Aquaculture has had another successful year within the Australian seafood industry, according to the latest edition of ABARES Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics.
Acting ABARES Executive Director David Galeano said the gross value of fishery and aquaculture production (GVP) in 2021-22 increased by 8% to $3.42 billion, with aquaculture exceeding the value of wild-catch.
"Over the last two decades we've seen aquaculture continue to grow, helping to boost overall fisheries production," Mr Galeano said.
"The share of aquaculture in total Australian fisheries and aquaculture GVP in 2021-22 was 56%, driven largely by an increased value of salmonids.
"The total value of fishery and aquaculture products exports increased by 2% to $1.28 billion in 2021-22, largely reflecting the increased export values of salmonids and abalone.
"Australians love their seafood, a fact that's hard to forget as we head into the holiday season when many will be enjoying Australian prawns.
"In 2021-22, Australians consumed around 350,000 tonnes of seafood in 2021-22, equivalent to 13.8 kilograms per person.
"While consumption of seafood was less than chicken, pork and beef, it was above lamb and sheep meat consumption for the year.
"The value of fishery and aquaculture products imports increased by 2% to $2.19 billion in 2021-22, driven mostly by an increase in the value of prawns."
Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2022 is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government and is available on the ABARES website: Fisheries and aquaculture statistics 2022.
