General:
A total of 79 hatchery and aquarium operations were surveyed and responses were received from 71. The hatcheries produced a wide range of fish for use in aquaria, commercial grow out and stocking in public impoundments. Table 15 summarises statistics for the major species produced in 2005–06 and 2006–07.
The total value of this sector rose slightly from $3.38 million in 2005–06 to $3.51 million in 2006–07. Over the same period sales for the sector decreased from 10.4 million to 8.9 million.
For the second consecutive year, the number of fingerlings species sold for farm stocking decreased slightly from the previous year.
This down-turn is largely due to reduced stocking activity associated with drought conditions. The one possible exception to this trend was jade perch where the number of fingerlings sold increased slightly. However, jade perch is not a species that is used for impoundment stocking.
Exotic ornamental sales decreased by nearly 23% from the previous year; however, sales increased for the other ornamental sectors.
The hatchery sector has been expanding over the last few years to include a number of hatcheries that produce a range of marine species for the aquarium trade, commercial grow out and stocking. They are reported collectively in Table 15 as ‘marine hatchery and aquarium’.
Stocking and grow out species:
The hatchery operations that produced the stocking and grow out species listed below used 222 ponds in 2006–07 (compared with 212 ponds in 2005–06).
Over this period the total ponded area decreased from 47 hectares to 43 hectares. The average pond area decreased from 22000 m2 in 2005–06 to 1950 m2 in 2006–07. The sector also used 187 tanks totalling 955 m3 in 2006–07 (up from 160 tanks totalling 890 m3 in 2005–06).
Barramundi:
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) fingerlings were produced in 10 hatcheries (down from 12 in 2005–06). Total production was down from 5.3 million fingerlings in 2005–06 to 4.5 million fingerlings in 2006–07. The majority of fingerlings were sold to grow out farms with 3.2 million sold for $1.123 million.
Although the number of fingerlings sold to farms increased by 6% from the 3.0 million sold in 2005–06, the value of these sales increased by 30% (from $867 000 in 2005–06). The increased value was largely a result of the average price rising from $0.29 to $0.36 per fingerling. The number of fingerlings sold for stocking decreased from 561 000 ($198 000) in 2005–06 to 127 000 ($148 000) in 2006–07.
Over this period the average price for fingerlings sold to stocking increased from $0.35 to $0.55. The price increase for fingerlings sold to both farms and stocking primarily resulted from increased sales of larger fingerlings. A significant portion of fingerlings produced were not sold as they were required to stock the farm that produced them.
Golden perch:
Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) fingerling production was undertaken by five hatcheries (seven in 2005–06). Production totalled 725 000 in 2006–07, which represents a 60% decrease from the previous year. Stocking accounted for the vast majority of sales (719 000) valued at $158 500. The farming sector purchased only 5400 fish.
Unfortunately, Queensland producers have not been successful in producing the Lake Eyre strain of golden perch fingerlings since 2003–04.
Australian bass:
Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) were produced primarily for impoundment stocking. Production occurred in four hatcheries (five in 2005–06). Production decreased slightly from 1.46 million in 2005–06 to 1.28 million in 2006–07. Sales also decreased from 1.45 million ($252 000) in 2005–06 to 1.19 million ($228 000) in 2006–07. The farming sector purchased only 5000 fish.
Silver perch:
Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) fingerling production was undertaken by 9 hatcheries (10 in 2005–06) and increased from 705 000 fingerlings in 2005–06 to 792 000 in 2006–07. However, the number sold decreased from 618 000 in 2005–06 to 446 600 in 2006–07.
Sales to growout operations dropped slightly from 261 000 ($43 000) in 2005–06 to 196 100 ($49 300) in 2006–07. Over this period the average fingerling value increased from $0.16 to $0.25. This increase was largely a result of some hatcheries selling larger fingerlings.
Sales to stocking decreased slightly from 357 000 ($67 000) in 2005–06 to 250 500 ($50 800) in 2006–07. The average price of fingerlings sold for stocking increased from $0.19 to $0.20.
Jade perch:
Jade perch, or Barcoo grunter, (Scortum barcoo) fingerlings came from four hatcheries (four in 2005–06). All sales were to the farm growout sector; however, a significant proportion was sold overseas. Sales increased slightly from 200 000 ($46 000) in 2005–06 to 239 000 ($53 000) in 2006–07.
Murray cod, Mary River cod and sleepy cod:
Murray and Mary River cod (Maccullochella sp.) and sleepy cod (Oxyeleotris lineolatus) sales were combined to maintain confidentiality of the information supplied by the six hatcheries that produced any of these fish.
Sales for these species decreased by 63% from 167 000 ($113 000) in 2005–06 to 61 900 ($43 700) in 2006–07. Growout farms purchased 61% of the fingerlings with the rest going to the stocking program.
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