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Australian Fisheries Production
Borrowing the definition from  Australian fisheries statistics 2008, a report published in July 2009 by ABARE – the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics – the word "seafood" refers to any fish or other aquatic plant or animal intended for human consumption; it would exclude non-edible fisheries products. According to the same source, which has been drawn up by Scientists Thuy Pham and Alistair Peat with the assistance of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and state fisheries departments, in year 2007-2008 the Australian fisheries production reached a total volume amounting to 236 000 tonnes, equivalent to $2.19 billion in terms of gross value. Compared to the data of the previous year, seafood production accounted for a decrease both in terms of volume (7800 tonnes less than in 2007-2007, a fall by 3%) and in terms of gross value (a difference of $24 million, equal to a 1% reduction).

Production by State
The largest share, 22%, of the whole gross value generated by seafood production in the Commonwealth area – not only in Australia – is attributable to Tasmania, while South and Western Australia follow with 21% and 20% each. Australia has special rights over the exploitation of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending 200 nautical miles (370km) from the coastline, hence exceeding that of its land mass: within the EEZ seazone free use of marine resources is allowed (Geoscience Australia. 2005. Maritime Boundary Definitions).

Composition
Fisheries production consists mainly of seafood goods which are marketed for human consumption, but also of non-edible fisheries products, such as pearls and fish meal. Australian seafood product, like most of other countries’, includes both wild catch fisheries and aquaculture production. The national product, finally, encompasses also the portion addressed to export, but it does not include the amount of fishery imported by Australia from abroad.

Exports
In the year 2007-2008, Australia exported fisheries products for a value of $1.3 billion, approximately 80% of which was derived from edible fishery export, such as shellfish and fish; the remainder was comprised of non-edible products, being predominantly pearls. Despite the still considerable share of the domestic product resulting from export, the purchases of Australian seafood from foreign Counties has fallen by 10%, if compared to the rates of the previous year: such a fall is estimated to be due to a general fall in the whole volume of edible fisheries production. So, since most of exports concern fish and shellfish, a decrease in the production of these goods (coming from both wild catch and aquaculture) affects the amount of them which can be exported.

Imports
Fisheries products imported by Australia within the year 2007-2008 accounted for a value of $ 1.4 billion; exactly like Countries towards whom Australia aims its own exports, even Australian imports derive mainly (approximately 80%) from edible fishery products; the remainder is due again to pearls and fishmeal, i.e. non-edible goods. During previous year, imports in the fishery sector declined by 5%, mainly because of a fall in the demand of imported crustaceans, molluscs ( - 14%) and non-edibles (- 6%); notwithstanding, the share of expense assigned to imports has recently come to exceed the amount of income coming from exportations: $1.4 billion > $ 1.3 billion. In fact, in 2007-2008 Australia became a net importer of fisheries products, both in terms of volume and in terms of value, although the composition of its exports differs from the imports’, being Australian fisheries exports dominated by high value species, while its imports consist of lower value products such as frozen or canned fish.

Most important species produced in Australian oceans
Amongst all species sold on the Australian fish market 2007-2008, Australian sardines took the biggest share in terms of volume with 33,600 tonnes landed and traded. Salmonoids, including salmons and trouts, were the second most dominant portion of the market, at 25,500 tonnes, followed by prawns at 22,400 tonnes, tuna at 14,700 tonnes and rock lobster at 13,800 tonnes.

In the Australian fishery market the rock lobster brought the largest revenue; exchanged for a value of $407 million. Salmons and trouts kept the second position with $299 million, with prawns third at $268 million and tuna fourth at $210 million. Finally, abalone is the fifth commercially most important species for the Australian fish market, generating $189 million.

Exports and imports of the most commercially important species
In 2007-2008 the export of rock lobster generated a $401 million income, followed by abalone at $217 million and prawns at $69 million. Most exports are sent to Asia, with a minor amount going to the United States.

Regarding Australian fish imports: canned fish is estimated to be the most imported at $257 million, frozen fish fillets at $228 million, prawns (fresh, chilled and frozen) at $167 million and canned crustaceans and molluscs at $128 million.

According to the Seafood Importer’s Association of Australasia (SIAA), Hoki, Hake, Nile Perch and Basa are the most relevant species of fish imported to Australia, in terms of volume.

Total seafood consumption per capita in kg
In the 1990’s seafood consumption was 14.7kg per capita in Perth and 15.1kg in Sydney. In 2005, seafood consumption in Melbourne was 12.5 kg per capita.

Seafood consumption by species in tonnes/value
In FY07/08: Tuna was 6.2% of the domestic catch and 9.6% of total revenue Salmonoids (salmon and trout) were 10.8% of total catch and 13.6% of revenue Prawns were 9.5% of total catch and 12.2% of revenue Rock lobster was 5.8% of total catch and 18.5% of revenue Abalone was 2.2% of total catch and 8.6% of revenue Oysters were 4% of catch and 5.2% of revenue Scallops were 4.3% of total catch and 1.4% of revenue
 * Catch includes aquaculture seafood

Recent developments and trends of seafood consumption
By 2006, out of home seafood consumption had grown substantially, with a shift from ‘whole’ to ‘convenience’ fish bought for home use. Consumers preferred seafood that is easily prepared including canned and pre-prepared varieties.

Cultural seafood consumption patterns and peak times of seafood consumption
People of Asian decent tend to have unique preferences for different fish varieties, with demand for imported species such as milkfish, tilapia, snakehead and pomfret.

Most popular place of purchase for seafood
In 2003, from a random sample size of 1004 Australian adults, approximately half the sample 49% purchased seafood in supermarkets, with 26% at specialist seafood stores, 20% directly from fresh fish markets and 16% catching their own seafood. Restaurants, hotels and clubs seem to be the main source of fish for approximately 14% of the sample, as well as fish and chips shops at 13%, 4% by family or friends who fish and 2% relying on other fast food outlets.

Links
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics www.abare.gov.au http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_in_Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheries_observer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Australia#Fisheries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_in_Australia (see protected areas that would otherwise be fisheries) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Australia (see section on Marine conservation) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Marine_Conservation_Society