Production statistics for the financial year 2006–07 were collected from farms producing marine prawns, barramundi, redclaw crayfish, freshwater growout fish and eels, as well as hatchery and aquarium producers.
Statistics collected from the edible and pearl oyster growers relate to culture areas.
Survey forms were mailed to development permit (aquaculture authority) holders for the species listed below. The number of forms mailed increased from 784 in 2005–06 to 793 in 2006–07.
The results presented in this report reflect the information provided by the industry through the statistical returns.
Non-producing farms were able to respond by ticking the ‘nil production box’ and were not required to provide further details about their operations. In some sectors, non-response by some of the larger growers can provide a result that under-represents the true industry situation.
The total numbers recorded for each species group are based on operations that have these species authorised on their development permit. Some development permits have more than one species on their approval.
The 88% response rate for 2006–7 (Table 2) was higher than the 87% response rate achieved in 2005–06. The following are conversion factors and definitions used in the report:
Conversion factors:
Fish production is reported on a whole-fish basis. For example, gilled and gutted barramundi to whole fish (0.89:1 on weight basis) and filleted barramundi to whole fish (0.48:1 on weight basis).
Fingerling fish:
Small fish in the 2–10 gram range.
Juvenile crayfish:
Immature crayfish in the 1–15 gram range.
Labour conversion:
Labour FTEs are calculated by adding the total permanent labour units to the casual labour units converted to FTEs. Forty hours per week casual labour for 48 weeks per year is considered one FTE labour unit. Information collected in hours per week was converted to FTEs by dividing total hours by 40 hours.
Marine prawns:
The value of the Queensland prawn industry decreased by 8% from $46.3 million in 2005–06 to $42.5 million in 2006–07.Total production decreased by 6% from 3300 tonnes in 2005–06 to 3085 tonnes in 2006–07. Additionally, the hatchery sector sold post-larvae to a value of $1.9 million.
Previous reports have separated kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus) production from the other two main species—black tiger (P. monodon) and banana prawns (P. merguiensis).
Kuruma prawn production has almost ceased in Queensland with only one farm producing limited quantities for the Australian market. This sector has now been included in the general marine prawn group.
Of the 56 authority holders that responded in 2006–07, 26 were producing growout farms (29 in 2005–06) and 4 were independent hatcheries (5 in 2005–06). The Queensland industry faced a number of production and marketing problems during 2006–07, which has caused the decline in value of this sector.
Post-larvae produced during the early part of the season were of poor quality and many batches had to be discarded before stocking.
The cool January period slowed growth on many farms, although the Logan River farms did have a warmer April that extended harvest into May. In the latter part of the season some farms had some ponds affected by losses, probably due to mid-crop mortality syndrome. This resulted in farmers having to harvest these ponds before prawns could grow to large and extra large sizes.
The increase in imported prawns was the main reason for a decrease in the market value of prawns received by Australian farms in the market place.
Although the prices ranged from $9.50/kg to $17.50/kg the average farm gate price fell by 3% from $14.14/ kg in 2005–06 to $13.79/kg in 2006–07 (Table 3).
The majority of sales occurred in Australia (99%), with only 1% exported (compared with 2% exported in 2005–06).
Marine prawn production:
Grow out:
The following table (Table 3) illustrates the production in 2006–07. Production was similar to 2004–05 but average yields per hectare decreased by 3.5% over the last 12 months. Average prices ($/kg) over the same period have decreased by 5% of the prices in 2006–07, which were 11% lower two years earlier.
In 2006–07, 24 farms (22 in 2005–06) produced over 20 tonnes. In 2006–07, 18 farms (21 in 2005–06) produced over 50 tonnes (Table 4) while 10 farms (12 in 2005–06) produced over 100 tonnes. In 2006–07, 4 farms (4 in 2005–06) averaged over 6000 kg/ha/crop.
The total ponded area on farms has increased by 3%, from 713 hectares in 2005–06 to 737 hectares at the end of 2006–07. The area stocked increased by 28% from 835 to 1070 hectares. The total harvested area decreased from 802 hectares in 2005–06 to 776 hectares in 2006–07.
Pond sizes ranged from 0.65 to 1.77 hectares with an average size of 1.03 hectare. The average number of crops per pond per year increased from 1.0 to 1.1 crops per year. There were 5 farms (6 in 2005–06) that produced more than one crop per year. The average stocking rate decreased from 33 postlarvae per square metre to 26 per square metre.
Stocking rates varied from 9 to 50 with 8 farms stocking at 40 or more per square metre (compared with 4 farms the previous season).
The quantity of feed decreased from 7325 tonnes in 2005–06 to 6286 tonnes in 2006–07. Over the same period the estimated feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased from 2.2:1 to 2.0:1. There was a change in the source of feed with an increase in the use of Australian feed. In 2006–07 feed sources were 50% from Australia (36% in 2005–06) and 50% from overseas (64% in 2005–06).
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