Marine Aquaculture in the Great Sandy Region Background and Expression of Interest Information CS1634 07/12
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Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Marine aquaculture in the Great Sandy region Background and expression of interest information CS1634 07/12 Disclaimer This publication has been prepared by the State of Queensland as an information only source. The State of Queensland makes no statements, representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of, and you and all other persons should not rely on, any information contained in this publication. Any reference to any specific organisation, product or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the State of Queensland. The State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason. © State of Queensland, 2012. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Contents Introduction 4 Queensland aquaculture 5 Great Sandy region 6 Great Sandy regional marine aquaculture plan 6 Legislative framework 7 Aquaculture approvals 7 Environmental permits 7 Shellfish Quality Assurance Program 7 Aquaculture permitted within the GSRMAP 8 Sea ranching 8 Surface lines 8 Subsurface lines 8 Racks 8 Sites available for commercial development 9 Double Island Point precinct 11 Inskip Point precinct 12 Wide Bay Bar precinct 13 Wide Bay Harbour precinct 14 Tinnanbar precinct 16 Big Woody Island precinct 18 Pearl Bank precinct 19 Coongul Point precinct 21 Burnett precinct 22 Additional site information 24 Interactions with other users 24 Non-exclusive access 24 Limited tenure 24 Native title 24 Port infrastructure 24 Extreme weather 24 Water quality 24 Policy change 24 Theft 24 Broodstock and spat availability 25 More information 25 Appendix 1: Ports and boat ramps potentially available to service GSRMAP sites 26 Background and expression of interest information 3 Introduction Over the past decade, aquaculture has been This document provides information about the Great Queensland’s fastest growing primary industry and it Sandy region and the sites available through the EOI. continues to show significant potential for expansion, It includes: particularly in regional areas. To help this industry, • an overview of Queensland aquaculture, the Great the Queensland Government developed the Great Sandy region and the GSRMAP Sandy regional marine aquaculture plan (GSRMAP). • information about the types of aquaculture The GSRMAP was established to provide a whole- permitted in the region and the sites available of-government guide that will streamline the through the EOI assessment processes for approving non-intensive • additional information about the use and servicing aquaculture activities in the Great Sandy Marine of these sites. Park. The plan allows for rack, line and ranching aquaculture in line with provisions of the marine park. Interested parties are invited to submit an EOI for the sites available. Successful candidates will be Under the plan, there are 26 sites in 9 aquaculture given the opportunity to formally apply for a resource precincts (totalling 8500 ha) available for commercial allocation authority and a development approval to development via a competitive allocation process. allow them to conduct non-intensive aquaculture. This is the first opportunity interested parties will have to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for Refer to Marine aquaculture in the Great Sandy marine aquaculture sites within the Great Sandy region: Expression of interest submission guidelines Marine Park boundaries. for information about the allocation process and how to complete and submit an EOI application. Sites available through the EOI were chosen to minimise conflict with other user groups, and the Please note: The policies and publications referred social and environmental value of the region was to in these guidelines are available on the Fisheries considered. As such, the sites have whole-of- Queensland website at www.fisheries.qld.gov.au government endorsement regarding their suitability (click on ‘Aquaculture’), unless otherwise stated. for marine aquaculture, subject to the management controls in the GSRMAP. 4 Background and expression of interest information Queensland aquaculture The Queensland Government supports the In addition, there are other emerging aquaculture development of a sustainable aquaculture industry. species in Queensland, including: In 2009–10, aquaculture production in Queensland • tropical marine fish (e.g. estuary and flowery cod) was worth A$103 million or 31.6% of the total gross • Hervey Bay sea scallops annual fisheries value in Queensland. This is an • sponges. increase of 20.5% from 2008–09 and highlights the importance of aquaculture to Queensland’s total The largest aquaculture sectors in Queensland are fisheries production. land-based prawn and barramundi farming, which account for about 86% of the total value. Aquaculture Aquaculture production in Queensland has increased is strongly positioned in the northern regions of in value by more than 86% since 1997–98, but has Queensland, accounting for about 60% of the total now stabilised and accounts for approximately 10% value of production. of Australia’s total aquaculture production. The sea-based marine aquaculture sector in The list of products now cultured in Queensland Queensland currently accounts for a small proportion illustrates the variety and scope of the aquaculture of the domestic seafood market. However, this industry. Species produced include: sector is likely to expand significantly in response • marine prawns, such as black tiger and to the GSRMAP. banana prawns Regional employment in the Queensland aquaculture • barramundi industry is close to 565 full-time jobs (in the 2009–10 • freshwater fish species, including silver perch, financial year). It has been estimated that there jade perch, golden perch and Murray cod are approximately 2000 additional jobs generated • hatchery and aquarium species, including in Queensland through flow-on activity from the barramundi, golden perch, Australian bass, silver aquaculture industry. perch and exotic and native ornamental species • redclaw crayfish • eels • edible oysters • South Sea pearl oysters (gold-lipped and black-lipped). Queensland is in an ideal position to support the development of successful aquaculture ventures. Queensland’s competitive advantages include: • an excellent reputation in the international marketplace for high-quality seafood • clean, unpolluted waters • highly developed transport infrastructure • extensive aquaculture research programs • proximity to major seafood markets in the Asia-Pacific region • freedom from many of the serious diseases affecting aquaculture in other countries • high-quality veterinary support with the capability for disease incident management. Background and expression of interest information 5 Great Sandy region Fraser Island, the Cooloola sand mass and the Emerging opportunities for investment, development waters of Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait form and value-adding exist at the Port of Bundaberg in the Great Sandy region. The region covers about aviation, tourism and manufacturing. 840 000 ha of South East Queensland. The region has a combination of relatively sheltered The Great Sandy region has many exceptional natural but deep waters, exceptional water quality, close attributes (recognised nationally and internationally), proximity to service ports and domestic and including the Great Sandy Marine Park, the Fraser international transport centres, and a regional Island World Heritage Area and significant wetlands. skills base in the marine and seafood processing The region has intrinsic environmental, cultural industries. and commercial value, and hosts a wide range of The Great Sandy region aquaculture precincts will be activities (including whale watching, diving and serviced by existing port and marina infrastructure tourism ventures). The coastal and marine waters in Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Tin Can Bay (see of the region are an important natural resource and Appendix 1). are subject to high levels of commercial fishing and recreational fishing and boating. Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait currently support approved marine aquaculture sites for The region’s economy is based around the traditional pearling, scallop and sea cucumber (bêche-de-mer) stronghold sectors of agriculture and related ranching, and two land-based hatchery operations manufacturing. Tourism and other service industries (land-based operations are outside the scope of are increasing in prominence, leading to a more the GSRMAP). diversified and sustainable regional economic base that is capable of capitalising on opportunities and For more information about the Great Sandy region, enduring external impacts. visit www.visitfrasercoast.com Great Sandy regional marine aquaculture plan The GSRMAP was established to provide a whole- However, up until now