Victoria

Policy and Strategic Direction - The State Government approach to ISA development

ISA Sector Development Activities and ISA Investment Information

ISA Contacts - Who can you talk to for technical, business or licensing assistance

State Research & Development - What research has been undertaken, is underway, or planned for the future

Commercial Production - What commercial activities are underway

Planning and Approvals – Planning and licensing requirements

Policy and Strategic Direction

The Victorian Government through the Department of Primary Industries is strongly supporting an Integrated Agri-Aquaculture Systems (IAAS) approach to inland aquaculture development. Inland Saline Aquaculture is recognised as a possible component of IAAS. Unlike other States, the primary focus of Victorian IAAS (and ISA) R&D is not solely the development of an aquaculture industry or aquaculture business opportunities but rather farm diversification and the sustainable use of water resources by rural communities.

There are two major State government initiatives that provide funding support for IAAS research. Each initiative is funds a single IAAS project. Information on the two initiatives and relevant IAAS projects can be found on the Victorian Department of Primary Industries Web Site:

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfaq.nsf/Home+Page/
335C925D9FBADC10CA256E68007F3A2C?open

The Our Rural Landscape (ORL) initiative's core aim is to generate the scientific knowledge and policy tools necessary for Victoria's agri-food sector to pursue strong economic growth, while protecting the environmental base that sustains production. One of the many objectives is to substantially increase the value and sustainability of water used commercially in Victorian landscapes:

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfaq.nsf/Home+Page/
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The ORL IAAS project description is outlined in the following document:

Multiple Use of Water Project Outline: Gooley G. 2004, Sub-project 1.3 - Multiple use of water: adding value and sustainability to water use in agricultural landscapes. (ORL subproject 1.3_Multiple Use_22Apr04_flyer)

The Ecologically Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (ESAI) projects are aimed at encouraging productive and sustainable agriculture, focusing on biodiversity, greenhouse issues, environmental management, recycling and small farm enterprise issues

ISA Sector Development Activities and ISA Investment Information

A wide selection of excellent material has been prepared by the Victorian Government for the prospective IAAS (and ISA) investor and much of it is available either on the Victorian Department of Primary Industries Fisheries and Aquaculture website:

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfaq.nsf/Home+Page/
335C925D9FBADC10CA256E68007F3A2C?open

Or the Rural Industries Research and Development website:

www.rirdc.com.au

The Victorian DPI Fisheries and Aquaculture website has a page specifically tailored to the prospective aquaculture investor:

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfaq.nsf/childdocs/-C36AD25EB982BC47CA256C6700191946-FD950396491E43704A2568F2000548C5?open

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

The resource handbook Gavine, F. and Gooley, G (2003) provides a comprehensive background to investment in IAAS (including ISA) in Victoria. Included is information on setting up an aquaculture operation, risks and constraints associated with IAAS (and ISA) and contacts.

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

http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Ras/03-012.pdf

An Investment portfolio has been prepared for potential investors in Victorian IAAS. This document provides information on IAAS including ISA as well as licensing information and a run down of potential IAAS species and systems:

Gavine, F. and Gooley, G. 2002 Integrated Agri-Aquaculture Systems Investment Portfolio. Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute Report No 37. Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute: Snobs Creek. Department of Natural Resources and Environmant Victoria.

Further information is available to the prospective aquaculture investor in the Victorian Investment Analysis prepared as a business decision support tool for Local Council planners and potential aquaculture investors. It includes a comprehensive review of the risks associated with aquaculture investment. Also, there is a section on government facilitation and assistance. The analysis is available on CD from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries or the DPI website:

Aquaculture in Victoria Investment Analysis, A guide for local government to assist regional aquaculture development. Fisheries Victoria 2003.

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfaq.nsf/LinkView/
FD066F8B590E7485CA256E4A007E7028C098C493D99506EC4A2567D700236323

ISA Contacts

Contact Fisheries Victoria for further details.

State Research and Development

Much of the integrated resource management research undertaken by the Victorian Department of Primary industries involves ISA. However ISA is not necessarily the primary focus.

A National Integrated Agri Aquaculture Systems (IAAS) R&D Plan has been prepared by Primary Industries and Resources Victoria, PIRVIC (formally MAFRI), on behalf of RIRDC:

Gooley, G. 2000, R&D Plan for integrated Agri Aquaculture Systems 1999-2004, RIRDC Publication No 99/153 Project No MFR-1A (agriaqua r&d strategy 99 04) http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Ras/99-153.pdf

The following reports provide information on IAAS R&D previously undertaken in Victoria:

Gooley, G.J., McKinnon, L.J., Ingram, B.A. and Gasior, R. 2002 Multiple Use of Farmwater to Produce Fish RIRDC Publication No 00/182 Project No DCM-1A. (00-182) http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Ras/00-182.pdf

The Multiple Use of Farmwater to Produce Fish report provides the outcomes of a number IAAS trials, one of which includes a trial to grow finfish in a cage utilising saline water. Further investigations have specifically targeted ISA:

Ingram, B.A., McKinnon, L.J. and Gooley, G.J. (2002) Growth and survival of selected aquatic animals in two saline groundwater evaporation basins: An Australian case study. Aquaculture Research 33, 425-436

ESAI Initiative - Pyramid Hill. Trial to produce artemia in conjunction with salt manufacturer…use project brief

ORL Initiative - An investigation into integrated dairy/fish production from a shallow aquifer saline water supply on a dairy property.

Commercial Production

There are no ISA operations commercially producing marketable products at present. The ORL and ESAI initiatives involve commercial partners investigating aquaculture production in association with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

Planning and Approvals

Extensive information is available on the planning and licensing requirements for aquaculture operations in Victoria. This information can be found on the Victorian Department of Primary Industries web site.

The Aquaculture Licensing Page:

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfaq.nsf/childdocs/-C36AD25EB982BC47CA256C6700191946-A01FF210A245F2574A2567D7002364DB-2DAA64E923162F584A2568F2000C11E6?open

Translocation:

The environmental impacts of IAAS will require adequate consideration to satisfy government regulatory requirements. A number of policies have been developed to assist prospective investors. In particular, policies and processes that enable the translocation of non-endemic species for culture in aquaculture systems have been prepared. These are based on the National Translocation Policy.

Department of Primary Industries (2003) Guidelines for the translocation of live aquatic organisms in Victoria. Victorian Aquatic Organisms translocation Guidelines Steering Committee.