Environmental and product quality in finfish aquaculture development: an example from inland Western Australia

Aquaculture in Western Australian began with the cultivation of trout in th e 1930s, although commercial status was not achieved until the cultured pea rl industry was established in Broome in the 1950s. Aquaculture, especially in rural Western Australia, remains a relatively new but expanding industr y. Aquaculture development in the agricultural areas of Western Australia r epresents a potential diversification in large tracts of land where saliniz ation has reduced the economic and ecological sustainability of rural indus tries. The utilization of saline groundwaters for aquaculture presents a ma jor opportunity for economic expansion. The industry is very small and base d around finfish species with wide salinity tolerances, The development of an economically and ecologically sustainable industry requires the applicat ion of appropriate environmental management procedures, which provide a hig h-quality product, minimize the impact of the industry on the surrounding e nvironment and provide a long-term competitive advantage.