Executive Director of PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mehdi Doroudi said 50 delegates from around Australia and overseas are staying on in South Australia to travel to the region and visit aquaculture operations at Port Lincoln, Boston Bay, Arno Bay, Port Lincoln, Kellidie Bay and Coffin Bay.
“Three tours will run over the next two days,” he said.
“This is an important opportunity not only for the Eyre Peninsula region but also for conference delegates to see some of the latest developments in the local industry. In fact, delegates will be given exclusive access to facilities not normally available, to best showcase our local aquaculture industry.
“Port Lincoln and Eyre Peninsula are readily accessible from Adelaide, particularly by air, and this is one of the few places in the world where you can visit a huge diversity of world-class aquaculture operations, including tuna, mussels, kingfish, oysters, yabbies and abalone, within the same region.”
Confirmed local operators and industry groups taking part in the touring program include Cleanseas, Kinkawooka Shellfish, Australian Tuna Fisheries, SAM Abalone and Natural Oysters.
Professor Doroudi said the aquaculture industry in Eyre Peninsula was a significant contributor to the local economy, with 81 per cent of South Australia’s regional aquaculture workforce (1211 full-time employees) employed in Eyre Peninsula in 2012-13.
“Aquaculture is one of the great success stories of regional employment and tourism for South Australia,” he said.
“Around 90 per cent of South Australia’s aquaculture production (19,531 tonnes) and value (A$243 million) was derived from activity in the Eyre Peninsula in 2012-13. As well as the direct economic benefits to the state, there were substantial flow-on benefits in processing, retail, trade, finance and transport that all contribute to the economic and social prosperity of Eyre Peninsula.
“I am sure these tours will be a great showcase for the industry and the region.”
