The development and production of EMS template documents for the salmonid, oyster and abalone aquaculture sectors in Tasmania

Funded Activity Summary

The overarching need is for demonstrable environmentally sustainable resource use in the Tasmanian aquaculture industry. On a local/regional level, there is an identified need for an EMS officer to facilitate development of EM systems for specific aquaculture industries in Tasmania. Evolution of EM systems throughout the industry will be fragmented unless an organised process of introduction and development is provided. National and state ESD and NRM strategic initiatives (along with legislative requirements) need to be incorporated into any industry EMS project development.

A partnership between regulators, industry and the peak representative body (TFIC) is being formed to develop and implement EMS within the Tasmanian aquaculture industry. Finfish growers are part of this new partnership, demonstrating a desire to address environmental responsibility. While the largest salmon producer in the state has taken some steps towards EMS accreditation, as yet other stakeholders in this sector are yet to establish EM systems.

Poor community perceptions of the oyster growing industry are typified by regular protests about the proliferation of feral oysters. The development of an EMS template that addresses problems such as this will allow oyster growers to demonstrate that they are being proactive in dealing with industry impacts on the environment.

With pilot projects based on the Green Chooser template underway by Tasmanian East Coast shellfish farmers, the appointment of an EMS officer to the Tasmanian aquaculture industry will enable a more collaborative and uniform rollout of EM systems. Under the guidance of an EMS officer each individual program will feed into other similar programs, strengthening the value of individual EM systems and the entire industry initiative.

The employment of an EMS officer for the aquaculture industry will be instrumental in capitalising on previous FRDC/industry investments. It fits neatly with the Seafood Industry Training Package Review recommendations to elevate environmental awareness/management and ESD within the training modules.


Objectives:
1. The overall goal is demonstrable and credible environmentally sustainable use of natural resources where industry does not live off the environmental capital but from the return gained from using that resource, incorporating intergenerational responsibility into the process.
2. The key objective for this project is to develop and produce an EMS template document as a tool for each of the salmonid, oyster and abalone sectors of the Tasmanian aquaculture industry for use as a generic framework that is the backbone of local and regional individualised EM systems.
3. The intent is for an appointed EMS officer (in conjunction with industry representatives) to produce these three key EMS templates based on the Green Chooser model. These documents will embody stated national, state and local ESD/NRM goals in conjunction with all relevant legislative requirements.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 29-02-2004

End Date: 01-11-2006

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $106,667.00

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Aquaculture | Audit | Community | Extension & adoption | Fisheries Management | Risk reduction | Sustainability | Values & Ethics

Related Links