How might the aquaculture industry look ten years from now? And how should it to look? These and many more questions will be considered by over 1000 delegates at the Skretting Australasian Aquaculture Conference 2012 (AA12) which formally commenced in Melbourne this week.

With the theme “The Next Ten Years”, AA12 will provide a valuable opportunity for presentations from academia, researchers and industry, facilitating the meaningful exchange of information amongst the aquaculture and related industries and inspiring all participants to contribute to the future of the industry.   
 
This international event, which takes place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, will also provide a forum for education, knowledge transfer, and development of new skills along with professional development of all sectors within the industry.
 
“The aquaculture industry faces many challenges but the industry has shown tremendous resilience and it is fantastic that so many people are willing to come together every two years to consider the sort of future they want for this increasingly important industry,” Conference Chair Pheroze Jungalwalla said.  

“And at this year’s conference we will look ahead 10 years – this is really important because we all have a chance to help shape the sort of industry we want well into the future.”
 
“With aquaculture now making up around 50 percent of global fish production, it is vital that we ensure it continues as an ecologically sustainable as well as a profitable industry,” said Mr Jungalwalla, who is also the Chair of Australia’s National Aquaculture Council.
 
Mr Jungalwalla said he was pleased to hear Victoria’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh, speak on Monday in support of the aquaculture industry.  "Increased production of farmed seafood is good news for lovers of fresh and local product, and it's good news for regional communities because aquaculture employs people regionally," Mr Walsh said.
 
Since their inception, the biennial Australasian Aquaculture conferences have been organised on a joint venture basis between the Australian National Aquaculture Council and the World Aquaculture Society-Asia Pacific Chapter. The establishment of this strong relationship recently secured the World Aquaculture Conference and Trade Show which will be held in Adelaide from 7 to 11 June 2014.  
 
Among the many sessions at the conference, delegates will hear the very latest about finfish health and hatchery technologies; planning for sustainable aquaculture development; genetic breeding programs; new species for aquaculture; future feeds for crustaceans;  and opportunities and threats to aquaculture over the next 10 years.
 
Over the last weekend an AA12 aquaculture recirculation technology workshop considered new systems able to reduce water consumption by around 98 per cent which offer environmentally friendly solutions to the aquaculture industry.
 
While the conference concludes today, the AquaEd 2012 Training and Education Workshop will continue on 5 and 6 May.