aquaculture in WA and is committed to implementing ESD. These principles are contained within the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and the Department is keen to demonstrate both to the Government and the broader community that these principles are being achieved. The Department developed a policy statement in 2002 - Policy for the Implementation of Ecologically Sustainable Development for Fisheries and Aquaculture within Western Australia - (Fletcher 2002) that described its direction to the Department on incorporating ESD within fisheries and aquaculture management. Using the ESD Framework for Aquaculture, which was generated by the Fisheries Research and Development Council (FRDC) in conjunction with the Aquaculture Committee of the Australian Fisheries Managers Forum and the National Aquaculture Council, the prawn aquaculture sector is the second to be run through this process. 1.1 Prawn Aquaculture in WA There has been rapid expansion of prawn farm aquaculture worldwide, underscored by an erratic production level. Record-breaking production figures followed by spectacular collapses have been repeated throughout south-east Asian countries. The principal causes of collapse have been disease, poor water quality and poor environmental management. Despite these set-backs, the industry has continued to grow. By comparison, prawn farming in Australia has developed relatively slowly. The industry which currently produces more than 3,500 tonnes of prawns a year, valued at over $47 million, is based on approximately 900 hectares of ponds and 12 hatcheries. Queensland has the largest proportion of ponds, at 85 per cent, with New South Wales having 10 per cent and the Northern Territory and WA combined having five per cent. Only native species are farmed in Australia, the main species being the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), and the Kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus). In WA, 11 licenses have been issued authorizing prawn aquaculture in hatcheries (to produce post-larvae) or in earthen ponds (to produce a food product). These are at Cone Bay, Exmouth Gulf, Derby, Broome and Carnarvon. Others, linked to tertiary education institutions are located at Maddington, Fremantle, and Bentley. A site at Learmonth is in the process of being constructed and it is hoped production will commence in 2009. The Derby site was operational Fisheries Management Paper No.230 5 however there is no activity under this license at present. An expression of interest was undertaken for prawn farming on the Dampier Peninsula at Wyndham, with Native Title issues still being resolved. Hatchery production of prawns has commenced in the Exmouth area, with the Kimberley Aquaculture Research Project also developing hatchery technology for the black tiger prawn. This technology has been successfully transferred to the multi-species hatchery in the Broome Tropical Aquaculture Park however the long term operation of this facility is in doubt. It is considered that areas north of Geraldton are most suitable for the farming of black tiger prawns in coastal pond-based systems. 1.2 What is esD? Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) is: “Using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased” (COAG, 1992). ESD includes three key objectives: • To enhance individual and community well-being and welfare by following a path of economic development that safeguards the welfare of future generations; • To provide for equity within and between generations; and • To protect biological diversity and maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems. To achieve these objectives will require the integration of short and long-term economic, social and environmental effects in all decision-making. Thus, to be consistent with ESD principles: “resources not only need to be used sustainably, but how they are used, who benefits and when, along with the impacts of their use, all need to be evaluated” (Fletcher, 2002). The desired outcomes using such a process are likely to evolve through time as society’s needs and values alter. Therefore ESD should be seen as a means – not as an endpoint. 1.3 How does the ESD framework fit with Aquaculture? Until recently, there were no methods available to implement ESD in a full and practical manner. During the past four years, work within the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation’s (FRDC) subprogram on ESD Reporting and Assessment has been underway to develop a series of national ESD frameworks to enable all Australian fisheries and aquaculture sectors to demonstrate that they are operating utilising ESD principles. The ESD framework for aquaculture has similarities to the ESD framework that was previously developed for wild-capture fisheries. Both of them help to identify the relevant environmental, social/economic and governance issues; assist with determining the appropriate level of management response using risk assessment techniques; and provide a reporting structure to document outcomes. There are, however, a number of important differences between these systems. The major difference between the two frameworks is in the structure of the environmental components. For aquaculture, these are structured into three different spatial levels: 6 Fisheries Management Paper No.230

Description:
ii. Fisheries Management Paper No.230. Prawn Aquaculture in Western Australia: Final ESD Risk Assessment Report for Prawn Aquaculture. January 2009. Project manager and author: Fiona vom Berg. Fisheries Management Paper No. 230. ISSN 0819-4327
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