Foreign Opportunities in Agribusiness

Positive increases in Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) stocks and likely quota increases allow foreign entities looking to invest in the fishery to do so with confidence. Such investment may facilitate industry access to new overseas markets and reduce dependence on the Japanese market. Foreign investment in the Australian seafood industry has occurred recently, likely due to an increased understanding of our quota management system. Securing free-trade agreements with countries such as China and Korea will give Australian primary industries a foundation to see through difficult market conditions in the future, remain internationally competitive and diversify export markets.

A breakfast is being held in Adelaide on 31 October 2013, where presentations will be given on recent South Australian Government activity in China.

For more information, or to register to attend visit South Australia China Strategy.

 

One thought on “Foreign Opportunities in Agribusiness

  1. Bye-Bye-Bluefin: What’s going on??!!: Bluefin Tuna fishing in the Atlantic is ossletibny managed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Thanks to this Commission, virtually every tuna, shark, and marlin species in the Atlantic is at all-time low numbers. This conservation’ Commission does not conserve; it does the opposite. So at odds with the World Conservation Union??!! Safina’s Blue Ocean Institute’s excellent Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood (free, via Internet) relates: Since 1996, the World Conservation Union has listed the western population of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna as critically endangered and the eastern population as endangered. Shockingly different from ICCAT!Well? I am reading Carl Safina’s book Song for the Blue Ocean, in which it is all excellently put forth, such fine, clear, incisive writing it is hard to choose, but I quote the pith in this, page 34: Safina quotes Tim Voorheis, a bluefin spotter pilot working for a fishing team whose lead man is an officer of the East Coast Tuna Association: Tim says, To me, the giant bluefin tuna is a symbol of all that is great in the world, every living creature. To me it’s the most magnificent creature on earth, maybe even more so than man himself.’ Dave Linnney [crew member] says, There’s another half to this. My daughter goes to college on tuna fish money. It’s very important to me.’ Well? Carl Safina is to be thanked for all he is doing to clarify and educate his book Song for the Blue Ocean has been translated to Japanese, to be read where the demand for bluefin is trouble, yes Now, the fish are so depleted that in 2006, U.S. commercial fishers caught only about ten percent of the allowed catch. Not that they weren’t trying; in 2001 a 444-pound bluefin tuna sold wholesale in Japan for $173,600. The price in 2007? Guess!I have lived in Japan for 35 years, seen the economy rise and fall. There’s a widening divide in a society that has until recently considered itself to be generally all middle class. Now: an increase of rich vs those pinching to meet costs. The rich do buy and eat the best part of the best bluefin, the fatty toro whereas the best sushi jo-nigiri is for the average shopper a packaged set of 10 or fewer little patties of vinegared rice each topped with a different sliver of raw seafood, only one of which will be tuna: less than 6 cm x 3 cm x 1/2 cm! However, the population is as much as half that of the U.S.A., and still largely fish-eating though the idea of thick tuna steaks on the grill is, uh, largely out of the quesiton. (available variety of other edible, smaller, unendangered fish: huge.)When I introduce wherever I can what I have learned from Carl Safina, I hear Ah, so ka?! Is it that bad? I had no idea! In the work of Safina and in his contagious appreciation for the bluefin and all other endangered marine animals, there is hope and tremendous thanks ongoing.

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