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Agriculture and Fisheries in the Geelong region of Victoria, 2015

Research by the Australian Bureau of Agriculturaland Resource Economics and Sciences

About my region 15.18April 2015

Agriculture and Fisheries in the Geelong region of Victoria, 2015 ABARES

© Commonwealth of Australia 2015

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Cataloguing data

ABARES 2015, Agriculture and Fisheries in the Geelong region of Victoria, 2015, About my region 15.18, Canberra, April. CC BY 3.0.

ISBN 978-1-74323-073-2ABARES project 43009

Internet

Agriculture and Fisheries in the Geelong region of Victoria 2015 is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)

Postal address GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933Facsimile +61 2 6272 2001Email [email protected] agriculture.gov.au/abares

Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be sent to [email protected].

The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, represented by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, ABARES, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Acknowledgements

ABARES relies on the voluntary cooperation of farmers participating in the annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, Australian Dairy Industry Survey, and Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey to provide data used in the preparation of this report. Without their help, these surveys would not be possible. ABARES farm survey staff collected most of the information presented in this report through on-farm interviews with farmers.

This regional profile was updated by Therese Thompson, Peter Martin, Haydn Valle, Timothy Connolly, Lucy Randall and Kasia Mazur.

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Contents1 Regional overview.................................................................................................................................. 1

Employment.............................................................................................................................................. 22 Agriculture sector................................................................................................................................... 4

Value of agricultural production......................................................................................................4Number and type of farms.................................................................................................................. 4Farm financial performance—Victoria..........................................................................................6

3 Fisheries sector..................................................................................................................................... 14

References........................................................................................................................................................... 16

TablesTable 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13......................................................5

Table 2 Financial performance, Victoria broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm..................................................................................................................................... 7

Table 3 Farm cash income of Victoria broadacre farms, by region, 2013–14 to 2014–15, average per farm..................................................................................................................................... 8

Table 4 Financial performance, Victoria dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm.................................................................................................................................................... 11

Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses, Victoria, 2012–13 and 2013–14.......................................................................................................................12

FiguresFigure 1 Employment profile, Geelong region, November 2014...................................................3

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Geelong region, Victoria, 2012–13.......................4

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Geelong, Victoria, 2012–13.................................................................................................................................... 5

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm................................7

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, grains industry, average per farm............................................9

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm............................................9

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm.............................................10

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm...........................................11

Figure 9 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, Victoria, 2005–06 to 2013–14........................................................................................................................................ 13

MapsMap 1 Broad agricultural land use of the Geelong region of Victoria..........................................1

Map 2 Agricultural industries of the Geelong region of Victoria...................................................2

Map 3 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions.................................................................8


1 Regional overviewThe Geelong region of Victoria is located in the south of the state and encompasses the south-west corner of Port Phillip Bay (Map 1). The region comprises the three local government areas of Greater Geelong, Queenscliffe and Surf Coast, part of Golden Plains, and the major regional towns of Anglesea, Geelong, Lorne, Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads, St Leonards, Torquay and Winchelsea. The region covers a total area of around 4400 square kilometres or 2 per cent of Victoria’s total area and is home to approximately 250 700 people (ABS 2011).

Agricultural land in the Geelong region occupies 3040 square kilometres, or 69 per cent of the region. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 820 square kilometres, or 19 per cent of the region. The most common land use by area is grazing modified pasture, which occupies 2120 square kilometres or 48 per cent of the Geelong region.

Map 1 Broad agricultural land use of the Geelong region of Victoria

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

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Map 2 Agricultural industries of the Geelong region of Victoria

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

EmploymentAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the 2014 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 116 700 people were employed in the Geelong region. The Geelong region accounts for 4 per cent of total employment in Victoria and 2 per cent of all people employed in the Victorian agriculture, forestry and fishing sector.

Health care and social assistance was the largest employment sector with 16 200 people (Figure 1) followed by retail and trade with 13 900 people. Other important employment sectors in the region were education and training (13 200 people), construction (11 600 people), and manufacturing (9600 people).The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employed 1800 people, representing 1 per cent of the region’s workforce.

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Figure 1 Employment profile, Geelong region, November 2014

- 5 10 15 20

Rental, Hiring and Real Estate ServicesMining

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste ServicesInformation Media and Telecommunications

Financial and Insurance ServicesAgriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Arts and Recreation ServicesWholesale Trade

Transport, Postal and WarehousingOther Services

Administrative and Support ServicesProfessional, Scientific and Technical Services

Accommodation and Food ServicesPublic Administration and Safety

ManufacturingConstruction

Education and TrainingRetail Trade

Health Care and Social Assistance

Employed total ('000 )

Note: Annual average of the preceding 4 quarters.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 6291.0, Labour Force, Australia

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2 Agriculture sectorValue of agricultural productionIn 2012–13, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in the Geelong region was $320 million, which was 3 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Victoria ($11.6 billion). This is the most recent year for which ABS data are available.

The Geelong region has a diverse and important agricultural sector. The most important commodity in the Geelong region based on the gross value of agricultural production was poultry (Figure 2). In 2012–13, poultry contributed 30 per cent ($96 million) to the value of agricultural production in the region. Sheep and lambs accounted for 11 per cent ($34 million), and eggs accounted for 10 per cent ($33 million).

In 2012–13, the Geelong region accounted for around 22 per cent of the state’s value of egg production and 19 per cent of the value of poultry.

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Geelong region, Victoria, 2012–13

$m 20 40 60 80 100 120

Other

Vegetables

Barley

Canola

Hay

Milk

Pigs

Cattle and calves

Nurseries, cut flowers and turf

Wheat

Wool

Eggs

Sheep and lambs

Poultry

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia

Number and type of farmsABS data indicate that in 2012–13 there were 1098 farms in the Geelong region with an estimated value of agricultural operations of more than $5000 (Table 1). The region contains 3 per cent of all farm businesses in Victoria.

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Table 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13Industry Classification Geelong region Victoria

no. % no. %

Sheep 334 31 3 774 12

Beef Cattle 186 18 8 219 27

Mixed grains and livestock 67 6 2 224 7

Mixed livestock 60 6 1 395 5

Grain growing 53 5 2 388 8

Vegetable 35 3 691 2

Other livestock 35 3 918 3

Poultry 28 3 294 1

Fruit and nuts 23 2 2 275 7

Other Crop growing 18 2 358 1

Dairy 16 1 4 733 15

Nurseries, Cut Flowers and

Turf 10 1 330 1

Other 197 19 3 285 11

Total Agriculture 1 063 100 30 884 100

Note: Estimated value of agricultural operations greater than $5000.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Farms are classified in Table 1 according to the activities that generate most of their value of production. Sheep farms (334 farms) were the most common, accounting for 31 per cent of all farms in the Geelong region, and 9 per cent of all sheep farms in Victoria.

There is a large percentage of small farms in the region in terms of their value of agricultural output. Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of production from farms and a measure of their business size. Around 48 per cent of farms in the Geelong region had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 3). These farms accounted for only 4 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2012–13. In comparison, 14 per cent of farms in the region had an EVAO of more than $350 000 and accounted for an estimated 76 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in the region.

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Geelong, Victoria, 2012–13

%

10

20

30

40

50

60

< $50k $50k to $150k $150k to $350k $350k to $500k $500k to $1 m > $1 m

Share of farms Share of value of agricultural operations

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Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Farm financial performance—VictoriaEach year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in this survey include the grains, grains–livestock, sheep, beef and sheep–beef industries. The information collected is a basis for analysing the current financial position of farms in these industries and expected changes in the short term. This paper uses data from the ABARES Australian agriculture and grazing industries survey (AAGIS), Australian dairy industry survey (ADIS), and Australian vegetable growing industry survey to report estimates of financial performance indicators (Box 1) for broadacre, dairy and vegetable farms in Victoria.

Box 1 DefinitionsMajor financial performance indicators Total cash receipts: total revenues received by the business during the financial year. Total cash costs: payments made by the business for materials and services and for permanent and casual hired

labour (excluding owner manager, partner and family labour). Farm cash income: total cash receipts – total cash costs Farm business profit: farm cash income + changes in trading stocks – depreciation – imputed labour costs Profit at full equity: return produced by all the resources used in the business, farm business profit + rent +

interest + finance lease payments – depreciation on leased items Rate of return: return to all capital used, profit at full equity * 100 / total opening capital Equity ratio: Farm capital minus farm debt expressed as a percentage of farm capitalIndustry types Grains: farms mainly engaged in producing broadacre crops such as wheat, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses, and

including farms running sheep and/or beef cattle in conjunction with substantial broadacre crop activity. Sheep: farms mainly engaged in running sheep. Beef: farms mainly engaged in running beef cattle. Dairy: farms mainly engaged in milk production. Vegetable: farms mainly engaged in growing vegetables.

Performance of broadacre farms—VictoriaIn 2014–15, cropping receipts are projected to decline for Victorian broadacre farms as a result of reduced winter grain, oilseeds and pulse production resulting from lower yields. Increased receipts from beef, sheep and lambs, due mainly to higher prices, are projected to only partially offset reduced crop receipts. Average farm cash income of broadacre farms is projected to be similar to that recorded in 2013–14 in Southern and Eastern Victoria (Table 3), with reductions in crop receipts offset by increased beef receipts. However, reduced winter crop production is projected to sharply reduce average farm cash income in the Wimmera and Mallee regions. Farm cash income in the Central North is projected to increase slightly as a result of small increases in sheep, lamb, beef and crop receipts.

On average, farm cash income of broadacre farms in Victoria is projected to decline to $68 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 13 per cent below the 10-year average to 2013–14 (Table 2 and Figure 4).

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Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Australia Victoria

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Table 2 Financial performance, Victoria broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicatorunits 2012–13 2013–14p

RSE

2014–15y

Total cash receipts $ 285 940 312 600 (5) 271 000Total cash costs $ 198 610 213 800 (5) 202 000Farm cash income $ 87 340 98 900 (8) 68 000Farms with negative farm cash income % 26 20 (20) 24Farm business profit $ 9 380 11 700 (74) –22 000Profit at full equity excluding capital appreciation $ 34 880 37 800 (25) 3 000Farm capital at 30 June a $ 2 911 950 2 927 800 (4) naFarm debt at 30 June b $ 260 780 263 400 (9) 253 000Equity ratio bd % 91 91 (1) naRate of return excluding capital appreciation e % 1.2 1.3 (23) 0.1Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 32 690 33 700 (14) na

a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Farm capital minus farm debt. d Equity expressed as a percentage of farm capital. e Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not Available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate providedSource: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

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Table 3 Farm cash income of Victoria broadacre farms, by region, 2013–14 to 2014–15, average per farm

Region units 2013–14p RSE 2014–15y221: VIC Mallee $ 188 700 (22) 116 000222: VIC Wimmera $ 241 700 (13) 50 000223: VIC Central North $ 84 200 (13) 95 000231: VIC Southern and Eastern Victoria $ 53 800 (18) 55 000

p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Map 3 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions

Note: Each region is identified by a unique code of three digits. The first digit identifies the state or territory, the second digit identifies the zone and the third digit identifies the region.Source: ABARES

Performance of grains industry farms—VictoriaIn 2013–14, average crop receipts for Victorian grains farms were similar to those recorded in 2012–13, as higher crop prices offset small reductions in crop production resulting from drier conditions. Receipts from the sale of sheep, lambs and beef cattle were higher for mixed enterprise farms as sheep and lamb prices increased and turnoff also increased. Overall, farm cash income increased for Victorian grains industry farms to average $204 200 a farm in 2013–14 (Figure 5).

Victorian cropping receipts are projected to decline in 2014–15 as a result of reduced winter grain, oilseeds and pulse production resulting from lower yields. A projected decrease in farm cash costs as a result of reduced expenditure on fuel, fertiliser and interest payments, combined with lower expenditure on livestock purchases on mixed enterprise farms, is expected to only partially offset the decline in farm cash receipts. As a result, average farm cash income for

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Victorian grains industry farms is projected to decrease to $106 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 14 per cent below the industry average for the previous 10 years (Figure 5).

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, grains industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

250

Australia Victoria


Performance of sheep industry farms—VictoriaFarm cash incomes were relatively high for Victorian sheep industry farms in the period 2009–10 to 2011–12 (Figure 6). However, in 2012–13, a reduction in average prices received for lambs, adult sheep and wool resulted in farm cash income for Victorian sheep farms falling.

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

Australia Victoria


In 2013–14, adult sheep and lamb prices increased and together with increased turn-off resulted in higher farm cash receipts for Victorian sheep industry farms. Despite higher receipts, an

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increase in average cash costs as a result of higher expenditure on sheep purchases, fodder, and interest payments, resulted in average farm cash income for sheep industry farms remaining similar in 2013–14 to that recorded in 2012–13 at an average of $49 500 a farm.

In 2014–15, further increases in adult sheep and lamb prices are projected to result in higher farm cash receipts. Average farm cash income for sheep industry farms is projected to increase to $78 000 a farm, around 27 per cent above the industry average of $62 000 for the ten-years to 2013–14.

Performance of beef industry farms—VictoriaA much smaller average herd size for Victorian beef industry farms, compared with the Australian average, results in average farm cash income for Victorian beef industry farms typically being well below the national average (Figure 7).

In 2013–14, increase in the number of beef cattle sold resulted in higher beef cattle receipts for Victorian beef industry farms. Higher receipts combined with lower expenditure on beef cattle purchases to result in average farm cash income for Victorian beef industry farms increasing slightly to $27 200 a farm in 2013–14 (Figure 7).

In 2014–15, higher beef cattle prices are projected to offset a reduction in the number of cattle sold to result in farm cash receipts remaining similar to 2013–14. However, cash costs, including expenditure on fodder is projected to increase resulting in average farm cash income for Victorian beef industry farms declining slightly to $23 000 a farm in 2014–15. The projected farm cash income is around 40 per cent below the industry average of $38 000 a farm for the ten-years to 2013–14 (Figure 7).

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm

–50

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

Australia Victoria


Performance of dairy industry farms— VictoriaIn 2012–13, lower farmgate milk prices, reduction in milk production in all states except Victoria and an increase in farm cash costs resulted in low average farm cash income in all states. Average farm cash incomes rebounded strongly in 2013–14, with relatively large increases in

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farm gate milk prices in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern New South Wales and smaller increases for producers in other states and regions. Nationally, average farm cash income increased from $44 130 in 2012–13 to $163 900 in 2013–14. In Victoria, average farm cash income increased from $32 490 in 2012–13 to $173 700 in 2013–14 (Table 4).

In 2014–15, lower farm gate milk prices are projected to result in average farm cash incomes declining in most states including Victoria. Milk production is expected to increase in Victoria. However, the increase in production is projected to be unable to fully offset the lower in milk prices together with a small increase in farm cash costs. As a result, average farm cash income is projected to decrease to $87 000 a farm in Victoria, around 16 per cent below the 10-year average to 2013–14 (Figure 8).

When variations to projected farm cash incomes of dairy farms across Australia are taken into account, the overall average farm cash income of Australian dairy farms is projected to decrease to average $97 000 a farm in 2014–15.

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

Australia Victoria

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

Table 4 Financial performance, Victoria dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicator unit 2012–13 2013–14p RSE 2014–15yFarm cash income $ 32 490 173 700 (13) 87 000Farm business profit a $ –35 920 77 600 (25) –23 000Rate of return excluding capital appreciation b % 0.9 4.3 (13) 1.3

a Defined as farm cash income plus buildup in trading stocks, less depreciation and the imputed value of operator partner and family labour. b Defined as profit at full equity, excluding capital appreciation, as a percentage of total opening capital. Profit at full equity is defined as farm business profit plus rent, interest and lease payments less depreciation on leased items. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

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Performance of vegetable industry farms—VictoriaNationally in 2013–14, average farm cash income is estimated to have declined to $156 000, 4 per cent lower than in 2012–13. Average to above average seasonal conditions helped growers to maintain the high yields of 2012–13. Overall vegetable production was also higher because the average area planted to vegetable crops increased. However, the resulting increase in vegetable cash receipts was partially offset by lower vegetable prices.

In 2012–13 farm cash income in Victoria is estimated to have increased to an average of $218 900 (Table 5), 10 per cent higher than the estimated farm cash income (in real terms) over the eight years to 2012–13 (Figure 9). Average area planted and crop yields were both higher, particularly for less commonly produced vegetables such as carrots, onions, lettuce, cauliflower and cabbages. Although prices for potatoes, carrots and tomatoes were higher, there were large decreases in the prices received for other vegetables. Nevertheless, estimated average vegetable cash receipts increased more than the increase in average cash costs.

Above average yields and higher prices for most vegetable crops are estimated to have resulted in increased average farm cash income in 2013–14 to $314 000 (Table 5), 32 per cent higher than the average farm cash income (in real terms) estimated for Victoria over the nine years to 2013–14 (Figure 9). The area planted to vegetables increased and yields were above average, resulting in increased vegetable production. Vegetable prices were higher for the main vegetable types grown, resulting in higher vegetable cash receipts. Reduced expenditure on repairs and maintenance, interest and plant hire offset higher expenditure on most other inputs.

Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses,Victoria, 2012–13 and 2013–14

average per farmSelected estimates units 2012–13 p RSE % Change

from 2011–122013–14 y RSE % Change

from 2012–13Vegetable cash receipts $ 1 083 100 (11) 23 1 179 000 (24) 9Area sown to vegetables ha 55.7 (12) 13 56.3 (26) 1Quantity of vegetables produced t 1 460 (13) 27 1 508 (26) 3Farm cash income $ 218 900 (22) 105 314 000 (29) 47

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate. Updated data for vegetable farm businesses will be available November 2015.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

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Figure 9 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses,Victoria, 2005–06 to 2013–14

average per farm

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

2009

–10

2010

–11

2011

–12

2012

–13

p

2013

–14

y

$'0002013–14

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

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3 Fisheries sectorThe Geelong region has an extensive seafood industry including wild-catch and aquaculture, and seafood processing handling finfish, abalone, scallops, squid, and bait and bait products. The region is well connected to the Melbourne wholesale and retail market, particularly through the Melbourne Seafood Centre, the main wholesale retail market place for fresh seafood in the region. Corio Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula are the key areas for the harvest of seaweed, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Port Phillip Bay is the main commercial fishing location for King George whiting.

In the 2000 National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey, the region recorded a participation rate of 15 per cent, slightly higher than the state average of 12.7 per cent (Henry and Lyle 2003). Nearby Port Phillip Bay and adjacent coastal waters are the main fishing grounds where Geelong residents fish and are the most popular fishing grounds in Victoria. Flathead, Australian salmon, King George whiting, garfish and squid are the most common species targeted by fishers. Within Port Phillip Bay, most fishing is done from boats but in the coastal waters fishing effort is divided equally between boat and shore fishing.

The area has a significant aquaculture industry. The area is one of Australia’s largest mussel growing areas (mostly blue mussels) with production focused in Port Philip Bay, which is also the location of abalone farms. Some land based abalone and barramundi aquaculture farms are also located in the area.

In 2012–13 the gross value of Victoria’s fisheries production (both aquaculture and wild-catch) was $75.2 million, an increase of 3 per cent ($1.9 million) from 2011–12. Victoria contributed 3 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2012–13. In value terms, the wild-catch sector accounted for 73 per cent ($54.5 million) of the state’s total production and the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 27 per cent ($20.7 million).

Victoria’s wild-catch fisheries sector is dominated by two main products—abalone and Southern rocklobster—which account for 48 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, of the total value of wild-caught production in 2012–13. Over the last decade the real value of Victoria’s wild-caught fisheries products has reduced by 53 per cent to $54.5 million in 2012–13.

The product for which the real value of production declined most over the past decade is wild-caught abalone, falling by 63 per cent to $26.3 million in 2012–13. This is largely attributable to the Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis disease which has significantly reduced abalone production in the Victorian wild-catch sector in recent years. A large proportion of abalone is exported, mostly to Hong Kong, China and Japan. Exchange rate movements have a significant effect on the value of abalone exports and, in turn, production.

Commonwealth fisheries active in the waters off Victoria include the Commonwealth Trawl Sector (main source of domestic fresh fish for Sydney and Melbourne markets) and the Shark Gillnet and Shark Hook Sectors (supplies gummy shark or ‘flake’ to Melbourne) of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery. The Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery, Small Pelagic Fishery (mostly fishmeal for aquaculture and agriculture) and the Southern Squid Jig Fishery also operate in the waters off Victoria.

In 2012–13 the volume of Victoria’s aquaculture production increased by 15 per cent (309 tonnes) to 2313 tonnes. Salmonids, blue mussels and abalone accounted for 44 per cent,

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33 per cent and 16 per cent respectively of this volume and 27 per cent, 10 per cent and 54 per cent respectively of the total value of Victorian aquaculture in 2012–13.

In 2012–13, fisheries products exported from Victoria were valued at $138 million. This value includes State and Commonwealth fisheries products exported from the ports of Victoria, which may be sourced from Victorian waters or other parts of the country. The main export products include abalone and Southern rocklobster. Hong Kong, Vietnam and Japan are the major destinations for Victorian fisheries exports, accounting for 38 per cent, 26 per cent and 15 per cent of the total value of exports in 2012–13, respectively. Other major export destinations include Singapore (10 per cent) and China (4 per cent).

Recreational fishing is popular in Victoria. In the national survey of recreational fishers undertaken in the early 2000s it was found that Victoria had approximately 550 000 recreational fishers that fished in the 12 months to May 2000, an estimated 12.7 per cent of Victoria’s population (Henry and Lyle 2003). This includes gamefishing for species such as southern bluefin tuna (Green et. al. 2012). Recreational fishing also includes diving for Southern rocklobster, abalone, and scallops and hook and line fishing for a range of finfish species, such as snapper, King George whiting, black bream and flathead. Freshwater anglers target rainbow and brown trout, as well as native freshwater fish.

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ReferencesABS 2011, Census of Population and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014a, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2012–2013, cat. no. 7121.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014b, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2014, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014c, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2012–13, cat. no. 7503.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics-Bureau of Rural Sciences 2010, Land use of Australia 2005-06, Version 4, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.

ABARES 2014, Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014. Department of Agriculture. http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml

Green C, Brown P, Giri K, Bell J, Conron S, (2012) Quantifying the recreational catch of southern bluefin tuna off the Victorian coast. Recreational Fishing Grant Program – Research Report. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

Henry G.W. and Lyle J.M. 2003, The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey, FRDC Project No. 99/158.

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http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml

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