Trouble reading this
report, click to
reverse
colour scheme
Australian sardine33 600 tonnes
Salmonids25 500 tonnes
Prawns22 400 tonnes
Tuna14 700 tonnes
Rock lobster13 800 tonnes
Rock lobster$407 million
Salmonids$299 million
Prawns$268 million
Tuna$210 million
Abalone$189 million
The gross volume and value of Australian fisheries production, by species, is presented in tables 3-5. Production and value summaries are also presented in table 2 (wildcatch sector), tables 7–14 (individual jurisdictions) and tables 15–17 (aquaculture sector).
The volume of Australian fisheries production over the past decade has remained relatively stable, particularly for key species such as rock lobster and abalone (figure a). In 2007-08, the total volume of Australian fisheries production was 236 000 tonnes, approximately the same level as in 1998-99. Although production was relatively high during 2003-04 and 2004-05, averaging 278 000 tonnes over this period, Australian fisheries production volume averaged around 246 000 tonnes during the past decade.
In recent years, sardines (pilchards) have emerged as one of the major production species in Australian fisheries in volume terms. Sardines are used for feed in tuna ranching enterprises and are also being supplied to the recreational bait and pet food markets. Following the development of tuna ranching in the Port Lincoln region of South Australia, there has been an increase in demand for sardines. The production of the Australian sardine fishery rose by more than 700 per cent between 1999-2000 and 2004-05, from 5600 tonnes to 49 000 tonnes. In 2007-08, sardine production was about 33 600 tonnes, and accounted for 14 per cent of the Australian total volume of fisheries production. As a low-valued species, changes in prices and the gross value of production of sardines have negligible effects on Australian gross value of fisheries production.
Farmed salmonids, comprising salmon and trout species, have also emerged as a key production species group in recent years, accounting for 11 per cent of total fisheries production in 2007-08. The increase in production of farmed salmonids, combined with higher unit prices, has resulted in a significant increase in this group’s value of production, which increased by 175 per cent ($191 million) to $300 million over the period 1998-99 to 2006-07 in real terms. In 2007-08, although the production volume remained stable, the value of salmonids production increased by 3 per cent as a result of an increase in the unit price of farmed salmonids (figure b).
However, the increase in the production value of salmonids has not been sufficient to offset the decline in the gross value of production of other key species. Over the period 1998-99 to 2007-08 the gross value of Australian fisheries production fell by 22 per cent ($607 million) in real terms (figure c).
Driving this decline are reductions in the value of other key species, particularly rock lobster, prawns, abalone and tuna. The combined value of these four species, which typically account for at least half of Australia’s gross value of fisheries production, has fallen by 53 per cent ($571 million) in real terms since 1998-99 (figure b). This is largely the result of falling unit prices (figure d). Since the production of these species is export oriented, prices are strongly influenced by exchange rate movements. The strength of the Australian dollar against the currencies of major trading partners, particularly the US dollar and the Japanese yen, has reduced the competitiveness of Australian fisheries exports in recent years (box 1).
In 2007-08, rock lobster remained Australia’s highest valued production species, valued at $407 million, followed by salmonids ($299 million), prawns ($268 million), tuna ($210 million) and abalone ($189 million) (figure f). Australian sardines accounted for the highest individual catch by volume (14 per cent), followed by salmonids (11 per cent), prawns (10 per cent), tuna (6 per cent) and rock lobster (6 per cent).
box 1
Because Australia is a small producer and exporter of fisheries products, prices received by an Australian producer are generally set on world markets in foreign currencies. Other things being equal, a depreciating Australian dollar results in producers receiving a higher export price in Australian dollar terms, while an appreciating Australian dollar results in a lower export price.
In recent years, the strong appreciation of the Australian dollar has simultaneously made exports less competitive and imports more attractive to domestic consumers. In 2007-08, the Australian dollar continued to appreciate against the US dollar and the Japanese yen, rising by 14 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively (figure e). These exchange rate increases may partially explain the general trend towards lower unit value for export oriented fisheries products such as prawns, rock lobster and abalone in 2007-08.
In 2007-08, rock lobster production increased by 2 per cent (285 tonnes) to 13 800 tonnes. Despite this increase in production volume, the gross value of rock lobster production in Australia fell by 8 per cent ($36 million) to $407 million as a result of lower unit prices, which fell by 9 per cent on average in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. Approximately two-thirds of Australia’s rock lobster production is from Western Australia, where average catches are around 11 000 tonnes. However, in recent years, catch levels from the state have been lower than historical average at only 8961 tonnes in 2007-08. In 2007-08, the value of Western Australia’s rock lobster production fell by 12 per cent ($30 million) to $217 million.
The majority of rock lobster production is exported. Major export markets include Hong Kong, Japan and the United States. Prices in overseas markets rose over the period 2003-04 to 2006-07 because of stronger demand and a reduction in supply from competing producers such as the United States. In 2007-08 beach prices fell by around 9 per cent because of the appreciation of the Australian dollar against the US dollar. Although domestic prices for rock lobster have recovered in recent years, they are still approximately 20 per cent lower in real terms than the peak in 2001-02 (figure d).
Since salmon farming started in 1998, salmonids production has increased significantly, with most of this growth occurring in the period 2002-03 to 2006-07. Farmed salmonids have become one of the key species of Australian fisheries production. More than 95 per cent of Australia’s farmed salmonids production occurs in Tasmania.
Between 2002-03 and 2006-07, farmed Australian salmonids production rose by 66 per cent (10 200 tonnes) in volume and 121 per cent ($164.6 million) in real value to reach 25 600 tonnes and $300.6 million, respectively. In 2007-08 farmed salmonids production remained stable in terms of production volume.
Tasmania producers supply most of their salmonids to the domestic market. A key factor contributing to the rapid growth in recent years has been a strong focus on marketing salmon to Australian consumers. Another factor behind the sector’s strong growth is the role of research and development, which has allowed the sector to adopt improved feeding techniques and apply better disease control measures.
In 2007-08 Australian prawn production rose by 8 per cent (1600 tonnes) to 22 400 tonnes. This was largely the result of higher catches in the Commonwealth prawn fisheries, which increased by 28 per cent (1700 tonnes) compared with 2006-07. The gross value of Australian prawn production remained stable at $268 million despite an 8 per cent decrease in average unit prices received by fishers. The volume of aquaculture prawn production was 3100 tonnes in 2007-08 and was valued at $44.2 million. Over the past five years, aquaculture prawns accounted, on average, for around 14 per cent of the total volume of Australian prawn production.
Since 2000-01, the real value of prawn production has fallen by half in real value terms ($286 million). Most of this decline is attributed to a fall in production volumes of 26 per cent (7700 tonnes) over the period to 2007-08, and to a lesser extent, also to lower unit prices, which declined by 35 per cent in real terms over the same period. In particular, production in two main prawn fisheries, the Northern Prawn fishery and the Queensland fishery, fell by 30 per cent (2900 tonnes) and 17 per cent (1600 tonnes), respectively, over this period.
One factor contributing to the decline in production was the appreciation of the Australian dollar, which resulted in local producers facing strong competition from imported prawns, particularly from Viet Nam and China. Over the 10 years to 2007-08, the quantity of imported prawns more than doubled, while average unit import prices (in real terms) nearly halved. The appreciation of the Australian dollar in recent years has reduced the price domestic producers receive for their product in export markets, placing pressure on the profitability of prawn operations. More recently, growth in prawn production has been moderated by the structural changes occurring in the northern prawn fishery, as a result of the Securing Our Fishing Future package, and higher fuel costs.
During the period 2000-01 to 2007-08, abalone average unit prices fell by 40 per cent in real terms. Average unit prices partially recovered in 2004-05 and 2005-06 before falling again in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Abalone production also decreased by 6 per cent (353 tonnes) during the period. The combined effect of declining production volumes and lower unit prices resulted in the real gross value of abalone production falling by 44 per cent ($149 million) over this period. In 2007-08 Australian abalone production was 5300 tonnes, worth an estimated $188.5 million.
A key driving factor of lower production volumes has been lower prices caused by the appreciation of the Australian exchange rate, changed management arrangements and adverse environmental conditions affecting production. A large proportion of abalone is exported, to Hong Kong, China and Japan. Therefore the appreciation of the Australian dollar from 2000-01 to 2007-08 had a significant effect on abalone exports, resulting in lower prices for producers. Furthermore, lower total allowable catch (TAC) settings and the outbreak of disease in Victorian wild stocks in recent years has reduced abalone wildcatch production in Australia, which declined by 14 per cent (799 tonnes) over this period.
However, increased production in the aquaculture sector in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia has to some extent offset the decreased production in the wildcatch sector.
The value of tuna production rose by 30 per cent ($49 million) to $210 million in 2007-08 after falling significantly in 2006-07. This was mainly the result of a 16 per cent increase in average unit prices in most of the tuna fisheries. This was despite the dampening effect on unit prices from the appreciation of the Australian dollar against the Japanese yen and a 30 per cent and 95 per cent increase in farmed southern bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna production, respectively. Compared to 2006-07, the total volume of tuna production increased by 12 per cent (1600 tonnes) to 14 700 tonnes in 2007-08. The increases in southern bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna production offset decreases in the volume of yellowfin tuna and billfish production, which declined by 30 per cent (550 tonnes) to 1300 tonnes and 5 per cent (100 tonnes) to 1800 tonnes, respectively, in 2007-08.
Approximately 90 per cent of Australia’s tuna production is exported, mostly to the Japanese sashimi market. Most of this tuna is produced in South Australia’s aquaculture sector, which takes most of the Commonwealth southern bluefin tuna’s output for fattening in purpose built tuna ranches.
The sharp rise in the value of production of tuna in 2007-08 follows a period of sharply lower production since 2000-01. After peaking at $407 million in 2000-01, the real value of tuna production almost halved over the period to 2007-08 (figure g). Average unit prices fell by 42 per cent in real terms over this period, which was compounded by a 9 per cent fall in the volume of production.
In recent years, beach prices for tuna have been strongly influenced by export prices received from tuna exports to Japan. Besides the negative effect of the Australian dollar-Japanese yen exchange rate on domestic prices, Australian producers have also faced increased competition from Mediterranean and Mexican farmed northern bluefin tuna in the export market.
The gross volume and value of Australian fisheries production, by jurisdiction and location of catch, is given in tables 3–6. Production and value summaries for each jurisdiction are given in tables 7–14.
In 2007-08, Tasmania had the largest gross value of production ($475 million), accounting for 22 per cent of total fisheries production, followed closely by South Australia ($468 million, representing 21 per cent) and Western Australia ($448 million, representing 20 per cent) (figure h).
By location of catch – where Commonwealth catch is distributed to the states according to where it was caught – Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia accounted for 63 per cent of Australia’s gross value of production.
From 1997-98 to 2007-08 Western Australia’s share of gross value of production declined significantly, falling from 30 per cent in 1997-98 to 20 per cent in 2007-08 (figure i). Over the same period, Tasmania’s and South Australia’s share of total Australian fishery gross value of production increased significantly, reflecting the strong growth in aquaculture production in these states over this period. In 2007-08, aquaculture production in Tasmania was more than six times the production in 1997-98 (increasing by 24 000 tonnes), while South Australia’s production was more than double that of 1997-98 (increasing by 14 700 tonnes). Over the same period, the share of Commonwealth fisheries production fell from 19 per cent to 13 per cent in value terms.
In 2007-08, the gross value of fisheries production in New South Wales fell slightly, by
1 per cent ($1.7 million) to $130 million. This decline was driven by a significant decrease in production volume, which fell by 8 per cent to 19 800 tonnes. Most of the fall in production volumes and value occurred in the wildcatch sector, where production volume and value decreased by 11 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively. Contributing most to this decline were falls in production volume and unit value of particular species, especially sea mullet and breams. However, the effect of a decline in production value of key fish species was offset to some extent by increases in the production value of crustacean species, particularly rock lobsters and king prawns.
The gross value of aquaculture production in New South Wales increased by 5 per cent ($2.1 million) to $48 million in 2007-08. This was driven mostly by a $2.6 million increase in the value of oyster production, which offset a decline of $0.5 million in the value of farmed trout, silver perch and mussel production. Production remained relatively unchanged at 5200 tonnes in both 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Oysters, prawns and silver perch were the major contributors to the gross value of production of aquaculture in New South Wales. In 2007-08 these species accounted for 91 per cent of the state’s gross value of aquaculture production. The remainder of aquaculture value of production came from barramundi, snapper, yabbies and trout.
In 2007-08 the gross value of fisheries production in Victoria fell by 10 per cent ($9 million) to $86 million. This decline was mainly driven by the decline in the value of production for rock lobster and abalone, which fell by 11 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, as a result of lower production volumes in the case of rock lobster, and lower unit values in the case of abalone. Rock lobster production fell by 10 per cent, while unit value for abalone fell by 15 per cent. Volume and value of production of wildcatch crustaceans and molluscs also decreased considerably. In contrast, production of wildcatch fish species (especially Australian sardine, bream and King George whiting) increased by 14 per cent by volume and 15 per cent by value. Overall, there was a significant increase (12 per cent) in production volume in 2007-08, with most of this increase in catch coming from lower valued fish species.
The value of aquaculture production fell by 7 per cent, from $19.9 million in 2006-07 to $18.5 million in 2007-08. The fall in the gross value of aquaculture production was the result of a falling value of production for most of the cultured species, with the exception of ornamental fish and abalone. The value of salmonids production, the main aquaculture species, fell by 3 per cent to $6.7 million as a result of a 17 per cent decrease in production. In contrast, the value of farmed abalone production rose significantly by $1.6 million to $6 million in 2007-08 as the result of an increase in abalone production by 45 tonnes.
In 2007-08, the gross value of fisheries production in Queensland remained stable at $278.6 million but the production volume fell by 4 per cent to 29 000 tonnes. In the wildcatch sector, production value declined by $3 million to $203 million. However, this was offset by a $3.4 million increase in the value of aquaculture production.
The greatest fall in production volumes was for wild caught tiger and endeavour prawns, with their combined value falling by $8.3 million. Offsetting these falls were rises in the production value of other prawn species, particularly king prawns ($3.3 million) and the production value of coral trout ($2.9 million). These increases were the result of higher production. In 2007-08, the value of aquaculture production for most species decreased substantially. The value of production for prawns, the most valuable cultured species in Queensland, fell by 2 per cent ($1 million) to $41.5 million. The value of production for pearls and redclaw fell by 24 per cent each. However, this was offset by a significant 31 per cent ($5.8 million) increase in barramundi production value, resulting in an increase in the gross value of aquaculture production by 5 per cent to $75.5 million in 2007-08.
The gross value of production in Western Australia fell by 7 per cent ($33 million) to $448 million in 2007-08 despite a 5 per cent increase in fisheries production volume. This decline was the result of a significant decrease in the value of production (mainly from weaker prices) of wild caught crustaceans, especially rock lobster and prawns. The unit value of rock lobster and prawns fell by 15 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, between 2006-07 and 2007-08. As a result, the gross value of production of these species fell by 12 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively, in 2007-08.
The decline in the gross value of production in Western Australia also reflected a 5 per cent decline in the value of aquaculture production. This fall was the result of a significant decrease in the value of pearls, the most valuable cultured species in the state. The value of pearl production fell by 7 per cent from $122 million in 2006-07 to $113 million in 2007-08. However, the decline in the gross value of pearl production was offset by a significant increase in the gross value of other aquaculture species. In 2007-08, the gross value of other aquaculture production (excluding pearls) increased by 41 per cent ($2.9 million) to $9.8 million in 2007-08. This increase was driven mainly by the increase in both volume and value of cultured fish.
The gross value of fisheries production in South Australia rose by 10 per cent ($41.6 million) to $468 million in 2007-08. In the wildcatch sector, production decreased by $12.7 million to $206 million in 2007-08. This was largely attributable to the decline in the value of rock lobster and prawn production, which decreased by $5.1 million and $6.8 million, respectively. Lower unit values, especially for rock lobster and prawns, were the main driver of this fall. In 2007-08, the unit values of rock lobster and prawns declined by 2 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively.
The value of South Australian aquaculture production rose by 26 per cent ($54.3 million) to $262.2 million in 2007-08. The value of southern bluefin tuna production rose significantly by 36 per cent ($49 million) to $186.7 million. This largely offset a 20 per cent decrease in the value of oyster production as a result of a 29 per cent decrease in the volume of oyster production.
The observed increase in southern bluefin tuna aquaculture production in 2007-08 is the result of harvesting being carried out later than normal in the calendar year 2007. Therefore, the sale of the remaining tuna is recorded against the 2007-08 financial year. This accounts for the difference between the increase in production in the Commonwealth southern bluefin tuna fishery and the increase in tuna production in the South Australian aquaculture sector in 2007-08.
The majority of southern bluefin tuna caught in Australia is captured by Commonwealth endorsed boats that net juvenile fish in the Great Australian Bight and tow them to aquaculture farms off Port Lincoln in South Australia for fattening. Almost all of the farmed tuna is exported to Japan. In recent years, the strong appreciation of the Australian dollar against the Japanese yen by 6 per cent and competition from farmed northern bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean and Mexico have reduced the price received by Australian producers in the Japanese market. The real unit price of southern bluefin tuna from South Australian aquaculture farms has almost halved to $19 a kilogram since 2000-01, with production value falling by $135.3 million (in real terms) over the period 2000-01 to 2007-08.
The gross value of Tasmanian production was $475.5 million in 2007-08, a decrease of 3 per cent from 2006-07. This decline was the result of a 15 per cent ($27 million) decrease in the value of wildcatch production, which was compensated by a 4 per cent ($12.4 million) increase in the value of aquaculture production.
In 2007-08, the production of the Tasmanian wildcatch sector was valued at $156.7 million, a decrease of 15 per cent from 2006-07. Rock lobster and abalone accounted for 94 per cent of this value, contributing $147 million. In 2007-08, the value of rock lobster production and abalone production fell by $2 million and $17 million, respectively, as a result of decreases in production volume. Wildcaught finfish also decreased by $2 million.
In 2007-08 the value of Tasmanian aquaculture production was $319 million, accounting for 67 per cent of the gross value of Tasmanian production. The most valuable species produced were salmonids, abalone and oysters. These species accounted for about 99 per cent ($316 million) of the gross value of Tasmanian aquaculture production in 2007-08.
The gross value of production in the Northern Territory was $55.5 million and the catch was 5900 tonnes in 2007-08. The gross value of production increased by 4 per cent becauseof a significant increase in catch and average unit value of major species, especially gold band snapper. The value of gold band snapper catch increased by 80 per cent and value of production increased by 108 per cent in 2007-08. Other major species such as crabs and barramundi also experienced higher unit prices compared with the previous year.
Northern prawn fishery$74 million
SESS Commonwealth trawl sector$46 million
Southern bluefin tuna$45 million
Eastern tuna and billfish$32 million
SESS gillnet, hook and trap sector$28 million
The gross value of aquaculture production fell by 8 per cent ($2 million) to $22.6 million in 2007-08.
In 2007-08, the gross value of Commonwealth fisheries production fell by 2 per cent to $288 million, almost half the level of $582 million in 2000-01 (figure j). Commonwealth fisheries production also declined significantly since 2000-01, falling by 28 per cent, from 72 300 tonnes in 2000-01 to 52 200 tonnes in 2007-08. The decline in production coincided with a period of lower beach prices, which on an average unit value basis, decreased by 31 per cent in real terms across all species from 2000-01 to 2007-08.
The northern prawn fishery remained the most valuable fishery in 2007-08, with a gross value of production of $74 million. In 2007-08, the fishery experienced a 34 per cent increase in production and 16 per cent increase in the gross value of production. The strong growth in production is attributed to favourable seasonal conditions for banana prawns, which resulted in banana prawn production rising by 100 per cent (2700 tonnes) to 5300 tonnes. Despite a 2 per cent decrease in the average unit price, the value of banana prawn production increased by 95 per cent. In contrast, the tiger prawn catch and production value declined to one-third of the catch and value in 2006-07.
In 2007-08, the gross value of production in the Commonwealth trawl sector of the southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery fell by 15 per cent to $46 million and production fell by 7 per cent to 15 000 tonnes. Species caught in the sector mostly comprised of tiger flathead, ling, blue grenadier and spotted warehou. The largest falls in production were from blue grenadier and spotted warehou. The value of production of blue grenadier fell by 23 per cent to $11 million. Spotted warehou production was valued at $3 million, a reduction of 31 per cent ($1.4 million). Tiger flathead production increased by 14 per cent while the value of production fell slightly by 1 per cent. Prices decreased for most of the major species, resulting in an average 7 per cent decrease in unit value across all species in the sector.
The southern bluefin tuna fishery was the third most valuable of the Commonwealth managed fisheries in 2007-08. The fishery experienced an increase in gross value of production of 9 per cent to reach $45 million in 2007-08.
In 2007-08, the gross value of production in the eastern tuna and billfish decreased by 2 per cent to $32 million.
The major species caught in the fishery remained yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and billfish, accounting for 86 per cent of the gross value of production of the fishery. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the share of albacore tuna in the gross value of production of the fishery. The total catch of albacore tuna during the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 was 5500 tonnes, which was equivalent to the volume of albacore tuna caught in the fishery in the 10 years prior to 2005-06.
The Commonwealth gillnet, hook and trap sector of the southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery is a multi-species fishery, but the major species are sharks (mainly gummy and school shark), blue eye trevalla and ling. These species accounted for 88 per cent of the fishery’s gross value of production in 2007-08. Shark catches (gummy and school) accounted for 69 per cent of the total gross value of production, followed by blue eye (11 per cent) and ling (8 per cent). The gross value of production of the Commonwealth gillnet, hook and trap fishery increased by 16 per cent ($3.8 million) to $27.5 million in 2007-08 as a result of a 13 per cent increase in production. The catch of gummy shark increased by 21 per cent and the gross value of production increased by 34 per cent. The catch of school shark increased by 48 per cent (124 tonnes) to 380 tonnes and the gross value of production increased by 36 per cent ($600 000) despite an 8 per cent decrease in the unit price.
In 2007-08, prawns remained the most valuable species caught in the Commonwealth fisheries, with the gross value of prawn production rising by 13 per cent ($9.6 million) to $83.7 million. This increase was driven by a 26 per cent (1600 tonnes) increase in prawn production to 7900 tonnes in 2007-08, which offset the negative effect of an 11 per cent decrease in average unit price on the gross value of prawn production. The northern prawn fishery accounted for around 90 per cent of the Commonwealth prawn production in 2007-08.
The second most valuable species in 2007-08 was tuna. Although catch fell by 7 per cent compared with the previous year, the gross value of production increased by 5 per cent to $67.2 million as a result of increased unit prices.
The value of shark production, the next most valuable species, was $23 million in 2007-08. The gillnet, hook and trap sector and the Commonwealth trawl sector of the southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery contributed 95 per cent of the total value of shark catches. The major catches were gummy sharks ($18 million) and school sharks ($2.3 million). The remainder was mainly from the Great Australian Bight sector of the southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery.
Other valuable species landed from Commonwealth fisheries in 2007-08 included flathead (valued at $17.8 million); blue grenadier ($10.9 million); rock lobster ($9.4 million); broadbill swordfish ($7.8 million);and ling ($6.5 million).
The gross volume and value of Australian production, by sector, is given in table 1. Production and value summaries for each sector are given in table 2 (wildcatch) and tables 15 to 17 (aquaculture).
In 2007-08, the total volume of Australian fisheries production fell by 3 per cent (7800 tonnes) to 236 000 tonnes. This fall was driven by lower production in the Commonwealth and state wildcatch sectors, where production declined by 8 per cent (4600 tonnes) and 6 per cent (10 500 tonnes), respectively. This fall was partially offset by an increase of 4 per cent (2400 tonnes) in the production volume in the aquaculture sector.
Despite a large fall in production volume, the gross value of production fell by only 1 per cent ($24 million) to $2.19 billion (figure k). The gross value of aquaculture production rose by 8 per cent ($62.7 million). Meanwhile the gross value of production of the Commonwealth wildcatch fisheries fell by 2 per cent.
Aquaculture accounted for 40 per cent of the gross value of fisheries production in 2007-08, up from 29 per cent in 1998-99. Over the same period, the contribution of state fisheries to total wildcatch production value decreased from 55 per cent to 50 per cent. Commonwealth fisheries contribution to gross value of fisheries production steadily declined over this period from around 19 per cent in 1997-98 to 13 per cent in 2007-08.
In 2007-08, the total production volume of the wildcatch sector declined significantly, by
5 per cent (10 300 tonnes) to 178 000 tonnes. Most of this decline reflected falls in the production of fish and molluscs, by 7 per cent (9000 tonnes) and 14 per cent (3000 tonnes), respectively. Offseting these declines was an increase in crustacean production of 5 per cent (1800 tonnes), driven largely by an 11 per cent (1900 tonnes) increase in prawn production.
As a result of lower production in 2007-08, the gross value of production of the wildcatch sector fell by 6 per cent ($83.2 million) to $1.3 billion. The value of finfish production fell by 3 per cent to $431.8 million, being driven by lower unit values for Australian salmon, Australian sardine and flathead, as well as decreased production of tuna, Australian salmon and whiting. The value of mollusc production fell by $30.4 million, driven largely by the fall in abalone production and unit value. The value of crustacean production fell by 38.4 million to $696 million as a result of lower prices for prawns and rock lobster.
Despite an 11 per cent ($48.5 million) decrease in production value in 2007-08, rock lobster ($407 million)
remained the most valuable wildcatch species, followed by prawns ($223 million). Rock lobster and prawns accounted for 30 per cent and 17 per cent of total value of wildcatch production, respectively. Other key species included abalone ($172 million) and tuna ($68 million).
During 2000-01 to 2007-08 the gross value of production of the wildcatch sector fell by 39 per cent ($856 million) in real terms (figure l). This fall was a result of the decline in the value of production for all major wildcatch species such as rock lobster, prawns, tuna and abalone. In particular, the value of prawn and rock lobster production fell by $270 million and $183 million, respectively. The value of tuna and abalone production fell by $84 million and $162 million, respectively, over this period. These falls were the result of declining export unit prices, largely reflecting the strong appreciation of the Australian dollar against the currencies of major trading partners.
The gross value of aquaculture production continued to rise in 2007-08, by $62.7 million to $868 million (figure m). The value of finfish aquaculture rose by $83.7 million to $546.3 million. In particular, the value of tuna production increased by $49.1 million, followed by barramundi ($10.1 million) and salmonids ($8.5 million). These species accounted for 95 per cent of the gross value of Australian aquaculture finfish production in 2007-08. The value of crustacean production fell by $1.7 million as a result of declining prawn production. The value of mollusc production also fell by $12.3 million, driven by an 8 per cent decrease in the production of pearl oysters.
In 2007-08, the most valuable aquaculture species was farmed salmonids, accounting for 34 per cent of total production value and 41 per cent of total production volume. The emergence of farmed salmonids as a key species, in terms of aquaculture production and fisheries production overall, follows several years of rapid growth in Tasmania. During the period 2002-03 to 2007-08 the real value of farmed salmonids production more than doubled in real terms (increasing by $163.3 million) to reach $299.3 million in 2007-08.
The value of farmed tuna production in South Australia, the second most valuable aquaculture species, rose by $49 million to $186.7 million in 2007-08 with production increasing by 30 per cent (2300 tonnes) to 9800 tonnes. Higher prices also contributed to the increase in the value of production.