About the Project

The fragmented nature of inland saline research in Australia has made it difficult for those interested in the field to easily access the collective information available. This stimulated a project to coordinate Inland Saline Aquaculture in Australia. This project “Development of industrial-scale inland saline aquaculture: coordination and communication of R&D in Australia” is being funded through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation with significant contributions from the Australian Government, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (through the Aquaculture Action Agenda). The Applicant is the National Aquaculture Council with Dr Geoff Allan (NSW Department of Primary Industries, contracted as Principal Investigator).

Specific Objectives of this project are to:

1. Facilitate rapid commercialisation of regionally appropriate inland saline aquaculture technology.
2. Manage communication and technology transfer among research providers, funding agencies, salinity managers (federal, state and local government, MDBC), industry and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
3. Identify and review national priorities for research, development and extension on inland saline aquaculture.
4. Help ensure scientific methodology is "world-best-practice" and consistent with the National R & D Plan for inland saline aquaculture.
5. Production of an investment directory.
6. Production of Economic Feasibility studies on the selected state projects.
7. Present the project at Australasian Aquaculture 2004.
8. Establishment of demonstration facilities at key locations.

A series of projects are being conducted at several demonstration facilities throughout Australia.