Prawn farming industry has reached apoint in its development where producers are advanced enough in farming parctices to be now seeking answers from R&D which will extend the industry past current constraints. The FRDC in 1995 funded the development of the Australian Prawn Farming Industry R&D Plan 1996-2005 which assisted industry to collectively focus for the first time on R&D priorities and look at returns relative to the value chain. The plan has given research agencies a clear indication of industry's five major big picture issues at which to target research proposals. APFA now wish to review and update the plan as an integral part of the process of establishing a statutory levy for R&D for the Prawn farming industry. The updated plan will be a key document in the industry's application for a Primary Industry levy for R&D.
Final report
The Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) was formed in 1993 to represent the interests of prawn farmers and to foster the development of the Australian prawn farming industry. The industry now produces over 2,000 tonnes of product with a farm gate value in excess of $40 million and, while one of the smaller volumetric producers in the world, leads the world in yield productivity, with an average yield of 4,000 kg per hectare and provides some 600 direct jobs and 1800 indirect jobs.
The industry’s potential economic and environmental contribution to our community is substantial. The industry will conservatively double in size every 5 years for the next two decades and this growth equates to an industry providing 7,000 direct jobs and 21,000 indirect jobs, generating farm gate revenue of some $780 million annually. The value adding opportunities by wholesalers, retailers and exporters will increase these returns by an estimated $400 million.
Equally importantly, successful prawn farming relies on a sustainable environmental resource in the coastal zone and the APFA will proactively contribute to ensure these areas maintain their integrity.
A major problem for the industry has been the serious shortage of scientific data relating to all aspects of prawn farming and the inter-relationship with the environment. Accordingly the APFA has prepared this Five Year Research & Development Plan.
This Research and Development Plan has been prepared by the Australian Prawn Farmers Association as a mechanism to achieve and promote both environmentally and economically sustainable prawn farming. The industry recognises the need for appropriate investment in research and development to maximise returns and to provide a sound base for long term industry sustainability.
