21 February 2011

Advantage SA will this week host a two-day tour showcasing the State’s growing aquaculture industry.

The tour will commence with a briefing from the Hon Michael O’Brien MP, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries who will provide his outlook on one of the State’s largest industries, which had an estimated total output at over $688 million in 2010.

Advantage SA CEO Nikki Seymour-Smith said that the tour would showcase aquaculture in SA to key interstate and local industry media and the State’s corporate community.

“The tour will provide guests with a strong insight in to the State’s aquaculture industry, which is highly regarded around the world.”

“South Australia has an international reputation for our clean and unpolluted marine environments producing fresh, high quality seafood,” Ms Seymour-Smith said.

“We’ve worked very closely with the Government of South Australia through Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia (PIRSA) and other industry associations in ensuring that the tour highlights key South Australian businesses and initiatives involved in the thriving SA aquaculture industry.”

“Joining us on this tour will be interstate media from The Australian, industry publication FISH, Australian Associated Press and Australian Financial Review, with local representation from The Advertiser and the Port Lincoln Times." 

Chief Executive Officer from the Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA, Geoff Knight, said that the tour is a great opportunity to showcase SA's fantastic locally grown seafood and further strengthen SA's position as a leading producer of aquaculture products, and innovative aquaculture planning and management.

"South Australia is internationally renowned for its cutting edge aquaculture sector. It's a sector that continues to grow from year to year and in 2008-09 contributed almost 53% of the state's total seafood production," Mr Knight said.

"During 2008-09 we also saw a 14.1% increase in employment with in the Aquaculture industry, which is a positive sign for the state's economy, particularly for the Eyre Peninsula community."  

Eleven South Australian business leaders will join the media on the tour as a key benefit of their Advantage SA Foundation membership.

The tour will commence in Adelaide before travelling to Port Lincoln. Tour highlights include swimming with the tuna at Forsters Tuna Farm, the largest offshore tuna-viewing platform in Australia and enjoying freshly-shucked Coffin Bay Oysters on board a charter boat.

The tour will also feature a panel discussion with key aquaculture industry figures Cleanseas and Stehr Group Founder, Hagen Stehr, Southern Bluefin Tuna Association Chief Executive, Brian Jeffriess and PIRSA Chief Executive Geoff Knight. Other companies showcased in the tour include Ferguson Australia,

Boston Bay Lincoln Marine Science Centre, Boston Bay Mussel Farm and Southern Waters Marine.

Supported by the Government of South Australia, Advantage SA’s Interstate Media Program looks to challenge and alter the perceptions held by editors and key interstate media representatives regarding South Australia. It aims to profile South Australia as a visionary, creative and innovative State, while providing a hands-on experience that highlights the key advantages of the State.

For further information, to receive the two-day itinerary and for interviews and photo opportunities, please contact Natalie Ciccocioppo on 8211 8111 or 0413 489 231, natalie.ciccocioppo@advantagesa.com.au