“Quicklook” Assessment of Greater Adelaide's Assets & Challenges ...

The discussion issues were intense and particularly relevant to problems within the
aquaculture industry.
Historically Governments have nurtured agriculture. Terrific support structures are in
place for agriculture. Aquaculture is much newer and quite a lot has been done in
aquaculture in a short time, but much more could be done; there is a need for more and
better focused resources.
The acquaculture industry growth pattern is similar as wine was in 1996 or 1997 but
growing at twice the rate. Aquaculture is growing at 35% per year, with no projected
change in the next three years. The 2.52 M production of 96 and 97, just passed 5M in
the last year. Now aquaculture is starting to get into volume production. This seems to
be happening on world scale with only relatively few species being grown. South
Australia’s focus on marine environment should be evident and important and a high
growth area targeted for further Government support.
In terms of lack of planning have series of disconnects. Get a lot of duplication of effort
– there are three agencies that put money into Department & Trade, Education that do
not work together as well as they should. At regional level it gets more complicated and
there is not a lot of knowledge about the dynamics of the investment side of this industry.
Difficulties of funding of research is that dealing with old systems of funding, put in
application, etc. by time get funding it may have been sold. Need to have consistent
long term and responsive to issues that pop out. Support structures need to be in place.
Industry is poorly organized many leaders have been putting their own dollars, seeing
now as associations develop starting to say should be connected with SARDI. It is
believed that some of duplications and parallel programs will be there for quite some
time.
Personnel issues and retention of staff are a major concern in many areas of SARDI.
This is a critical issue since intellectual property, knowledge transfer, and morale suffer
dramatically. The cause is an almost year to year funding, staff turnover has horrific –
people worry about jobs due to funding, and in some areas industry pays more.
However, it seems that policy people are paid quite well. Once in government, staff
often moves around to other agencies. Big issue is churning of staff, dynamics of
working aquaculture needs better legislation to support have 10 year project for better
legislation, it is a new industry that is high stress.
There is an overall problem where things are not linked together. Currently involved in
five industry bodies (Mark Cody) feels the industry is too diversified – Must run 16 hour
days in fast paced industry – can’t do for 3 to 5 years will get burned out. People and
groups going to the minister over aquaculture are disparate. The minister hearing 4 or 5
different things and it gets confusing. It is also very unclear what is being asked by
some groups. Need to have more strategic focus, work on wealth generation, and don’t
let the industry fall over.
Fishing legislation that governs aquaculture was written in 1994. Researchers are
poorly paid – not in for the money but enjoy, continuity of staff is getting harder and
harder – many of them down to 3 month contracts. Currently they are getting more
dollars through foreign investment, joint projects with universities in other countries.
However, current feelings are that aquaculture is seriously underfunded. Funding also
varies from year to year – there is a license fee – where prime industries pay fee – like
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