Australian Barramundi Farmers Association

There are quite a few issues where we need the support of members on issues, so please read this newsletter and help where you can.

Sponsorship
I am delighted to advise that two leading feed supply companies have just agreed to become key sponsors of the ABFA. These are:

I see this as an important partnership between the growers and other stakeholders in the development of this industry. We all want to see a growing and especially a more profitable industry for our members. The sponsorships will be targeted at promoting Barramundi in the market, making your association more effective at representing your interests and also on the developing R&D program.

If anyone has doubts about the need for an effective lobby, the country of origin labelling issue and Barramundi naming rights show how much there is to be done. There is more about this below.

As part of the sponsorship agreement, we will incorporate the sponsors’ logos into our letter head and this newsletter will carry a regular advertisement.

This is a vote of confidence in the industry and the ABFA, and I want to make sure that we, as an association both reciprocate and deliver to our members and our sponsors the results that justify this confidence.

I am very hopeful that other sponsors will also participate in this program.

What is in a Name?
We have been doing quite a bit of research into the origins of the Barramundi name. As there is a bit of history, I have attached the story separately and we will post it on the web page.
As some aspects are still a little uncertain, if anyone has more information, please let me know.
Meeting with the Minister
I seem to be having difficulty arranging a meeting with Senator MacDonald. I guess with me in Tasmania and the Senator in Queensland, it is difficult to get timetables to match. But, I am very keen to put our case on the naming rights issue. I think the Minister needs to hear our views on this matter.

Northern Territory Government
The Northern Territory Government has just put out a press release strongly supporting our call for the Barramundi name to be reserved for Australian product. The story is on our web site. Thanks to the Minister, Kon Vatskalis. This got good coverage in the media and I did many interviews for radio and newspapers as a result.

Queensland Minister Approached
We have also approached the Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Hon Henry Palaszczuk to support our campaign. We have provided a briefing note and I hope to get a positive response this week.

Survey
Last year the ABFA carried out a survey of expected production for the year. We found this very valuable way of keeping track of the industry, so we are doing one for 2005-2006.

This survey is attached. Please complete the form and email back to Graham Dalton. We will let everyone know the results when they are collated.

Conference
We have decided to go ahead with the joint conference with the Australian Prawn Farmers’ Association.
The details are:

2005 Australian Prawn & Barramundi Conference
The Australian Prawn & Barramundi Conference will be held at the Gold Coast Marriott Resort on 24-26 August, 2005.

The 2005 event will include a Trade Show, Conference and Farm Tour.

To register your interest in the Trade Show or for regular Conference Updates email us at info@apfa.com.au

Country of Origin Labels
In another bit of madness, the Australian and New Zealand food Safety Authority is recommending that country of origin labelling for seafood cease to be compulsory!. On one hand we are being told to label Barramundi as Australian rather than to have the name registered to Australian producers, and on the other the government is looking at abolishing the need to display the origins at point of sale.

The ABFA has made a written submission to FSANZ pointing out strongly that people purchasing product labelled Barramundi expect it to be Australian and by not having imports labelled, consumers will be mislead.

However, we need to make our protests known to government in the very strongest terms. The Executive will discuss further action at our next telephone conference. Our submission can be obtained from Graham Dalton and is available on our web site.

Application to Fish Names Committee
We have started work on completing the application to the fish names committee to secure the Barramundi name for Australian producers. We hope to have this lodged in a bout a week and will do quite a lot of publicity at the time.

President’s Letter – April 2005