Environmental impacts in Australian aquaculture

Australian aquaculture consists of traditional salmonid and native oyster industries and a wide array of rapidly emerging new sectors. Consistency in the regulatory framework and controls administered by the various states to minimize potential environmental impacts from aquaculture is increasingly promoted in a national approach. The most apparent and significant environmental impacts arising front Australian aquaculture to date have occurred because some species associated with aquaculture activities have been translocated. The resultant impacts have included reduction or loss of native or endemic species to catchments and introduction of a range of pests and diseases. The latter, in some instance, has led to the abandonment of large areas of aquaculture infrastructure that were no longer viable. Impacts from pollution and infrastructure in aquaculture vary from contribution to overall nutrient load within a catchment to demonstrable localized impacts on fauna or flora, environmental morphology, and aesthetics. Here, a range of examples is examined and strategies to minimize risk of the impacts are discussed.