Our seafood industry supports thousands of Tasmanian jobs and keeps many regional communities thriving.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government backs in the seafood sector to the hilt, recognising a collaborative approach is crucial for maintaining our status as a leader in sustainable seafood production and maintaining our marine heritage.
I had the pleasure of addressing the national Seafood Directions Conference in Hobart today, hosted by Seafood Industry Australia and co-sponsored by the Tasmanian Government.
This event is providing a great opportunity to promote the seafood industry, plan for the future and inform the development of the Futures of Seafood Study, a collaboration between Seafood Industry Australia and the Blue Economy CRC.
I am confident that the knowledge shared through this conference will contribute to the development of a Tasmanian Wild Capture Fisheries Strategy, a commitment under this Government's 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future.
The Strategy will support our wild capture seafood industry through policy to assist in strategic planning for the future, support Tasmanian fishers and provide certainty for our commercial fisheries.
Government will partner with Seafood Industry Tasmania in the development of this strategy which will ultimately support the Tasmanian economy, Tasmanian jobs and Tasmanian families.
Consultation on the strategy will commence later this year. Further information on our Tasmanian commercial fisheries is available at Fishing Tasmania.
IMAS analysis found that in 2021-22 this provided a household income of over $440 million to the 6,600 Tasmanians directly and indirectly employed in the seafood sector, and economic analysis of the salmon industry has shown that in 2022 it contributed over $770 million into the State's economy.
The Tasmanian wild catch and aquaculture industry had a combined farm gate value of over $1.4 billion in 2022-2023 – the highest value seafood industry in Australia.