Monitoring & Assessment

Production Returns

Please note that only one return is required if you have multiple sites within the one 'region' (as indicated by the colours on the SA region map (.PDF) 513KB). If you are providing information for multiple sites on the one return, please write all licence numbers on the front page.

If you have sites located in different 'regions' one production return will need to be completed for each separate 'region' (as indicated by the colours on the SA region map (.PDF) 513KB).

Environmental Monitoring & Assessment

Each year, aquaculture licence holders are required to submit an Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) Report to PIRSA Aquaculture, with requirements prescribed within the Aquaculture Regulations 2005 (the Regulations). Proforma's have been carefully designed by PIRSA Aquaculture to collect information from aquaculture licence holders on both the physical and biological conditions of the site used for aquaculture activities.

EMP reports provide PIRSA Aquaculture with an annual summary of the activities occuring on licensed aquaculture sites including development rates, species farmed, feed inputs, disease incidents, interactions with large marine invertebrates and chemical use. The type of physical and biological information that is monitored varies with each aquaculture sector, these being land-based, intertidal shellfish, subtidal shellfish, finfish and tuna aquaculture.

Under the Aquaculture Regulations 2005, it is mandatory that licence holders submit the required Environment Monitoring Program (EMP) report for each reporting period:

  • Regulation 22 - Subtidal shellfish
  • Regulation 23 - Intertidal shellfish
  • Regulation 24 - Finfish/Tuna
  • Regulation 27 - Land-based Aquaculture
  • Regulation 28 - Live organisms reared during transport

EMP Reports allow PIRSA Aquaculture to regulate the sustainable growth of the SA Aquaculture industry, whilst maintaining ecosystem functions of the pristine environment the industry relies so heavily upon. It is therefore crucial that the information be collected within the specified timeframe.

Annual Reporting Period

Intertidal shellfish/Subtidal shellfish/Land-based aquaculture EMPs: 1 July - 30 June (reports due 31 August)

Finfish/Tuna EMPs: 1 December - 30 November (reports due 31 January)

All data submitted should be within the period specified above - with those sectors requiring benthic transects to be submitted, these should also be undertaken within the above reporting period.

PIRSA Aquaculture allows two months for each sector to collate the required data and submit the reports.

Livestock Notice

Livestock (Restrictions on Entry of Aquaculture Stock) Notice 2005 (.PDF) 22KB - under section 33 of the Livestock Act 1997.
This notice includes conditions that must be met for the translocation (movement) of aquaculture stock within and into South Australia. When the notice asks to send information to the 'Aquaculture Minister', please fax to PIRSA Aquaculture on (08) 8226 0330 or phone (08) 8226 0314.

Quality Assurance

The South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (SASQAP) was established as a joint initiative between Primary Industries and Resources (PIRSA) and the shellfish industry of South Australia in 1994.

The main aim of SASQAP is:

to provide public health protection for consumers of South Australian shellfish and thus allow the development of a sustainable shellfish industry across the state

SASQAP is managed from Port Lincoln SA, where it operates a NATA Accredited laboratory performing all microbiological testing. Phytoplankton enumeration on water samples is also performed at the laboratory but other analytical services (biotoxin and chemical testing) are provided by other agencies on a fee for service basis.

Finfish Escape Register 

The Finfish Escape Register (.PDF) 37KB outlines the number of marine finfish escapes from aquaculture sites since 1 June 2001.

Code of Conduct for Australian Aquaculture

Recognition of the need for aquaculture to play a major role in protecting the marine, estuarine and freshwaters of Australia led to the development of this Code of Conduct.

Economic Impact Reports