Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) growout production continued to increase strongly over the last 12 months. The product marketed (converted to a wholefish basis) increased by 20% from 1745 tonnes in 2005–06 to 2091 tonnes in 2006–07.
The majority of production came from pond- and cage-based systems, while the production from recirculating tank systems decreased marginally from 105 tonnes to 96 tonnes.
The total value of production has increased by 32%, from $14.0 million in 2005–06 to $18.5 million in 2006–07. The average price (whole-fish basis) increased from $8.04/kg to $8.86/kg.
Hatcheries sold barramundi fingerlings for growout, stocking and to the aquarium trade. These figures are reported under Sections 8.2 and 8.3.
Industry production:
Of the 118 authority holders who responded, 33 produced marketable fish in 2006–07. This compared with 37 from 115 respondents in 2005–06. Production came from 26 farms using pond-based systems, 1 farm using sea cages and 6 farms using recirculating systems (Table 7).
Pond production:
Total farm ponded area increased by 9% with 164 hectares available in 2006–07 (compared with 151 hectares in 2005–06); however, the number of available ponds increased only fractionally to 344 (342 in 2005–06). The number of ponds stocked decreased from 240 ponds in 2005–06 to 217 in 2006–07. During the same period the stocked area decreased from 107 hectares to 101 hectares. The average pond area was 0.5 hectares (Table 8).
The number of fingerlings stocked decreased from 3.40 million in 2005–06 to 2.85 million in 2006–07. The density at which fingerlings were stocked in ponds also decreased from 29 800 fingerlings per hectare in 2005–06 to 28 300 fingerlings per hectare in 2006–07.
All of the barramundi produced in pond-based systems were sold domestically in both 2005–06 and 2006–07. The total feed used in ponds increased from 2710 tonnes in 2005–06 to 2926 tonnes in 2006–07. The data for this period includes details from Queensland’s only sea cage farm that can not, for confidentiality reasons, be released in its own category.
However, this data has not been included in the pond volume and density calculations as it is not directly comparable and would significantly alter these averages. FCR improved slightly from 1.7:1. to 1.6:1. All feed was manufactured in Australia.
Tank-based production:
In 2006–07, 42 tank-based farms were authorised to grow barramundi (46 in 2005–06). Statistical returns were received from 37 farms. Production from the 6 farms (11 in 2005–06) that produced marketable fish was 96 tonnes, which represents a decrease of 8% from the 105 tonnes produced in 2005–06.
Traditionally, tank systems have been able to achieve a higher average price than pond systems due an increased focus on direct sales to niche markets and a higher proportion of live sales. This margin has decreased from $2.69/kg in 2005–06 to $1.08/kg in 2006–07. This still represents a 12% price premium over pond-raised fish.
Fingerling production:
Barramundi fingerling production decreased from 5.3 million in 2005–06 to 4.5 million in 2006–07. Ten farms sold barramundi fingerlings during the year (see Section 8.2 and 8.3 of this report for restocking and aquarium sales).
A total of 3.4 million fingerlings worth $1.271 million were sold for growout (3.5 million worth $1.065 million in 2005–06). Average fingerling price was 37 cents each in 2006–07 (compared with 30 cents in 2005–06).
Farm labour:
Permanent labour employed in the pond and cage growout sector of the industry decreased from 85 units in 2005–06 to 78 units in 2006–07. Over the same period permanent labour in the recirculating farms decreased significantly from 18 units to 7 units.
Productivity on the pond and cage farms has increased from 19.3 tonnes of fish per unit in 2005–06 to 25.5 tonnes of fish per unit in 2006–07.
Productivity in tank farms more than doubled from 5.3 tonnes per unit in 2005–06 to 14.0 tonnes per unit in 2006–07. Total casual labour for the pond and cage sector increased from 37 400 hours in 2005–06 to 49 200 in 2006–07. Casual labour on recirculating farms decreased from 2700 hours in 2005–06 to 1700 hours in 2006–07.
When the permanent and casual labour inputs are combined for the total industry the total number of FTE labour units decreased from 124 in 2005–06 to 111 in 2006–07.
The dollar output per labour unit for the pond sector increased from $115 700 in 2005–06 to $170 100, while for the recirculating sector the output increased from $56 400 to $122 800 per unit.
Barramundi industry development plan:
From an Australian Barramundi Industry Planning Workshop held in Oonoonba, Townsville, March 2006 a draft industry development plan, supported by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), was circulated by the Australian Barramundi Farmers’ Association (ABFA), in early 2007.
The draft plan has projected a future vibrant and progressive sector, conditioned by ongoing strong and cohesive membership and capable of achieving a list of goals and actions.
Although Graham Dalton’s appointment as executive offcer is part-time, several priorities have been progressed; these include animal health, ABFA joining the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), finalisation of the European Union testing program and approval of a genetics scoping study.
Early next year it is hoped that a funding application for a research and development manager will be approved, the ABFA website will become operational and an industry environmental management sector will be established.
Through appointment of the new industry development and policy offcer, DPI&F has been reviewing the priorities of the plan and working on environmental management systems and water quality industry issues. DPI&F is continuing to assist the industry with key issues, which include reviewing an inter-agency agreement to develop a discharge policy for barramundi.
A number of farm visits have been undertaken and it has been identified that on-farm operational guidelines and procedures would be useful for small to medium farms to increase production.
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