PRAWN AQUACULTURE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA: FINAL ESD RISK ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR PRAWN AQUACULTURE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PAPER NO. 230 Published by Department of Fisheries 168 St. Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 January 2009 ISSN 0819-4327 Prawn Aquaculture in Western Australia: Final ESD Risk Assessment Report for Prawn Aquaculture January 2009 Project manager and author: Fiona vom Berg Fisheries Management Paper No. 230 ISSN 0819-4327 ii Fisheries Management Paper No.230 CONTENTS DISCLAIMER...................................................................................................................... 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ 1 GLOSSARY .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.0 InTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 5 1.1 Prawn Aquaculture in WA ....................................................................................... 5 1.2 What is ESD? .......................................................................................................... 6 1.3 How does the ESD framework fit with Aquaculture? ............................................. 6 1.4 What are the major components of ESD for Aquaculture? .................................... 7 1.5 How does the ESD Framework operate? ............................................................... 8 1.6 How are the specific issues identified? ................................................................... 8 1.7 Prioritising issues .................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Risk Assessment ..................................................................................................... 8 2.0 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 10 3.0 REGIONAL/CATCHMENT AREAS FOR LEVEL 2 ASSESSMENTS ................ 13 3.1 IBRA Regionalization ............................................................................................. 13 4.0 RESULTS ...................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Summary of Issues & Risk Rankings ..................................................................... 18 5.0 DISCUSSION................................................................................................................ 21 5.1 Impacts on the General Environment (Whole of Industry) .................................... 22 5.1.1 Wild stock of cultured species ....................................................................... 22 5.1.2 Cultured stock/businesses (husbandry) ......................................................... 27 5.1.3 Other species/communities processes ........................................................... 32 5.2 Impact of the Industry on the Catchment/Region (Cumulative Impacts) ............... 44 5.2.1 Water use quality/quantity ............................................................................. 45 5.2.2 Ecological/community structure and biodiversity ......................................... 54 5.2.3 Physical structures and construction & tenure .............................................. 68 5.2.4 Production ..................................................................................................... 77 5.3 Impacts of Individual Facilities on Environmental Wellbeing ............................... 82 5.3.1 Site selection/construction/infrastructure ...................................................... 82 5.3.2 Operations ..................................................................................................... 94 6.0 APPENDix 1 – WORKSHOP PARTICIpanTS ...................................................... 1 1 3 7.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 1 1 4 Fisheries Management Paper No.230 iii iv Fisheries Management Paper No.230 DISCLAIMER The information in this document is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of release. The publisher disclaims any responsibility or duty of care towards any person for loss or damage suffered from any use of this publication for whatever purpose and in whatever manner. While considerable care has been taken in producing this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. The information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters contained or discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements, information and advice. No person should rely solely on this publication for the purpose of making business or investment decisions. © Department of Fisheries ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A number of government officers contributed to the development of this report. • Rick Fletcher Department of Fisheries • Peter Skitmore Department of Environment and Conservation • Kerrod Beattie Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries The author would also like to thank the following people for providing thoughts, ideas and constructive comment during the development of this report. • Steve Nel Aquaculture Development Council & Department of Fisheries • Greg Jenkins Aquaculture Development Unit, Challenger TAFE • Dan Machin Aquaculture Council of WA • Emma Glencross Department of Environment and Conservation • Cameron Sim Department of Environment and Conservation • Peter Ryan Department of Water • Jo McCrea Department of Fisheries Fisheries Management Paper No.230 1 GLOSSARY APVMA Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Aquafin CRC Aquafin Cooperative Research Centre BAM Act Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act BAMB Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Bill CALM Department of Conservation and Land Management CoP Code of Practice DEC Department of Environment and Conservation DIA Department of Indigenous Affairs DoF Department of Fisheries DoW Department of Water DPI Department of Planning and Infrastructure ESD Ecological Sustainable Development EMP Environmental Monitoring Program EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Program EPA Environment Protection Authority EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 EPBC Act Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 FCR feed conversion rate FRDC Fisheries Research and Development Council FRMA Fish Resource Management Act 1994 FRMR Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 GAV Gill Associated Virus GMO genetically modified organism HAB harmful algal bloom IHHNV Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus IDCA Inter-Departmental Committee of Aquaculture IFM Integrated Fisheries Management MCMS Mid-crop Mortality Syndrome MPG8 Ministerial Policy Guideline No. 8 PIRSA Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia PL post larvae RAMSAR The Conservation of Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat, signed at Ramsar Iran, in 1971 SARDI South Australia Research and Development Institute 2 Fisheries Management Paper No.230 Seafood CRC Seafood Cooperative Research Centre SMV Spawner Mortality Virus SBT Southern bluefin tuna SWQMS State Water Quality Management Strategy WAPC Western Australian Planning Commission WQ water quality WQPN Water Quality Protection Note Fisheries Management Paper No.230 3 4 Fisheries Management Paper No.230 1.0 InTRODUCTION Aquaculture is one of the faster growing industries in Australia having grown in value by over 13 per cent over the past 10 years. It is currently valued at $743 million with an industry vision to achieve $2.5 billion in sales by 2010. In Western Australia, the industry is still in its infancy, with a total of 446 aquaculture licensees across the State producing a variety of species from finfish (barramundi, silver perch, rainbow trout, pink snapper and black bream), to marron and yabbies, black pearls, mussels and ornamental fish. Not counting marine algae production, the value of aquaculture production in 2001/02 was around $6.5 million (338 tonnes). This value has dropped slightly over the last few years, due to a lower price being received for some products. There are a number of potential impediments to achieving continued growth of this industry. These include the need for increased investment, an expansion in markets and ensuring environmental sustainability. However, one of the most important is meeting the growing expectations of the community that all aquaculture sectors can clearly demonstrate that they are operating within the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) (see Section 2). The Western Australian Department of Fisheries is responsible for the management of aquaculture in WA and is committed to implementing ESD. These principles are contained within the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and the Department is keen to demonstrate both to the Government and the broader community that these principles are being achieved. The Department developed a policy statement in 2002 - Policy for the Implementation of Ecologically Sustainable Development for Fisheries and Aquaculture within Western Australia - (Fletcher 2002) that described its direction to the Department on incorporating ESD within fisheries and aquaculture management. Using the ESD Framework