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Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council
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EMS for Aquaculture |
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EMS Funding
On 22 February 2007, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister
for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Sussan Ley
MP, launched a new one year $3.9 million funding programme -
EMS Pathways to Sustainable Agriculture.
There are two categories of funding aimed at Regional
bodies ($1 million) and Industry ($2.9 million).
The Australian Government is now inviting applications for
funding for projects that achieve the programme’s
objectives, which are to:
· Strengthen the capacity of Regional bodies and
industry groups to lead the implementation of management
systems for producers.
· Build and strengthen linkages between regions,
industries and research organisations to support industry
and farmers to report their contribution to regional NRM
targets.
· Increase on-ground uptake of EMS approaches to
maintain and improve the productivity and profitability of
producers, in particular by the mixed farming sector.
Funding is available for a twelve month period from 1 July 2007. Australian Government funding support across the two programme categories will be generally capped at $300,000 per successful application, although consideration will be given to higher levels of grant depending on the resources being brought to the project by the Applicants and the benefits likely to be gained. Applications close on 5 April 2007.
Detailed programme information is available on the DAFF
website at www.daff.gov.au/emsfunding or by contacting Megan Scott: (02) 6272 4531 megan.scott@daff.gov.au
FISHING TODAY – ARTICLE DECEMBER/JANUARY ISSUE
Towards Sustainability: A New Direction for the Seafood Industry
by Dr Judi Marshall
In recent years, international agreements have been developed to ensure that our natural resources and the environment are managed on a sustainable basis. Primary industries will need to be managed on a sustainable basis to ensure that the following generations, our children and grandchildren, can enjoy the same foods and lifestyle that we have been fortunate enough to enjoy. This means that industries such as the seafood industry need to be managed on a holistic basis, rather than just an economic, political or environmental basis.
In the past decade an increasing number of terms and concepts have been proposed for holistic management of natural resources.
- Marine ecosystem management
- Ecosystem based fishery based management
- Integrated oceans management (National Oceans Office)
- Environmental management systems (Seafood Services Australia)
- Sustainable development
- Ecologically sustainable development (COAG)
The most relevant term for the seafood industry is Ecologically Sustainable Development (referred to as ESD).
The Australian Government has made an agreement with State and local Governments to implement the principles of ESD for all activities under their jurisdiction. ESD was defined as
“using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.” COAG 1992
ESD is really about finding the balance between the social requirements of the community and the economic objectives of the industry while causing minimal impact on the ecological environment which sustains the industry (Fig 1). The concept is based on the premise that ESD can help a farmer minimise environmental impacts and demonstrate that they are good stewards of the marine environment to the community.
ESD compliance is required by the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) under Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1995 (EPBCA) in the agriculture and fishing industries who export native species. The ESD compliance for the seafood industry is based on frameworks developed by Rick Fletcher through the FRDC for wild-catch fisheries and aquaculture. In Tasmania, an ESD assessment has been developed for the rock lobster and the wild-catch abalone industries by the Fisheries Branch of DPIWE.
However, ESD can be utilized at a more practical level by the seafood industry as a management, promotional and marketing tool by developing an Environmental Management System (referred to as EMS). The major difference between ESD and an EMS is that ESD is designed to encompass all aspects and issues of the management of activities that may affect natural resources. The aim of EMS is to validate and manage processes within the Industry through risk assessment. An EMS may be developed to only address a single issue. For example, some operators may develop an EMS that relates to the management of fishing/farming activities in the presence of seabirds (this may include predators or threatened species). Environmental Management Systems can be as simple as a set of Codes of Practice or they can be highly refined and include third party auditing.
The Tasmanian aquaculture industry, incorporating the oyster, salmonid and abalone sectors, are being proactive in developing an EMS Framework based on ESD principles. The ESD Framework documents are funded jointly by FRDC and Industry with DPIWE contribution and will provide ESD compliance notes, risk assessments and most of the required information for each farm or regional group to implement its own EMS. The EMS Framework is designed to be simple, beneficial and minimise the work for the farmer in developing an EMS. It is also hoped that a public summary document will be produced to provide information of the benefits of industry and how it is addressing the high risks and public concerns. This document could be used to promote the profile of the Industry as a whole.
Other Australian seafood industries have embraced EMS and are now reaping the rewards. The Bribie Island Fishers were one of the first groups to come up with an Environmental Management Plan called “2020eco-vision”. It has the catchcry - Old fisherman's saying “no habitat = no fish”. Hawkesbury Trawl also has an Environmental Action Plan to show that they are working towards “achieving sustainability”. Southern Rock Lobster recently won the United Nations (Association of Australia) 2005 World Environment Day award for their Clean Green Pot to Plate program in the Environmental Best Practice Program. This program incorporates 76% of lobster fishing boats in South Australia and also recently 17 King Island fishermen working under the Clean Green Best Management Practice (which is effectively an EMS). The value of this system in terms of industry sustainability, profit and marketability is substantial. Fish will be marketed with the accreditation, which could lead to better returns
The development of environmentally sound practices and management systems has not come instantly, easily or cheaply. The Southern Rock Lobster association has been developing their program for over 6 years. It is envisaged that it will take up to 10 years for an individual seafood industry to develop and fully adopt an EMS. It is also assumed that the change will be generational. However, on the other side of the coin, if the seafood industry does not uptake some form of self-regulated environmental management, there may not be an Industry to pass on to the next generation. The destructive pressures may not be from environmental degradation and declining fish stocks, but due to market and political forces beyond the Industry’s control. It is important for the whole of the seafood industry to consider its future not only in terms of profitability, but in terms of responsible, environmentally sustainable profitability.
If your Industry wishes to find out more information about ESD or EMS, please call Judi Marshall on 0438 589955 or contact your TFIC office on 6224 2332.
Fig 1. ESD is about Industry finding the right balance between environmental, social and economic requirements.
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