In what has been described as a coup for South Australia, Adelaide will be hosting the World Aquaculture Conference in June next year.
Running from 7 to 11 June at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the Conference is expected to attract between 2,000 and 3,000 delegates, and generate up to $11.5 million for the state’s economy.
South Australian Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Gail Gago, said “Port Lincoln just hosted the Australian seafood industry national conference, and now with the premier international aquaculture science and industry event coming to Adelaide next year, it shows how well regarded South Australia is as a producer of premium and safe seafood from a clean aquatic environment.”
Gago said the event will allow South Australia to show international industries its production techniques, regulatory frameworks, research and innovation, and the growing link between aquaculture and tourism.
She added that the state’s aquaculture production is valued at over $241 million and makes up more than 54 percent of its seafood production, while also being a significant employer.
The recently released independent Economic Impact of Aquaculture on the South Australian State and Regional Economies for 2011-12 shows the value of aquaculture production grew 11 percent on the previous year, up by more than $23 million,” Gago said.
“Aquaculture is one of the great success stories of regional employment and innovation, directly generating 1,147 full time jobs and another 1,510 indirectly, 65 percent of which are based outside the greater Adelaide area.”
Chair of the conference steering committee and President-elect of the World Aquaculture Society, Dr Graham Mair, said with aquaculture one of the fastest growing food producing sectors in the world, the conference, which has the theme ‘Create Nurture Grow’, will showcase some of the industry’s success stories.
“World Aquaculture Adelaide 2014 will bring together the results of research, industry know-how and the latest technological advances in one place, combined with one of the largest aquaculture trade shows in the world,” he said. “It really does provide a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas.”
“Almost half the global consumption of seafood now comes from fish farms, and for the first time in modern history the world is producing more farmed fish than farmed beef, representing a historic shift in food production.
“As a result, aquaculture is playing an increasingly important role in meeting the challenge of global food security, making an event such as this highly significant for the future of the industry,” he said.