AUSTRALIA

Australia is a significant player in the aquaculture space. Its highest profile farmed fish is salmon. Tasmania alone produces Atlantic salmon worth around AUS $1bn (just over £500m) by value, accounting for more than 90% of Australia’s total salmon sector. The state also farms rainbow trout. 

As with other salmon-producing nations, the industry has its fair share of critics and marine farming is the subject of fierce debate. 

Australia is about more than just salmonids, however. A wide range of finfish species are farmed, including barramundi, southern bluefin tuna, yellowtail kingfish, and Murray cod (no relation of the Atlantic cod). 

Prawns, particularly black tiger prawns and banana prawns, are a significant component of Australia's aquaculture industry. These species are primarily farmed in Queensland and New South Wales using pond systems.  

Oysters and mussels are also important contributors to the aquaculture sector. Pacific oysters and Sydney rock oysters are farmed along the coastlines of New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia. Mussels, particularly blue mussels, are farmed in Victoria and Tasmania.  

The aquaculture industry in Australia is a substantial contributor to the national economy. As of recent data, the industry is valued at over AU $1.5 billion (about £760m) annually. It accounts for approximately 50% of the total value of Australia's seafood production, highlighting its critical role in meeting the country's seafood demand.