Australian-Aquaculture Portal

Industry Groups

Hatchery production and value

There are six salmon and trout hatcheries in Tasmania,
four operating as hatcheries only, and two operating as
part of integrated sea farming and processing operations.

Markets and opportunities.

As Tasmanian salmonid production has risen, an
increasing proportion of production has been sold on the
domestic market. In the mid-1990s around three-quarters
of farmed salmon production was sold on the domestic
market, and a quarter exported to Asian markets (tables
2–4; DPIWE 1999). More recently, based on calculations
using state production data and ABS trade data, the
proportion sold on the domestic market is estimated by
ABARE to have increased to around 85 per cent in 2000-
01.

The bulk of salmon imported into Australia continues to be
in the form of canned product. In 2001-02, Australia
imported 8140 tonnes of preserved (mainly canned)
salmon valued at $43.1 million (average import unit
value). With the exception of 2000-01 (when imports rose
to 11 600 tonnes), annual preserved salmon imports have
been steady at around 8000 tonnes since 1995-96.
Imports of smoked salmon have been rising, with 577
tonnes imported.

Imports of fresh chilled salmon (sourced almost entirely
from New Zealand) have also risen every year since fresh
chilled imports commenced in October 1999. Imports in
2001-02 were 420 tonnes, compared with 220 tonnes in
2000-01 and 77 tonnes in 1999-2000. Monthly imports
rose to around 60 tonnes in the second half of calendar
2001, but declined again in the first half of calendar 2002.
The import price of New Zealand product has fallen
steadily since fresh chilled imports commenced, from
around A$10 a kilogram (average monthly import value) in
October 1999 to just under A$7 a kilogram in November
2002.

Outlook and risks

Over the past decade, productivity in the Australian
industry has risen substantially, and production has risenindustry will need to continue to improve efficiency to
remain competitive on both the domestic and export
markets.
The extent to which Pacific salmon imports from New
Zealand could be expected to displace domestic supply in
the Australian market will depend on the degree of
substitution between the two products. There is empirical
evidence that Atlantic and high quality Pacific salmon are
close but not perfect substitutes.
Since 2001, research into improved sea farming
production methods and ecosystem environmental
management has been accelerated through the Aquafin
CRC. A recent review of the industry identified three
priority areas for research: improving the broodstock,
grading to retain the best fish, and analysis of areas with
potential market growth. The industry is continuing to
restructure to improve its efficiency and its ability to
compete in the changing global market. Tasmania’s
disease free status and clean environment provide a high
quality product and a market edge that is recognised
worldwide.
At present, the Huon River and Port Esperance, and
D’Entrecasteaux Channel Marine Farming Development
Plans are being reviewed pursuant to the review
provisions of the Marine Farming Planning Act 1995. The
draft review of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel Marine
Farming Development Plan provides for a 22 per cent
increase in the maximum leasable area while the draft
Huon River and Port Esperance Plan proposes an
increase of some 39 per cent. Most of this increase is
intended for salmonid production.

Industry associations

All growers of Atlantic salmon and ocean trout in
Tasmania are members of the Tasmanian Salmonid
Growers Association.

(REF. Australian Aquaculture.
Industry profiles for selected species)

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