Australian Barramundi Farmers Association

First, I would like to offer everyone a very merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year and thank you all for the support during the year.

We set ourselves a number of priorities for the year and we are well on the way to realising them. One of these was to keep in touch. If you do have any news, please let Graham Dalton know and we will circulate the information. A brief report follows.

Media

I have just sent out the first press release relating to R&D. The second we will send out just before Christmas encourages people to throw barramundi on the BBQ in the New Year.

We will be putting a draft promotion strategy to the Association in February next year to continue the good work of building recognition of the industry.

New Members

We continue to seek members and a number of organisations have applied. We are seeking sponsorship from related sectors to assist us with the industry development program.

R&D

Last week I signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. This commits the FRDC to more than double the industry contribution. Two major research areas are genetics and environmental management systems and this will ensure these research priorities receive significant funds (over $3million) over the next five years. A vital part of this project has been to ensure that industry retains control over the research that is undertaken. Too much industry money across the primary industry sector is frittered away on projects exciting to scientists but less important to industry. We are making sure that our industry projects are the priority and get the funding.

Barramundi Standards

We are still doing some very last minute editing to the report. We will ask the Minister to launch this next year at the Innisfail workshop.

Half Yearly Meeting and Workshop

Organisation is well underway for the half yearly workshop in Innisfail. This will be held following the genetics workshop. The dates are February 15 to 19. I will get a notice paper out in the next two days, (just before Christmas), but please put the dates in the diary. Highlight will be the visit to Cris Phillips' farm, the genetics workshop, the launch of the barramundi standards document and look at further development of the standards and the industry promotion program.

Activities for the Year

We have asked members to let us know what is happening in their area in terms of industry promotional activities. There has been little response. This is something we need to discuss in Innisfail. If we all do a bit of local promotion to assist any national activity, we can build momentum.

Some Queensland News

Queensland Barramundi farmers have been promoting the product. Cris Phillips supplied the main course for the recent Parliamentary Ball, and barramundi joined a selection of other farmed seafoods at the aquaculture industries luncheon on the speakers Green at Parliament House.

Some key policy issues Queensland farmers are working on are the water discharge standards for aquaculture being developed by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, The EPA is also developing water quality standards for key coastal catchments and estuaries and that also has the potential to require variations to discharge permits. Also, Queensland government laws on aquaculture development are in the process of being accredited by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Federal Department of Environment.

Have a very Merry Christmas. Make sure everyone puts some barra on the barbie and take care during the festive season