National Coordination, Strategic Direction and Planning

NSW Fisheries has taken a leading role in ISA R&D planning and is charged with coordinating ISA specific R&D activities funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

Inland Saline Aquaculture has been closely linked to, and is often considered a subset of, Integrated Agri Aquaculture. DPI Victoria has led much of the planning and strategic development of Integrated Agri Aquaculture System research with State funding and assistance from the Rural Industry Research and Development Corporation.

While most State government departments acknowledge that ISA is a component of IAAS, the focus of ISA R&D, and ISA sector development objectives and activities differ considerably across the country. Some states have directed their research effort specifically toward the development of commercial ISA opportunities while others elsewhere see ISA as a resource management or utilisation opportunity in conjunction with other rural activities; commercial profit not necessarily being the primary rationale behind the opportunity.

The approach adopted by each State to ISA and the R&D work being undertaken is summarised in the Demonstration Facilities pages.

The following documents detail the strategic planning for ISA (and IAAS) and provide the background to much of the research work currently underway:

An ISA workshop held in Perth on 6-7 August 1997 identified the opportunities and constraints to ISA development as well as providing a variety of technical papers. The workshop was funded by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Research ACIAR, Western Australian Fisheries, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and Rural Industry Research and Development Corporation:

Smith, B.and Barlow, C. (Editors) 1999, Inland Saline Aquaculture Workshop. Proceedings of a workshop held on 6 and 7 August 1997 in Perth, Western Australia. ACIAR Proceedings

The Perth workshop highlighted the need to develop a national R&D plan. This was subsequently developed and published:

Allan, G.L., Dignam, A. & Fielder D.S. 2001, Developing Commercial Inland Saline Aquaculture in Australia: Part 1 R&D Plan. Business Generation & NSW Fisheries, FRDC Project No 98/335

Along with an extensive report that documents the distribution and characteristics of inland saline ground waters and their potential use for aquaculture:

Allan, G.L., Banens B. & Fielder, D.S. 2001, Developing Commercial Inland Saline Aquaculture in Australia: Part 2 Resource Inventory and Assessment. Atech Group & NSW Fisheries, FRDC Project No 98/335

The following highlights the strategic planning for IAAS. The planning and technical documents being highly relevant to ISA:

An IAAS R&D plan was developed at the Farmer-Operated Integrated Aquaculture, National R&D Planning Strategy Workshop (FOIA R&D Workshop), conducted by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and held at Trawool, Victoria, from 15-16 September, 1998:

Gooley, G. 2000, R&D Plan for integrated Agri Aquaculture Systems 1999-2004, RIRDC Publication No 99/153 Project No MFR-1A

The IAAS Resource handbook provides a wealth of information that is directly related to ISA:

Gooley, G & Gavine, F. 2003, Integrated Agri Aquaculture Systems – A Resouce Handbook for Australian Industry Development RIRDC Publication No 03/012 Project No MFR-2A