❓ Mrs. Clarke asks about the government's investment in WA's aquaculture industry. The Minister outlines a $6.5 million investment in the aquaculture development plan, highlighting opportunities for growth and regional development.
AnsweredQoN 293Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
293. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the McGowan government's
commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy. Can the minister
outline to the house how this government is investing in the development of Western
Australia's emerging aquaculture industry?
293. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the McGowan government's
commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy. Can the minister
outline to the house how this government is investing in the development of Western
Australia's emerging aquaculture industry?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Murray–Wellington
for her question and for her incredible advocacy for regional Western Australia
particularly and for her electorate, advocating for new opportunities in jobs
and industry and supporting quality of life. I also want to acknowledge that we
are doing some work with marron in her electorate and we are hoping to see
restocking at Harvey Dam very shortly. We will keep that a bit of a secret for
the moment!
Several members interjected.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : When we
restock.
I am very pleased to inform the
house that the McGowan government is continuing to diversify our economy and
create new jobs through a further investment of $6.5 million towards
implementing our aquaculture development plan for Western Australia. Of course,
aquaculture is a developing industry here in the west, with tremendous
opportunities for growth as the world's fastest growing food production
sector. Members may not be aware that Albany is becoming the oyster centre of Western
Australia—romantic weekend to the oysters in Albany, member for Albany.
There is also the opportunity for marron to be grown in the member for Collie–Preston's
area. There are some great opportunities out there in regional Western Australia.
The aquaculture development plan
will foster potential, supporting both new investment in industry and the
growth of existing aquaculture ventures to
capitalise on growing local and global demand for high-quality seafood products .
There has never been a more important time to look for those new sources. The
plan was developed in collaboration with
industry and it was released by my predecessor, the member for Willagee,
providing a cohesive set of measures to establish the foundations for
aquaculture development over the next 10 years. This will address key issues
that have previously presented barriers to
the development of aquaculture. It will also provide opportunities for
Aboriginal economic development and participation. Funding the
aquaculture development plan will initiate a range of pivotal activities for
the growth of the aquaculture sector, which will include alignment of research
and investment, with industry growth plans for key aquaculture sectors,
including marine finfish, shellfish, seaweed and freshwater species; investment
in identified priority industry initiatives to investigate new innovative
technologies and new species; regulatory framework reform; economic
development; and further research and ongoing investment into our aquaculture
development zones in the Kimberley, the Abrolhos Islands, Albany and other key
aquaculture sites such as the Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre, the Albany
shellfish hatchery and the Broome Tropical Aquaculture Park.
Our investment in aquaculture
development over the next four years will reduce risk to new and existing
industry operators seeking to enter into or expand aquaculture operations in
our great state, and critically in regional Western Australia, and will
complement the work we are doing to attract new private investment. An
expanding aquaculture industry will also create upstream and downstream
businesses, such as feed manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, processing and
value-adding, particularly in regional areas. Further investment into the
aquaculture development plan for Western Australia will position WA to be a global
source and a provider to meet demand for high-quality sustainable seafood, will
help to attract investment into a rapid-growth industry that supports regional
communities and will further this government's work for a strong and
diversified WA economy.
The SPEAKER : That concludes
question time. I remind members that we will break for lunch now and will
resume at two o'clock for the delivery of the state budget.
Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
for her question and for her incredible advocacy for regional Western Australia
particularly and for her electorate, advocating for new opportunities in jobs
and industry and supporting quality of life. I also want to acknowledge that we
are doing some work with marron in her electorate and we are hoping to see
restocking at Harvey Dam very shortly. We will keep that a bit of a secret for
the moment!
Several members interjected.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : When we
restock.
I am very pleased to inform the
house that the McGowan government is continuing to diversify our economy and
create new jobs through a further investment of $6.5 million towards
implementing our aquaculture development plan for Western Australia. Of course,
aquaculture is a developing industry here in the west, with tremendous
opportunities for growth as the world's fastest growing food production
sector. Members may not be aware that Albany is becoming the oyster centre of Western
Australia—romantic weekend to the oysters in Albany, member for Albany.
There is also the opportunity for marron to be grown in the member for Collie–Preston's
area. There are some great opportunities out there in regional Western Australia.
The aquaculture development plan
will foster potential, supporting both new investment in industry and the
growth of existing aquaculture ventures to
capitalise on growing local and global demand for high-quality seafood products .
There has never been a more important time to look for those new sources. The
plan was developed in collaboration with
industry and it was released by my predecessor, the member for Willagee,
providing a cohesive set of measures to establish the foundations for
aquaculture development over the next 10 years. This will address key issues
that have previously presented barriers to
the development of aquaculture. It will also provide opportunities for
Aboriginal economic development and participation. Funding the
aquaculture development plan will initiate a range of pivotal activities for
the growth of the aquaculture sector, which will include alignment of research
and investment, with industry growth plans for key aquaculture sectors,
including marine finfish, shellfish, seaweed and freshwater species; investment
in identified priority industry initiatives to investigate new innovative
technologies and new species; regulatory framework reform; economic
development; and further research and ongoing investment into our aquaculture
development zones in the Kimberley, the Abrolhos Islands, Albany and other key
aquaculture sites such as the Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre, the Albany
shellfish hatchery and the Broome Tropical Aquaculture Park.
Our investment in aquaculture
development over the next four years will reduce risk to new and existing
industry operators seeking to enter into or expand aquaculture operations in
our great state, and critically in regional Western Australia, and will
complement the work we are doing to attract new private investment. An
expanding aquaculture industry will also create upstream and downstream
businesses, such as feed manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, processing and
value-adding, particularly in regional areas. Further investment into the
aquaculture development plan for Western Australia will position WA to be a global
source and a provider to meet demand for high-quality sustainable seafood, will
help to attract investment into a rapid-growth industry that supports regional
communities and will further this government's work for a strong and
diversified WA economy.
The SPEAKER : That concludes
question time. I remind members that we will break for lunch now and will
resume at two o'clock for the delivery of the state budget.
Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
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