Australian Barramundi Farmers Association

It is now over a month since my last note and quite a lot has been happening in the association.

Federal Ministers

I am pleased to see that both Hon Warren Truss and Senator Ian MacDonald were returned to their Ministerial positions following the election.

I have a close working relationship with both Ministers. They have shown a strong commitment to this industry over the years. On behalf of the ABFA, I wrote to both congratulating them on the election result.

R&D

We are now in the process of completing a memorandum of understanding with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. This will provide for us to collect a voluntary levy from industry, provide that to the R&D authorities, and then receive significant government top up for our research projects.

ABFA has already received pledges from some industry companies for the necessary $30,000 required to trigger the government support.

We are now working on documenting the R&D strategy that will direct the research expenditure. I hope to have this to you for comment in the next month.

Fish Names Integrity Important

We are all concerned about substitution of inferior product spoiling the premium image our industry enjoys. I am very pleased to support Federal Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald who has established a toll free hotline to report seafood retailers mislabelling products. He says one of the biggest problems for the seafood industry is retailers who pass of cheap imports as Australian product.

Quality Standards Project

A major project for us over the last year was the specification of quality standards for farmed Barramundi. We received financial assistance from Seafood Services Australia to carry out this work. The report has now been finalised and submitted for the last of the funding to be delivered to ABFA.

We need to keep this up to date and at the forefront of our production systems if we are to continue to build the image of our product and industry. We will be revising this and putting it on the agenda for our half yearly workshop to be held next year.

Media

One of the priorities for the ABFA for this year is to build a stronger image, both for the industry, for our product and for the association. How to do this was one of the issues discussed at the Cairns conference. Executive officer Graham Dalton will be putting forward some ideas. But, in essence, we want one good barramundi promotion each month.

Membership of NAC

The ABFA has now applied for membership of the National Aquaculture Council. The NAC has received major funding from the Federal Government as part of the aquaculture development initiative. As one of the largest aquaculture sectors in Australia, it is time we participated in this forum.

Barramundi will now be well represented at NAC. I was pleased to accept election as Vice President of the NAC recently and also Trevor Anderson from ABFA has been elected to the NAC Board, but as a representative of the Queensland aquaculture sector.

State Issues

The ABFA focuses on the national issues affecting every one. Resources are limited, and we must use them where they give best returns to the whole industry. For that reason, we have instructed the Executive Officer, Graham Dalton, to leave state issues to individual members.

However, the reality is that your association will be looked to for responses on a range of matters relevant to individual states. Graham Dalton is dividing our e mailing list into states so he can pass on any information easily as it arrives.

We have also written to the State government departments responsible for aquaculture giving them our contact details.

In Queensland, ABFA has joined the Queensland Aquaculture Industries Federation and through this organisation is a member of the Queensland Farmers Federation. This ensures a range of issues such as water resources legislation, pest control, environmental management etc can be addressed with the help of other industry sectors.

Chemical Registration

Thanks to members who provided information on chemical usage. This was passed on to the NAC that is looking after Chemical Registration nationally.

Executive Meeting

Last week to Executive met by telephone conference call. We have now set the activities for the rest of the year and early into next year.

Promotions

Queensland barramundi producers are supporting a farmed seafood luncheon to be held at the Parliament House in November. It is hosted by the Minister for Primary Industries. It is attended by MPs, the press gallery, food writers, and public servants working with the industry and anyone else who can wrangle an invite.

The menu includes Queensland oysters, farmed prawns, BBQ Barramundi, Barramundi gravelax, deep fried Silver perch and Jade perch, Red Claw crayfish wraps with dipping sauce, crumbed red claw tails, soft shell crabs in Tempura batter, marinated and seared pearl oyster meat and Queensland farmed scallops steamed on half shell with shredded ginger and shallot, soya sauce and lime.

I am told it usually gets great publicity for the farmed sea food industry.

In September next year in Sydney, Seafood services is holding a major conference on seafood safety and there is a major fine food event and the seafood directions workshops. ABFA will be using these events to promote farmed barramundi.

We will be circulating to all members a calendar of promotional events and I encourage all members to consider how they can participate in local and state events to promote their product.

Half Yearly Meeting and Conference

We are organising a half yearly meeting and workshop for members in Innisfail in Qld for February. I will advise dates in the next few weeks. A feature will be a visit to Cris Phillips farm and a workshop on Genetics to be organised by Trevor Anderson.

The Executive approved that we again hold a joint annual conference in conjunction with the Prawn Farmers

Letter From The President - November 2004