Rockhampton identified as leading area for Aquaculture Development
Published on 30 January 2019
Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow has today welcomed the State Government’s announcement that the Region is one of the leading areas in Queensland to undertake salt water aquaculture development.
The Rockhampton Region has over 3,700 hectares of land suitable for aquaculture development, which makes up over 50% of all land across the State of Queensland identified by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries as best suited for salt water aquaculture. The sites include Casuarina Creek and Raglan Creek.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said research into Aquaculture was one of Council’s core undertakings to encourage diversification of the Region’s produce and to promote new jobs.
“This announcement is great news for our Region and complements the substantial amount of groundwork we have been doing in the background with our Advance Rockhampton team who has been working with the State on the identification of suitable aquaculture land in the Region and how to expand local aquaculture supply chain opportunities,” Mayor Strelow said.
“Especially as we increase our engagement with Chinese, Singapore and domestic investors, this direction from the State Government supports what we have been venturing towards and proves that there is an enormous amount of economic opportunity right here for aquaculture.”
The World Bank estimated the global aquaculture market to be worth US $176 Billion in 2017 and is expecting this market to balloon to US $219 Billion by 2022 as more protein is required by Asia.
“We don’t want to leave this stone unturned and Advance Rockhampton will now lead the creation of the Rockhampton Aquaculture Industry Development Plan (RAIDP) to tap into this opportunity,” Mayor Strelow said.
“The RADIP will provide direction and help facilitate the creation of this emerging industry in the Rockhampton Region. RAIDP will comprise of an infrastructure plan, supply chain development plan, education and training plan, environmental plan and an indigenous aquaculture opportunities plan.
“Advance Rockhampton will develop the RAIDP in consultation with landholders, local business interests, the community, the Darumbal people and stakeholder government agencies; together we can have our fish and eat it too.”