NQ to Host Key Barramundi Conference - 12/01/2005

Australian Barramundi Farmers Association President, Craig Foster has advised that the farmed Barramundi industry is to hold a major workshop at Innisfail to look at research into genetics of farmed Barramundi.

“The farmed Barramundi industry in Australia is developing rapidly. We have a superb product that provides a premium fish for the consumer and we want to get even better at how we produce it” Mr Foster said.

“Barramundi has only been farmed for a little over 20 years and there is much we still need to learn about how to look after the fish. Other farmed animals and farmed crops have had hundreds and sometimes thousands of years of careful selection by farmers to make them better for consumers. We have only just started with farmed fish and the expected that the gains from careful selection will be enormous” Mr Foster said.

“Key issue will be growth rates and flavour. It is all a very normal part of modern farming and we now need to involve the farmers and the scientists in working out how best to deliver the research, fund the research and apply the benefits.

“A key issue will be how to ensure that research funded by the Australian industry and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation benefits Australians.

“Barramundi is an iconic Australian food and we do not want a repeat of the Macadamia industry where overseas interests become the major producers and reap most of the benefits,” he said.

Mr Foster said that Innisfail is the perfect place to host the conference. It is a natural home of Barramundi and some of the major producers are in the region. The Conference will be held at the Innisfail TAFE from Wed 16 February 2005 to Friday 19 February 2005 and is expected to attract scientists and producers from around Australia.

For further information contact Craig Foster on 0419322584