Tasmania's aquaculture industry: a ten-year review of improved diving safety

Abstract

Tasmaniapossesses a rich maritime heritage. Since European settlement, the Tasmanian economy has been reliant on its close links with the sea for trade. The unpolluted waters off its coastline support a substantial wild fishing industry. Tasmanians have always enjoyed access to quality seafood. Until the 1970s, wild fisheries were the only significant source of revenue from fishing in the State. A natural progression of the Tasmanian's close relationship with the sea has been the development of marine aquaculture. After initial success with oyster and mussel farming in the 1970s, Atlantic salmon farming commenced in 1986. More recently, marine farming ventures have explored scallop, abalone and striped trumpeter aquaculture.