Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast Region of New South Wales, 2015

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015

Research by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences About my region 15.8 March 2015 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

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ISBN 978-1-74323‒107-4 ABARES project 43009

Internet Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales 2015 is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Postal address GPO Box 1563 Canberra ACT 2601 Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933 Facsimile +61 2 6272 2001 Email [email protected] Web agriculture.gov.au/abares Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be sent to [email protected]. The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, represented by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, ABARES, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law. Acknowledgements ABARES relies on the voluntary cooperation of farmers participating in the annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, Australian Dairy Industry Survey, and Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey to provide data used in the preparation of this report. Without their help, these surveys would not be possible. ABARES farm survey staff collected most of the information presented in this report through on-farm interviews with farmers. This regional profile was updated by Therese Thompson, Haydn Valle, Timothy Connolly, Lucy Randall, Kasia Mazur and Sharan Singh. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

Contents

iii Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

1) Regional overview

The Mid North Coast region of New South Wales is located north of Newcastle. The region includes the major towns of Port Macquarie and Taree (Map 1) and comprises the six local government areas of Great Lakes, Gloucester, Greater Taree, Kempsey, Nambucca and Port Macquarie-Hastings. It also includes a part of the Armidale Dumaresq local government area in the north west. The region covers a total area of around 18 900 square kilometres or 2 per cent of New South Wales and is home to approximately 201 100 people (ABS 2011).

Agricultural land in the Mid North Coast region occupies 9170 square kilometres, or 49 per cent of the region. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 6350 square kilometres, or 34 per cent of the region. The most common land use by area is grazing modified pastures, which occupies 5220 square kilometres or 28 per cent of the Mid North Coast region.

Map 1 Broad agricultural land use of the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014) Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

Map 2 Agricultural industries of the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014) Employment

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the 2014 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 79 900 people were employed in the Mid North Coast region. The Mid North Coast region accounts for 2 per cent of total employment in New South Wales and 3 per cent of all people employed in the New South Wales agriculture, forestry and fishing sector.

Retail trade was the largest employment sector in the region, with 12 100 people, followed by construction with 10 800 people (Figure 1). Other important employment sectors in 2014 were health care and social assistance (9200 people), education and training (8300 people), and accommodation and food services (7500 people). The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employed 2800 people, representing 3 per cent of the region’s workforce.

5 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

Figure 1 Employment profile, Mid North Coast region, November 2014

Retail Trade Construction Health Care and Social Assistance Education and Training Accommodation and Food Services Manufacturing Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Public Administration and Safety Transport, Postal and Warehousing Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Other Services Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services Wholesale Trade Administrative and Support Services Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services Financial and Insurance Services Information Media and Telecommunications Mining Arts and Recreation Services

Employed total ('000 ) - 5 10 15

Note: Annual average of the preceding 4 quarters. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 6291.0, Labour Force, Australia Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

2) Agriculture sector

Value of agricultural production

In 2012–13, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in the Mid North Coast region was $250 million, which was 2 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in New South Wales ($12.1 billion). This is the most recent year for which ABS data are available.

Agricultural production in the Mid North Coast region is dominated by livestock products and horticulture. The most important commodities in the Mid North Coast region based on the gross value of agricultural production was cattle and calves (Figure 2). In 2012–13, cattle and calves contributed around 31 per cent ($78 million) to the value of agricultural production in the region. Milk accounted for around 62 per cent ($62 million) of the total value, eggs accounted for 14 per cent ($35 million), and poultry accounted for 10 per cent ($26 million).

In 2012–13, the Mid North Coast region accounted for around 38 per cent of the total value of New South Wales avocado production and 22 per cent of the total value of beans. The region also accounted for 19 per cent of the state’s cut flower production and 16 per cent of the state’s egg production.

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Mid North Coast region, New South Wales, 2012–13

Cattle and calves

Poultry

Fruit and nuts (excluding grapes)

Nurseries, cut flowers and turf

Vegetables

$m 0 20 40 60 80 100

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia

Number and type of farms

ABS data indicate that in 2012–13 there were 2318 farms in the Mid North Coast region with an estimated value of agricultural operations of more than $5000 (Table 1). The region contains 6 per cent of all farm businesses in New South Wales.

Table 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13 Industry Classification Mid North Coast region New South Wales no. % no. % Beef Cattle 1 587 68 13 626 32 Dairy 127 5 1 115 3 Fruit and nuts 105 5 2 577 6 Other livestock 71 3 1 631 4 Vegetable 66 3 1 062 3 Nurseries, Cut Flowers and Turf 50 2 527 1 Other 312 13 21 543 51 Total Agriculture 2 318 100 42 082 100 Note: Estimated value of agricultural operations greater than $5000. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Farms are classified in Table 1 according to the activities that generate most of their value of production. Beef cattle farms (1587 farms) were the most common, accounting for 68 per cent of all farms in the Mid North Coast region, and 12 per cent of all beef cattle farms in New South Wales.

There is a large percentage of small farms in the region in terms of their value of agricultural output. Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of production from farms and a measure of their business size. Around 67 per cent of farms in the Mid North Coast region had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 3). These farms accounted for only 14 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2012–13. In comparison, 5 per cent of farms in the region had an EVAO of more than $350 000 and accounted for an estimated 56 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in the region in 2012–13. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Mid North Coast region, New South Wales, 2012–13 70

% < $50k $50k to $150k $150k to $350k $350k to $500k $500k to $1 m > $1 m Share of farms Share of value of agricultural operations So urce: Australian Bureau of Statistics Farm financial performance—New South Wales

Each year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in this survey include the grains, grains– livestock, sheep, beef and sheep–beef industries. The information collected is a basis for analysing the current financial position of farms in these industries and expected changes in the short term. This paper uses data from the ABARES Australian agricultural and grazing industries survey (AAGIS), Australian dairy industry survey (ADIS), and Australian vegetable growing industry survey to report estimates of financial performance indicators (Box 1) for broadacre, dairy and vegetable farms in New South Wales.

Box 1 Definitions

Major financial performance indicators  Total cash receipts: total revenues received by the business during the financial year.  Total cash costs: payments made by the business for materials and services and for permanent and casual hired labour (excluding owner manager, partner and family labour).  Farm cash income: total cash receipts – total cash costs  Farm business profit: farm cash income + changes in trading stocks – depreciation – imputed labour costs  Profit at full equity: return produced by all the resources used in the business, farm business profit + rent + interest + finance lease payments – depreciation on leased items  Rate of return: return to all capital used, profit at full equity * 100 / total opening capital  Equity ratio: Farm capital minus farm debt expressed as a percentage of farm capital Industry types  Grains: farms mainly engaged in producing broadacre crops such as wheat, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses, and including farms running sheep and/or beef cattle in conjunction with substantial broadacre crop activity.  Sheep: farms mainly engaged in running sheep.  Beef: farms mainly engaged in running beef cattle.  Dairy: farms mainly engaged in milk production.  Vegetable: farms mainly engaged in growing vegetables.

Performance of broadacre farms—New South Wales In 2013–14, increases in average farm cash income are expected for grains and sheep farms in southern regions of New South Wales, the Riverina and Central Western New South Wales as a result of increased grain production and higher sheep and lamb prices.

In the North West Slopes and Plains and Far West New South Wales and the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, farm cash incomes are estimated to decline as drought conditions reduce crop production (Table 3). Incomes for beef and sheep farms are estimated to decline as a result of lower saleyard prices for cattle and despite an increase in the number of sheep, lambs and cattle expected to be sold. Expenditure on fodder purchases is estimated to increase. The proportion of farms recording negative farm cash incomes is estimated to exceed 30 per cent in all northern regions.

Overall, with increased incomes in the south and reduced incomes in the north, average farm cash income for New South Wales broadacre farms is estimated to decline only slightly in 2013– 14, compared with 2012–13 (Table 2). On average, farm cash income for broadacre farms in New South Wales is estimated to average $90 000 per farm in 2013–14, still around 40 per cent above the 10-year average to 2012–13 (Figure 4).

Farm business profits are estimated to decline to an average loss of $15 000 per farm in 2013– 14 as sheep and beef cattle numbers and stocks of grain and fodder on-farm are reduced.

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm

2013–140 $'000

Australia New South Wales p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Table 2 Financial performance, New South Wales broadacre industries, 2011–12 to 2013– 14, average per farm unit 2013– Performance indicator s 2011–12 2012–13p RSE 14y Total cash receipts $ 369 820 388 400 (5) 382 000 Total cash costs $ 291 120 290 800 (5) 292 000 Farm cash income $ 78 700 97 600 (8) 90 000 Farms with negative farm cash income % 31 23 (14) 35 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

Farm business profit $ –2 370 6 700 (118) –15 000 Profit at full equity excluding capital appreciation $ 35 490 41 200 (21) 18 000 Farm capital at 30 June a $ 3 563 410 3 548 200 (4) na Farm debt at 30 June b $ 477 350 415 200 (8) 416 000 Equity ratio b % 86 88 (1) na Rate of return excluding capital appreciation c % 1.0 1.2 (19) 0.5 Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 33 580 39 400 (12) na a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Table 3 Farm cash income of New South Wales broadacre farms, by region, 2012–13 to 2013–14, average per farm

Region units 2012–13p RSE 2013–14y Far West New South Wales $ 153 000 (17) 86 000 North West Slopes and Plains $ 132 800 (20) 2 000 Central West $ 91 200 (15) 128 000 Riverina $ 159 700 (13) 185 000 Tablelands $ 42 400 (23) 52 000 Coastal New South Wales $ - 20 000 (45) - 2 000 p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of grains industry farms—New South Wales Average farm cash income for New South Wales grains industry farms increased in 2012– 13 compared with 2011–12 (Figure 5). Higher crop prices more than offset reductions in crop production resulting from drier conditions through winter and spring in most regions and high temperatures in northern summer cropping regions mid-summer. On mixed enterprise farms, increased crop receipts and a small increase in beef cattle receipts resulting from increased cattle turnoff were partly offset by reduced receipts from sheep due to lower sheep, lamb and wool prices.

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, grains industry, average per farm

2013–14 0 $'000

Overall, in 2013–14, crop receipts are estimated to decline for New South Wales grains farms as a result of much reduced production of both winter and summer crops in northern cropping regions subject to drought conditions and despite increased grain crop production in southern regions. On mixed enterprise farms, lower crop receipts are expected to be partly offset by increased receipts from sheep and lambs as a result of higher prices, together with an overall Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES increase in beef cattle receipts as drier conditions result in turnoff of more beef cattle at significantly reduced prices.

Farm cash income for New South Wales grains industry farms is estimated to average $141 000 per farm in 2013–14, a reduction on the average farm cash income of $170 000 per farm for 2012–13, and above the industry average for the previous 10 years (Error: Reference source not found). Farm cash incomes for New South Wales grains industry farms were generally reduced by dry conditions throughout much of this decade.

Performance of sheep industry farms—New South Wales In 2012–13, lower prices received for adult sheep, lambs and wool more than offset small increases in wool production and in sheep and lamb turnoff, together with reductions in expenditure on sheep purchases and interest payments. Adult sheep prices declined by 44 per cent; lamb prices by 17 per cent and the average wool price received by 11 per cent.

In 2013–14, higher average prices for adult sheep and lambs are estimated to be offset by increased expenditure on fodder to result in average farm cash income for sheep industry farms remaining similar to that recorded in 2012–13 at an average of $67 000 per farm. This is around 20 per cent above the industry average of $56 000 per farm for the ten-years to 2012–13, in real terms (Error: Reference source not found).

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm

2013–14 $'000-50

Performance of beef industry farms—New South Wales A smaller average herd size for New South Wales beef industry farms compared with the average for the whole of Australia results in average farm cash income for New South Wales beef industry farms typically being below the national average (Error: Reference source not found).

A return to drier seasonal conditions in 2012–13 resulted in an increase in beef cattle turnoff in all New South Wales regions of around 6 per cent and a slow-down in the rate of increase in herd sizes. Lower average sale prices received for beef cattle resulted in only a small increase in

13 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES beef receipts (1 per cent) and average farm cash income for New South Wales beef industry farms increased to $31 000 per farm in 2012–13.

In 2013–14, expansion of drought conditions is estimated to have led to a further increase in cattle turn-off. It is estimated that this increase will be offset by reductions in saleyard prices for cattle, resulting in only a small increase in farm receipts that will be more than offset by increased expenditure on fodder, fuel and freight costs, resulting in average farm cash income for beef industry farms declining to $21 000 per farm, around 35 per cent below the ten-year average to 2012–13 (Error: Reference source not found).

In addition, reduction of cattle numbers on farms is estimated to result in a further reduction in the value of on-farm inventories and a reduction in farm business profit for beef industry farms, representing an average loss of $50 000 per farm in 2013–14.

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm

2012–13 $'0000

Performance of dairy industry farms—New South Wales In 2012–13, lower average farmgate milk prices together with a small reduction in milk production and an increase in costs, resulting mainly from a 25 per cent increase in fodder expenditure, resulted in lower average farm cash incomes for all New South Wales dairy regions. Overall, for the whole of New South Wales, farm cash income for dairy farms averaged $66 000 per farm, well below the average for the previous 10 years (Figure 8). Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm

2013–14 $'0000

In 2013–14, average farm cash income for New South Wales dairy farms is estimated to increase markedly in southern New South Wales as a result of higher milk prices and despite further increase in fodder expenditure. However, much smaller increases are expected in average farm cash income in central and north-eastern New South Wales regions where increases in milk prices have generally been small and seasonal conditions drier.

Overall, when regional differences are taken into account, average farm cash income for New South Wales dairy farms is estimated to increase to $112 000 per farm, which is close to the average for the previous 10 years.

Table 4 Financial performance, New South Wales dairy industry, 2010–11 to 2012–13, average per farm

Performance indicator units 2011–12 2012–13p RSE 2013–14y Total cash receipts $ 713 500 694 500 (4) 759 000 Total cash costs $ 553 980 629 800 (4) 647 000 Farm cash income $ 159 510 64 600 (24) 112 000 Farms with negative farm cash income % 11 23 (15) 24 Farm business profit $ 63 550 –13 700 (120) 16 000 Profit at full equity excluding capital appreciation $ 122 360 42 000 (39) 70 000 Farm capital at 30 June a $ 3 889 800 3 896 300 (5) na Farm debt at 30 June b $ 655 970 683 100 (11) 678 000 Equity ratio b % 83 82 (2) na Rate of return excluding capital appreciation c % 3.1 1.1 (40) 1.8 Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 16 130 22 300 (19) na a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of Vegetable industry farms—New South Wales Nationally in 2013–14, average farm cash income is estimated to have declined to $156 000, 4 per cent lower than in 2012–13. Average to above average seasonal conditions helped growers to maintain the high yields of 2012–13. Overall vegetable production was also higher because the average area planted to vegetable crops increased. However, the resulting increase in vegetable cash receipts was partially offset by lower vegetable prices.

Farm cash income in New South Wales is estimated to have declined by 23 per cent in 2012– 13 to an average of $62 900 (Table 3), the lowest estimated farm cash income (in real terms) since ABARES began surveying vegetable growing farm businesses in the state (Figure 9). Changes in the total amount of vegetables produced were mixed across vegetable types, but the average area planted was lower and yields were generally higher. Although prices were higher for most of the main vegetable commodities planted, vegetable cash receipts declined.

Farm cash income is estimated to have increased in 2013–14 to an average of $73 000 (Table 3), 10 per cent lower than the average farm cash income (in real terms) over the nine years to 2013–14 (Figure 9). Vegetable production increased because the average area planted increased and yields were stable. On average, farms shifted production towards potatoes and tomatoes, and away from lettuce, pumpkins and greenpeas. Increased vegetable production offset lower vegetable prices, thus increasing vegetable cash receipts.

Table 3 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses, New South Wales, 2012–13 and 2013–14 average per farm Selected estimates units 2012–13 p RSE % Change 2013–14 y RSE % Change from 2011–12 from 2012–13 Vegetable cash receipts $ 213 200 (15 –30 240 000 (19 13 ) ) Area sown to vegetables ha 13.6 (21 –30 14.1 (28 4 ) ) Quantity of vegetables produced t 374 (40 –25 441 (38 18 ) ) Farm cash income $ 62 900 (31 –32 73 000 (33 22 ) ) p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate. Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

Figure 9 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, New South Wales, 2005–06 to 2013–14 average per farm 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 2013–14 $’000 y 7 8 0 2 6 9 1 p

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 4 3 – – – – – – – 1 1 6 7 9 1 5 8 0 – – 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

3) Fisheries sector

The New South Wales Mid North Coast region includes Port Macquarie, a key landing area for state fisheries, and the Wallis Lake Estuary, an important area for oyster aquaculture. The state fisheries operating in the area include the Ocean Prawn Trawl Fishery, and the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery. A range of species are landed in the area from these fisheries, including king prawns, yellowfin bream, sea mullet, dusky flathead, silver trevally, tiger flathead, southern calamari, school whiting, and crabs. Common freshwater recreational species caught in the region include bass, catfish, bream, flathead and luderick while common marine species are snapper, pearl perch, sand flathead, kingfish and billfish. Gamefishing is also a popular recreational pursuit in the region, targeting larger finfish species such as tuna, marlin and billfish.

Sydney rock oyster is the principal aquaculture species grown in NSW, accounting for 63 per cent of the value all aquaculture species grown in NSW, with avalue of $30 million in 2012–13 (Creese and Trenaman 2014). The Mid North Coast Region is a key region for Sydney rock oyster production, producing an estimated 1.9 million dozens of oysters with a combined value of $12 million in 2012–13. The key producing area in the region is Wallis Lake, which produced 1.3 million dozen Sydney rock oysters in 2012–13, at a value of $8.3 million. Other Sydney rock oyster producing areas in the region include the Hastings River estuary ($1.1 million), Camden Haven ($0.8 million), the Manning River Estuary ($0.8 million), and the Nambucca River Estuary ($0.7 million). Other aquaculture species grown in the region include: Australian bass, crayfish, silver perch, and golden perch.

In 2012–13 the gross value of New South Wales fisheries production was estimated to be around $123.8 million lower by 0.2 per cent ($0.2 million) from 2011–12. New South Wales contributed 5 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2012–13. In value terms, the wild-catch sector accounted for 62 per cent ($76.2 million) of the state’s total production and the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 38 per cent ($47.5 million).

New South Wales wild-catch fisheries provide a range of fisheries products. In 2012–13, finfish species contributed 49 per cent of the wild-catch production, valued at $37.6 million. The main finfish species landed were sea mullet, with a gross value of production of $7.1 million, followed by school whiting ($3.1 million), black and yellowfin bream ($3.0 million), snapper ($2.4 million) and eastern Australian salmon ($1.8 million). Prawns contributed 22 per cent of the total value of wild-catch fisheries with a value of $16.8 million, with other important crustacean groups being eastern rocklobster (10 per cent; $7.5 million) and crabs (6 per cent; $4.6 million).

In 2012–13 the value of New South Wales aquaculture production is estimated to have increased by 1 per cent ($0.6 million) to $47.5 million. Oyster production makes the greatest contribution to New South Wales aquaculture production, accounting for 76 per cent of production by value, worth $35.9 million. Prawns ($3.5 million) and finfish aquaculture species, including silver perch ($1.9 million), trout ($2.2 million) and barramundi ($0.6 million) make up most of the remaining aquaculture production.

Commonwealth fisheries active in New South Wales include the Small Pelagic Fishery, the Eastern Tuna and Billfish fishery (mainly supplying export markets with tuna), and the Commonwealth trawl sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark fishery. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

In 2012–13, New South Wales fisheries product exports were valued at $14.1 million. The main export products include live and fresh, chilled or frozen fish, rocklobster and abalone. Japan and Hong Kong, are the major destinations for New South Wales fisheries exports, accounting for 34 per cent and 17 per cent of the total value of exports in 2012–13, respectively. Other major export destinations include Vietnam (9 per cent), Taiwan (9 per cent) and New Zealand (8 per cent).

The New South Wales coastline is an important recreational fishing area, with a multitude of inlets and estuaries from which to fish (NSWDPI 2013b). Being a tourism precinct, the region offers a number of recreational fishing opportunities, with the value of this activity to the regional economy likely to be significant. There are also a range of game fishing tournaments throughout the year, including in the Bermagui and Port Stephens area, targeting tuna, and marlin species. New South Wales also contains a number of recreational only fishing areas, especially in the far south coast of New South Wales, a popular destination for both marine and freshwater recreational fishers. A large number of recreational fishers also fish in the Greater Sydney area, stretching from the Newcastle to Illawarra area, and comprising the city areas of Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong. Species commonly targeted in the area include yellowfin bream, dusky flathead, yellowtail, blue swimmer crab, squid, and southern calamari (Steffe and Murphy 2011).

4) Forestry sector

In 2010–11, the total plantation area in the Mid North Coast region was approximately 12 400 hectares, comprised of approximately 11 400 hectares of hardwood plantations, 500 hectares of softwood plantations and 500 hectares of other plantations. The main hardwood species planted are Dunn’s white gum (Eucalyptus dunnii), blackbutt (E. pilularis), flooded gum (E. grandis) and Sydney blue gum (E. saligna). The main softwood species planted is radiata pine (Pinus radiata).

In 2011, there were approximately 1.3 million hectares of native forests in the Mid North Coast region, comprised mainly of Eucalypt tall open (638 400 hectares), Eucalypt medium open (281 000 hectares) and Rainforest (185 800 hectares) forest types. Approximately 660 400 hectares of the native forests are privately owned, 393 500 hectares are in nature conservation reserves and 255 200 hectares are multiple-use public forest available for timber production (Figure 10). Major timber processing industries are sawmills located at Herons Creek and Booral.

Figure 10 Area of native forest, by tenure, Mid North Coast region, 2011

Source: ABARES Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013

Total sales and service income in the New South Wales forest and wood product industry was approximately $6.9 billion in 2012–13. The income was mainly generated from the sale of wood products estimated at $3.4 billion, and the remaining $3.5 billion was generated from the sale of paper and paper products. In 2010–11, New South Wales exported approximately 734 000 tonnes of woodchips, valued at approximately $115 million. In 2011–12, woodchip exports declined to 645 000 tonnes, valued at $98 million. In 2011, the New South Wales forestry sector employed 22 247 workers (0.7 per cent of the total employed workforce in New South Wales) compared with 25 243 (0.9 per cent) in 2006 (number of people employed includes forestry support services and timber wholesaling). Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, 2015 ABARES

References

ABS 2011, Census of Population and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014a, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2012–2013, cat. no. 7121.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014b, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2014, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014c, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2012–13, cat. no. 7503.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics-Bureau of Rural Sciences 2010, Land use of Australia 2005-06, Version 4, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.

ABARES 2014, Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014. Department of Agriculture. http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences 2014, Australian forest and wood products statistics: March and June quarters 2014, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

Creese , A & Trenaman, R, 2014, Aquaculture Production Report 2012–2013, NSW Department of Primary Industries, available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/514683/aquaculture_production_rep ort_.pdf

Montreal Process Implementation Group for Australia and National Forest Inventory Steering Committee 2013, Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

NSWDPIa (New South Wales Department of Primary Industries) 2013, Aquaculture Production Report 2012–2013, available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/514683/aquaculture_production_rep ort_.pdf

NSWDPIb (New South Wales Department of Primary Industries) 2013, Fishing Guides, available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/publications.

Steffe, AS & Murphy, JJ, 2011, Recreational fishing surveys in the Greater Sydney Region, NSW Fisheries final report series no. 131, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence, Cronulla, New South Wales.

Trenaman, R. 2012, Aquaculture Production Report 2010–2011, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Aquaculture Unit, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute.