Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Aquaculture report recommendations welcomed

Recommendations from the Aquaculture Regulation Reform Final Report have been welcomed by the State Government.

The recommendations aim to streamlining government processes to enhance the Victorian aquaculture industry.

Major recommendations of the Task Force are that:

• An aquaculture "one-stop shop" or single point of entry to State Government be established at Fisheries Victoria.
• Guidelines outlining State and Local Government requirements be prepared for use by aquaculture applicants.
• Criteria be developed for the assessment of aquaculture applications involving movement of exotic and noxious species and the culturing of threatened species.
• Guidelines outlining aquaculture planning issues be developed for Local Government.
• Closed system, recirculating aquaculture ventures, complying with established conditions, be categorised as an "as of right" planning use in industrial zones.
• 21-year Crown land leases for marine aquaculture be issued.
• Performance-based Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines replace prescriptive EPA licences with monitoring undertaken by independent auditors.

Industry, community groups and environmental groups are invited to participate in the implementation of the report’s recommendations.

Copies of the Aquaculture Regulation Reform Task Force Final Report, can be obtained by contacting Sophie Nedelkos at the Office of Regulation Reform on 03 9651 9719.

The Report can also be downloaded from the Office of Regulation Reform web site.

(News Release, Offices of the Minister for Small Business and Tourism and the Deputy Premier and Minister for Agriculture, July 28, 1999)