About National Aquaculture Council
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD: WHY NAC
(four page summary document on NAC activities)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD: WHY NAC
(further information on NAC activities and achievements)
What is NAC?
NAC is the peak body representing the aquaculture industry in Australia.
Structure
NAC comprises a chair, vice-chair and five committee NAC membership represents 98% of the national gross value of production (GVP).
Location
NAC has offices in Canberra and Perth.
Staff
NAC is administered by a Chief Executive Officer. NAC also sub-contracts a Conference Coordinator to manage the Asia-Pacific biennial aquaculture event.
NAC RESPONSIBILITIES (for a more comprehensive listing, download the summary paper: Why NAC)
Policy
NAC lobbies Government to extend Federal industry support programmes to aquaculturists. It makes sure that all policy affecting the industry has the concurrence of the NAC. There are important policy issues currently being formulated including:
- Animal Welfare: Generic husbandry, harvest and post harvest policy currently being developed in conjunction with RSPCA and regulators. NAC represented on national working group by P Jungalwalla.
- Translocation
: Development of Translocation Policy of aquaculture species, both freshwater and marine.
- Import Risk Assessment
- NAC is assisting Biosecurity Australia develop policy on import risk assessment as it relates to aquaculture products and associated products.
Aquaculture Industry Action Plan
NAC is implementing key recommendations resulting from the Aquacutlure Industry Action Agenda process. For further information on the Action Plan, visit the "Action Agenda" area within the Australian Aquaculture Portal.
Promotion
Generic promotion of aquaculture products. As part of the Action Plan NAC is progressing an initiative to develop a promotion strategy for the industry.
Aquatic Animal Health
Promotion and Implementation of AQUAPLAN and its programmes; NAC provides a representative on the Aquatic Animal Health Committee. The Action Agenda is supporting the development of the second stage of AQUAPLAN. S Bennison currently chairs the FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Subprogramme.
Research
NAC will identify and submit research programmes, which are considered by aquaculture industries as of national importance, particularly those, which apply across a variety of industries,
NAC assists organisations such as the FRDC in prioritising generic industry research initiatives
Education and Training
Through the Action Agenda NAC is developing programmes that will support various sectors.
NAC will assist in the development, adoption and accreditation of education and training programmes on a national basis. Most of this work can be done on a State-by-State basis with the NAC providing a consensus opinion to the appropriate National Agency. NAC has a representative on Seafood Training Australia.
Taxation
Taxation issues, such as GST, stock valuation and others have concerned the aquaculture industry at large. Recently NAC assisted in the Government approving that diesel rebate apply to the construction of ponds.
NAC also accesses the ATO through the Primary Industry Council through ASIC representation. Still looking at stock valuation methods.
Market Access
This occurs through a variety of issues such as monitoring and surveillance in the aquatic animal health programme.
Implementation of the national residue testing programme.
Represent industry on groups that are involved with certification of programmes such as those applicable to shellfish and quality assurance of other aquaculture species. (eg Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Committee).
Facilitate and support the development of marketing strategies as requested by industry groups.
Codex: NAC represents the industry with issues concerning international arrangements and Codex. This particularly relates to food standards.
National Residue Survey
NAC represents industry in discussions with the federal government to ensure market access.
Currently there are discussions on how sectors will run their own programmes or come under a NAC umbrella proposal that may require the application of a national levy.
Labelling
Ensure that industry has input to issues relating to the misrepresentation of seafood products particularly concerning their origin.
Assist in developing Trading names (domestic and export) approved for cultured product.
Biennial Aquaculture Conference
NAC is responsible fro organising an international aquaculture conference every second year. This part of NAC’s commercialisation strategy.
Resource Access
Ownership of resources has resulted in an ongoing debate between sectors of the aquaculture and capture industries. In most cases there appears to have been resolution of differences. This issue will maintain a high profile particularly as regulated species in the managed wild fisheries are adapted to aquaculture practices. NAC is represented on a special working group looking at resource allocation at the Federal level. This has serious implications for access to broodstock.
Diving standards.
Facilitate the development and implementation of Codes of Practice of various industries.
Occupation Health and Safety
Develop and facilitate the implementation of national occupational health and safety codes.
Ecological Sustainable Development
NAC has a representative on the ESD Working Group that is adapting the national ESD framework for aquaculture. NAC is driving outcomes from the Action Agenda on this subject.
A major initiative being driven by NAC is the adoption and implementation of EMS into businesses around Australia.
Where possible NAC will facilitate the development and implementation of Codes of Practice for various industries.
This list is by no means complete and is continually undergoing change. It does highlight the need for aquaculture groups with which NAC may consult in order to obtain a consensus on various issues and whom they may represent at a Federal level. Despite there being numerous issues shared between the capture and culture sectors, this does not obviate the need for a group to represent various aquaculture industries and their interests.
Further Information
