No Images? Click here March 2017 MPG 8 (administrative guideline)On 31 January 2017, the Minister for Fisheries approved the revision of MPG No. 8, which will be published as an administrative guideline (number to be determined): Assessment of Applications for Authorisations for Aquaculture and Pearling in Coastal Waters of Western Australia. Comments provided by industry on the draft administrative guideline that was circulated were considered when finalising the document. The key changes are:
Aquaculture development zonesThe waters of the Kimberley ADZ have been fully allocated to two companies: MPA Fish Farms Pty Ltd and Aarli Mayi Aquaculture Project Pty Ltd. MPA’s licence and lease have been varied to accommodate the additional area and AMAP has been granted a new licence and lease for the area allocated to it. MPA and AMAP are authorised to produce, respectively, 15,000 and 5,000 tonnes of fish per annum. The Statements of Decision for the licences have been published on the Department’s website. On 19 January 2017, the EPA assessed the report the Department submitted on the Mid West zone. We're awaiting the EPA report and recommendations to be published. Albany shellfish hatcheryThe tender has been awarded for construction of the Albany Shellfish Hatchery. On-site works are expected to commence in the near future and to be concluded by September 2017. The hatchery, when operational, will underpin growth of the marine shellfish sector, particularly oysters and mussels, by providing mass quantities of spat to grow-out farms. ACWA, industry and Fisheries staff visiting the Albany Shellfish Hatchery site. Activities – recent, current and plannedTwo staff of the Department’s Aquaculture Branch have spent two weeks in Queensland assisting the incident response team deal with the prawn white spot disease outbreak. On 23 January, Department staff attended a meeting in Albany, organised and chaired by ACWA, to progress the establishment of an Advisory Committee for the Albany Shellfish Hatchery. While in Albany, Mike Pengelly and Steve Nel of Aquaculture Branch took the opportunity to inspect the shellfish aquaculture sites in King George Sound and Oyster Harbour. Steve Nel at aquaculture sites near Mistaken Island and the Albany Shellfish Hatchery. Other newsIndian Ocean Fresh Australia has been granted a variation to its aquaculture licence for an additional area in Champion Bay. IOFA’s rapidly-growing yellowtail kingfish farm in Champion Bay, off Geraldton. Thanks to Justine Arnold of IOFA for the image. Indian Ocean Fresh Australia has been granted an exemption to enable it to hold and spawn yellowtail kingfish broodstock at a land-based facility on the Geraldton wharf. Pan Holdings has been granted an aquaculture licence and lease for an area off Nanga, Shark Bay. Ocean Grown Abalone has been granted variations to its licence and lease in Flinders Bay, increasing the area in which it is authorised to grow abalone from 120 to 400 hectares. Research NewsAs part of ongoing capacity building, the Fish Health Team is seeking to recruit an additional experienced fish pathologist with specific experience in anatomical pathology. Direct examination of microscopic tissue changes in aquatic organisms remains a vital tool for diagnosing causes of ill-health that is supported by other complementary disciplines, such as bacteriology and molecular biology, which can confirm the association of these changes with the presence of specific disease-causing agents. See the WA Government Jobs Board for full details. The Marine Aquaculture and Nutrition research group, based at Hillary’s, has been working with industry representatives and ACWA to identify research priorities required to be addressed to support the development of hatchery-supplied bivalve aquaculture in Western Australia. Some key issues identified to data that the group will work with industry to address include the effective conditioning and transfer of hatchery spat to marine-grow out sites and the out-of-season conditioning and spawning of key species of aquaculture interest. Australian Centre for Applied Aquaculture ResearchThe Department’s arrangement to rotate policy and aquatic management officers through the ACAAR facility is continuing with good results. Most recently, Danielle Hartshorn and Clara Alvarez of the Aquaculture Branch have each completed two-week placements. Justin King of the Research Division also continues to assist operations at ACAAR. Danielle Hartshorn from the Department of Fisheries grading fish at ACAAR. 10-year aquaculture planThe 10-year Marine Aquaculture Development Plan has been finalised and will be submitted to the Government for consideration. Broadly, the 10-year plan aims to lay down the critical foundations for continuing industry development in WA. It recognises significant efforts in sectors such as barramundi, yellowtail kingfish and abalone, but also identifies a critical need for support to ensure the continuing operation of the Australian Centre for Applied Aquaculture Research, which is essential for further development in the marine finfish sector. Regulatory reformThe summary of the 90-day regulatory reform project, which includes 17 recommendations, is available on the Department of Finance’s website. The Department of Fisheries has already completed one recommendation through revision of the Administrative Guideline for assessing applications and is actively working on implementing others. Much of the work to implement recommendations will involve a significant level of collaboration and consultation with industry; for example, in testing a system for online applications currently being developed. Out for commentThe Coral Policy is being reviewed and will be circulated for comment in due course. National aquaculture strategyDue to the Government being in 'Caretaker' mode, it is not in a position to provide formal endorsement of the National Aquaculture Strategy at this time South coast aquaculture developmentThe Project Management Group (PMG) for the South Coast Aquaculture Project met in Albany on 7 December 2016 to discuss preliminary issues relating to the selection of sites and species and to the potential staging of the project. A presentation was also provided to the PMG on Department learnings from the assessment and approval processes for the Kimberley and Mid West aquaculture development zone and the next milestones were outlined for the project. The next meeting is scheduled for March 2017 in Esperance. Licence and lease applicationsApplications currently being assessed by the Department are available here. You are receiving this because you have subscribed to our mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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