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Foreword
The integration of aquaculture with traditional agriculture can provide a practical means for farmers to
maximise their use of valuable water resources and infrastructure. This multiple use of water is
practiced in many of the driest regions of the world where water is used, but not directly consumed, by
the aquaculture operation and can then be used to irrigate the farm’s terrestrial crops.
The Darling Downs region in southern Queensland is a hub for agriculture and contains large numbers
of constructed water storages or ‘ring tanks’ to provide water for irrigation. The major irrigated crop in
this region is cotton. The cotton industry’s access to this water infrastructure, and its location to
markets and within the natural distribution of suitable native fish for culture, makes it a particularly
suitable candidate to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating aquaculture into established farming
operations. This project was an on-farm demonstration to highlight the needs, operational challenges
and potential of integrated farming systems across rural Australia.
The project screened a number of native fish species for their suitability to culture conditions in the
farm’s primary water storage, within production systems that included floating cages and raceways.
The floating raceways developed in this project were the first of their kind in Australia and proved to
be an ideal fish culture system for permanent and non-specific water bodies (that is, water bodies not
specifically designed as harvestable aquaculture ponds). This was due to their cost effectiveness and
the improved management they offer in terms of stock inventory, feeding, growth and disease
monitoring, predator control and harvesting.
This study also highlighted the problems for integrating aquaculture with cotton production. In
particular, integration requires changes to established water management practices to ensure adequate
water quality is maintained for the aquaculture operation. Co-ordinating pumping events, maintaining
appropriate volume in storages and managing overland flows from floods and tailwaters are vital for
maintaining sound conditions for fish culture. Especially important is preventing pollutants such as
pesticides from entering waters used for aquaculture due to the risk that pesticide residues can
accumulate in fish tissues to unacceptable levels.
Technically, aquaculture is a specialised discipline, and integrated operations with shared farm labour
will require additional investment in aquaculture training to recognise and manage the needs of fish
culture. However, the irrigation industry is well placed to make such investment because of its existing
water infrastructure and because of its commitment to environmental management and sustainability.
Successful integration would provide significant socio-economic benefits for growers as well as a
number of other rural industries and their communities.
The report, an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1800 research publications, forms part of our
Environment and Farm Management R&D program which aims to support innovation in agriculture
and the use of frontier technology to meet market demands for accredited sustainable production.
Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online at
www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313.
Peter O’Brien
Managing Director
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
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