Regional overview - Australian Natural Resources...

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 Research by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences About my region April 2016

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016

Research by the Australian Bureau of Agriculturaland Resource Economics and Sciences

About my region April 2016

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

© Commonwealth of Australia 2016

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Cataloguing data

ABARES 2016, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016, About my region, Canberra, April. CC BY 3.0.

ABARES project 43009

Internet

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania 2016 is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)

Postal address GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933Facsimile +61 2 6272 2001Email [email protected] agriculture.gov.au/abares

Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be sent to [email protected].

The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, represented by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, ABARES, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Acknowledgements

ABARES relies on the voluntary cooperation of farmers participating in the annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, Australian Dairy Industry Survey, and Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey to provide data used in the preparation of this report. Without their help, these surveys would not be possible. ABARES farm survey staff collected most of the information presented in this report through on-farm interviews with farmers.

This regional profile was updated by Clay Mifsud, Milly Lubulwa, Peter Martin, Robert Curtotti, Aruni Weragoda , Beau Hug, Lucy Randall, Geoff Dunn and Evert Bleys.

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Contents1 Regional overview.................................................................................................................................. 1

Employment.............................................................................................................................................. 22 Agriculture sector................................................................................................................................... 3

Value of agricultural production......................................................................................................3Number and type of farms.................................................................................................................. 5Farm financial performance—Tasmania......................................................................................7

3 Fisheries sector..................................................................................................................................... 13

4 Forestry sector.......................................................................................................................................15

References........................................................................................................................................................... 16

TablesTable 1 Value of agricultural production2014–15...............................................................................3

Table 2 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2013–14......................................................5

Table 3 Financial performance, Tasmania broadacre industries, 2013–14 to 2015–16, average per farm..................................................................................................................................... 8

Table 4 Financial performance, Tasmania dairy industry, 2013–14 to 2015–16, average per farm.................................................................................................................................................... 11

Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses, Tasmania, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm..............................................................12

FiguresFigure 1 Employment profile, Tasmania, November 2015..............................................................2

Figure 2 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Tasmania, 2013–14...................................................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 3 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm................................8

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm................................................9

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm..........................................10

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm...........................................11

Figure 7 Farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, Tasmania........................12

Figure 8 Area of native forest, by tenure...............................................................................................15

MapsMap 1 Broad land use of Tasmania.............................................................................................................1

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

1 Regional overviewTasmania covers an area of around 68 401 square kilometres and is home to approximately 495 354 people (ABS 2011). Agricultural land in Tasmania occupies 18 901 square kilometres, or around 28 per cent, mostly in the north and east of the state (Map 1). Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 32 643 square kilometres, or 48 per cent of the state. The most common land use by area is nature conservation, which occupies 19 371 square kilometres or 29 per cent, mostly in the west and south-west of the state (Map 1).

Map 1 Broad land use of Tasmania

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update April 2015 (ABARES, 2015)

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

EmploymentAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the November 2015 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 240 810 people were employed in Tasmania.

Health Care and Social Assistance was the largest employment sector with 34 500 people, followed by Retail Trade with 27 400 people and Education and Training with 19 700 people (Figure 1). The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employed 14 300 people, representing 5.9 per cent of the state's workforce.

Figure 1 Employment profile, Tasmania, November 2015

Note: Annual average of the preceding 4 quarters.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 6291.0, Labour Force, Australia (ABS, 2015)

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

2 Agriculture sectorValue of agricultural productionIn 2014-15, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in Tasmania was $1.44 billion, which was about 3 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Australia ($53.62 billion).

The most important individual commodities in Tasmania based on the gross value of agricultural production were milk production ($442.38 million), followed by cattle and calves ($247.2 million) and potato growing ($160.81 million) (Table 1). These commodities together contributed 59 per cent of the total value of agricultural production in the state.

Table 1 Value of agricultural production 2014–15Agricultural commodity Value of production ($)

Wheat 12 607 464Barley 4 870 016Oats 1 787 247Triticale 312 483Maize 83 402Other cereals 305 610Other pulses 185 064Canola 1 216 605Other oilseeds 713 254Other broadacre crops 37 082 298

Total broadacre crops 59 163 442Hay (cut) - lucerne 5 765 886Hay (cut) - pasture not availableHay (cut) - cereal 950 812Hay (cut) - other 946 167

Total Hay (cut) not availableNurseries not availableCut flowers not availableTurf not availableApples 35 376 448Pears 983 780Cherries 31 416 542Peaches 301 645Nectarines 40 481Other stone fruit 718 978Avocados 7 895Strawberries 12 249 028Other fruits 12 615 385Other nuts 3 623 630Grapes - wine 20 731 731

Total grapes 20 731 731Total fruit and nuts 97 333 811

continued…Potatoes 160 805 872Onions 24 737 216Carrots 15 298 352Beans 3 909 237

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Agricultural commodity Value of production ($)

Capsicums 2 340 800Lettuces not availableTomatoes - to market 3 867 101Other vegetables not available

Total vegetables not availableTotal crops a 514 332 904Milk 442 378 494Wool 91 304 650Eggs 16 136 698

Total livestock products 549 819 842Cattle 247 194 641Sheep 87 714 497Pigs not availablePoultry not availableOther livestock for meat 8 315

Total livestock for meat 373 561 997Total agriculture b 1 437 714 743

Note: Confidential data (and their aggregations) managed as null values.a Total crops is the aggregation of total broadacre crops, total hay (cut), total grapes, total fruit and nuts and total vegetablesb Total agriculture is the aggregation of total crops, total livestock products and total livestock for meatSource: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia (ABS, 2016b)

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Number and type of farmsABS data indicate that in 2013-14 there were 3 341 farms in Tasmania with an estimated value of agricultural operations of more than $5 000 (Table 2). The state contains about 3 per cent of all farm businesses in Australia.

Farms in Table 2 are classified according to the activities that generate most of their value of production. Beef cattle farms (1 026) were the most common, accounting for 30.7 per cent of all farms in Tasmania.

Table 2 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2013–14

Industry Classification Tasmania Australiano. % no. %

Beef Cattle Farming (Specialised) 1 026 30.7 36 730 32.4

Sheep Farming (Specialised) 664 19.87 13 233 11.7

Other Crop Growing (nec) 398 11.9 5 491 4.8

Dairy Cattle Farming 370 11.06 7 171 6.3

Vegetable Growing (Outdoors) 240 7.2 3 089 2.7

Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming 170 5.08 5 448 4.8

Grape Growing 88 2.63 4 242 3.7

Horse Farming 73 2.2 3 530 3.1

Stone Fruit Growing 49 1.47 600 0.5

Apple and Pear Growing 45 1.34 607 0.5

Berry Fruit Growing 40 1.2 387 0.3

Total agriculture 3 341 100 113 533 100

Note: Where the estimated value of agricultural operations is more than $5000, nec not elsewhere classified.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Industry classification, 2014–15 (ABS 2016c)

Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of production from farms and a measure of the business size. Around 40 per cent of farms in Tasmania had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 2). These farms accounted for only 3 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2013–14. In comparison, 24 per cent of farms in the region had an EVAO of more than $350 000 and accounted for an estimated 81 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in the region.

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Figure 2 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Tasmania, 2013–14

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Industry classification, 2014–15 (ABS 2016c)

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Farm financial performance—TasmaniaEach year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in this survey include the grains, grains–livestock, sheep, beef and sheep–beef industries. The information collected is a basis for analysing the current financial position of farms in these industries and expected changes in the short term. This paper uses data from the ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey (AAGIS), Australian Dairy Industry Survey (ADIS) and Australian vegetable growing industry survey to report estimates of financial performance indicators (Box 1) for broadacre, dairy and vegetable farms in Tasmania.

Box 1 DefinitionsMajor financial performance indicators Total cash receipts: total revenue received by the business during the financial year. Total cash costs: payments made by the business for materials and services and for permanent and casual hired

labour (excluding owner manager, partner and family labour). Farm cash income: total cash receipts – total cash costs Farm business profit: farm cash income + changes in trading stocks – depreciation – imputed labour costs Profit at full equity: return produced by all the resources used in the business, farm business profit + rent +

interest + finance lease payments – depreciation on leased items Rate of return: return to all capital used, profit at full equity * 100 / total opening capital Equity ratio: Farm capital minus farm debt expressed as a percentage of farm capitalIndustry types Grains: farms mainly engaged in producing broadacre crops such as wheat, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses, and

including farms running sheep and/or beef cattle in conjunction with substantial broadacre crop activity. Sheep: farms mainly engaged in running sheep. Beef: farms mainly engaged in running beef cattle. Dairy: farms mainly engaged in milk production. Vegetable: farms mainly engaged in growing vegetables.

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Performance of broadacre farms—TasmaniaFarm cash income of broadacre farms in Tasmania is projected to decline by 25 per cent in 2015–16 to an average of $96 000 a farm. This would be lower than the relatively high farm cash income recorded in 2014–15 of $128 500 but still around 36 per cent above the 10-year average to 2014–15.

Tasmanian broadacre cash receipts are projected to decline by 8 per cent in 2015–16 because of reduced production resulting from dry seasonal conditions. Receipts from beef cattle are projected to decrease from the historical high recorded in 2014–15. Receipts from sheep, lambs and wool are projected to decrease despite increased prices for wool, because of reduced livestock turn-off and lower wool production.

Figure 3 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15p

2015-16y

2015-16 $'000

25

50

75

100

125

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175

200

Australia Tasmania

Note: y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Table 3 Financial performance, Tasmania broadacre industries, 2013–14 to 2015–16, average per farm

Performance indicatorunits 2013–14 2014–15p RSE 2015–16y

Total cash receipts $ 303 940 388 000 (8) 358 000Total cash costs $ 234 800 259 600 (10) 262 000Farm cash income $ 69 140 128 500 (10) 96 000Farms with negative farm cash income % 20 10 (52) 12Farm business profit $ 8 800 26 700 (39) - 3 000Profit at full equity - excluding capital appreciation $ 37 110 58 400 (21) 29 000Farm capital at 30 June a $ 3 608 790 3 956 200 (7) naFarm debt at 30 June b $ 409 130 454 000 (18) 472 000Equity ratio b % 89 88 (2) naRate of return - excluding capital appreciation c % 1.0 1.5 (20) 0.7Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 33 030 31 500 (22) na

Note: a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Total cash costs are expected to increase by 1 per cent in 2015–16. This is driven by higher expenditure on fodder resulting from dry seasonal conditions and small increases in most other farm costs except livestock purchases.

Performance of beef industry farms—TasmaniaAverage farm cash incomes of beef industry farms nearly doubled in 2014–15 to average $106 000 a farm. Higher beef cattle turn-off in combination with an increase in average sale prices received, resulted in beef cattle receipts increasing on Tasmanian beef industry farms. In addition, reduction in expenditure on purchases of beef cattle together with lower interest rates reduced farm cash costs.

In 2015–16, farm cash income of Tasmanian beef industry farms is projected to remain largely unchanged, averaging $105 000 a farm and well above the 10-year average. Beef cattle receipts are projected to decline with reduced cattle turn-off and sale of lighter weight cattle as a result of dry seasonal conditions.

This decline contrasts with the increase in beef cattle receipts expected nationally (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15p

2015-16y

- 50

2015-16 $'000

50

100

150

Australia Tasmania

Note: y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Performance of sheep industry farms—TasmaniaIn 2014–15, farm cash income of Tasmanian sheep industry farms is estimated to have increased to average $149 000 a farm. Farm cash income increased as a result of higher sheep and lamb turn-off together with an increase in the quantity of wool sold and higher prices received for sheep and wool.

In 2015–16, farm cash income of Tasmanian sheep industry farms is projected to decline by 47 per cent to an average of $79 000 a farm, around 13 per cent below the 10-year average to 2015–16. Dry seasonal conditions are expected to result in lower farm receipts as a result of reduced prices for sheep and lambs sold, reduced turnoff of sheep following light turn-off in 2014–15 and lower wool production. In addition, farm cash costs are projected to rise as a result of increased expenditure on fodder purchases.

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15p

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Australia Tasmania

Note: y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Performance of dairy industry farms— TasmaniaAverage farm cash income of Tasmanian dairy farms decreased from an average of $238 130 a farm in 2013–14 to $221 800 in 2014–15. An increase of 11 per cent in average milk production per farm was not sufficient to offset lower prices received for milk and increased farm cash costs, particularly expenditure on fodder.

In 2015–16, farm cash income of Tasmanian dairy industry farms is projected to decline further to an average of $132 000 a farm, around 5 per cent below the 10-year average to 2015–16. This reflects the effects of lower forecast milk prices and a further increase in expenditure on fodder purchases as a result of drier seasonal conditions and increased fodder prices in 2015–16.

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15p

2015-16y

2015-16 $'000

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Australia Tasmania

Note: y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

Table 4 Financial performance, Tasmania dairy industry, 2013–14 to 2015–16, average per farm

Performance indicator units 2013-14 2014-15p RSE 2015–16yTotal cash receipts $ 1 115 710 1 162 600 (6) 1 107 000Total cash costs $ 877 580 940 800 (7) 975 000Farm cash income $ 238 130 221 800 (10) 132 000Farms with negative farm cash income % 0 6 (83) 17Farm business profit $ 123 100 112 700 (24) - 5 000Profit at full equity - excluding capital appreciation $ 258 530 256 900 (14) 146 000Farm capital at 30 June a $ 5 684 980 6 403 300 (9) naFarm debt at 30 June b $ 1 740 440 1 728 600 (14) 1 851 000Equity ratio b % 69 73 (4) naRate of return - excluding capital appreciation c % 4.7 4.1 (14) 2.2Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 6 730 35 700 (81) na

Note: a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Survey

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

Performance of vegetable growing farms— TasmaniaThere were an estimated 231 vegetable growing farms in Tasmania in 2014–15. Most of these farms were located in the north of the state along the coastal fringe and through the northern midlands. Average farm cash income of vegetable growing farms in Tasmania is estimated to have remained largely unchanged in 2013–14 compared with 2012–13 at around $137 000 a farm. This was 24 per cent higher than the nine-year average to 2013–14. The average area planted decreased across all vegetable commodities, although yields were marginally higher for potatoes, reflecting the better than average seasonal conditions for most farms.

Table 5 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses, Tasmania, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Selected estimates units 2012–13 RSE 2013–14 p RSE 2014–15 y RSEVegetable cash receipts $ 321 730 (16) 395 700 (20) 321 000 (24)Area sown to vegetables ha 27 (15) 29 (9) 24 (23)Quantity of vegetables produced t 1131 (12) 1238 (12) 1074 (23)Farm cash income $ 135 360 (20) 136 900 (17) 164 000 (27)

Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey

Farm cash income is estimated to have increased in 2014–15 to average $164 000 a farm. Lower overall vegetable receipts, mostly as a result of lower prices for potatoes, green peas and green beans, were more than offset by a reduction in estimated average total cash costs. Cash costs declined in 2014–15 relative to 2013–14, including hired labour, fertiliser, contracts paid, and fuel.

Figure 7 Farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, Tasmania

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2008-09

2010-11

2012-13

2014-15y

2014-15 $'000

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100

150

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250

Australia Tasmania

Note: y Provisional estimate.

Source: ABARES Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

3 Fisheries sectorTasmania has a range of wild-catch finfish, crustacean, mollusc and aquaculture fisheries production. Hobart is the main fishing port in Tasmania servicing fishers across a range of commercial fishing activities. The Greater Hobart region is also renowned for its significant Atlantic salmon aquaculture sector. In the region, the Derwent River, Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay estuaries are popular sites for both recreational and commercial fishing. The rest of Tasmania is predominantly a wild-catch production area for shellfish, in particular Southern rock lobster, abalone and scallop, and finfish occurring mostly along the south west coast of Tasmania and at King Island. The Tasmanian greenlip abalone population is abundant along the north coast and around the Bass Strait islands. King Island is a large centre for giant crab production. Georges Bay and Ansons Bay are key shellfish producing areas, including cockles, clams and some aquaculture oysters. The ports of Bridport and St. Helens are important landing sites for scallop fishers operating in both Commonwealth and Tasmanian fisheries. Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout aquaculture also occurs in Macquarie Harbour.

In 2013–14 the gross value of Tasmanian fisheries production is estimated to be around $735 million, an increase of 6 per cent ($41 million) from 2012–13. Tasmania contributed 30 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2013–14. In value terms, the wild-catch sector accounted for 24 per cent ($175.8 million) of the state’s total production and the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 76 per cent ($559 million).

Tasmania’s wild-catch fisheries sector is dominated by two main products—abalone and southern rock lobster—which account for 47 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively, of the total value of wild-caught production in 2013–14. Over the past decade the real value of Tasmania’s wild-caught fisheries products has reduced by 6 per cent to $175.8 million 2013–14. The decline in value was driven by 39 per cent decline in the total volume of wild-catch fisheries products.

The product for which the real value of production declined most over the past decade is abalone (both wild-caught and aquaculture), falling by 28 per cent to $86 million in 2013–14. This was the result of a 28 per cent reduction in volume. A large proportion of abalone is exported, mostly to Hong Kong, China and Japan. Exchange rate movements have a significant effect on the value of abalone exports and, in turn, production.

Southern rock lobster accounts for a significant proportion of Tasmanian wild-catch production, accounting for 11 per cent and 48 per cent of the total volume and value, respectively, of wild-catch production in 2013–14. The value of Southern rock lobster exports increased by 47 per cent in 2013–14, primarily reflecting a 27 per cent increase in the export unit price from Tasmania.

Commonwealth fisheries active in the Tasmania region include the Commonwealth Trawl Sector (main source of domestic fresh fish for Sydney and Melbourne markets) and the Shark Gillnet, Hook and Trap Sector (supplies gummy shark or ‘flake’ to Melbourne) of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery. The Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery and Small Pelagic Fishery (mostly fishmeal for aquaculture and agriculture) also operate in the waters off Tasmania.

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

The importance of aquaculture in Tasmanian fisheries production increased over the past decade. Over the past decade the real value of aquaculture production tripled reaching $559 million in 2013-14, representing around 76 per cent of the state’s fisheries production. Most of the growth in aquaculture production is attributed to increases in the output of farmed salmonid species, in particular Atlantic salmon.

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

4 Forestry sectorIn 2013–14, the total plantation area in Tasmania was approximately 310 700 hectares, comprised of approximately 235 600 hectares of hardwood plantations and 75 100 hectares of softwood plantations. The main hardwood species planted are blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and shining gum (E. nitens), and the main softwood species planted is radiata pine (Pinus radiata) (ABARES, 2015b).

There were approximately 3.4 million hectares of native forests in Tasmania in 2011 (the most recent data available), comprised mainly of eucalypt medium woodland (approximately 1.1 million hectares), eucalypt tall open (829 000 hectares), rainforest (708 400 hectares) and eucalypt tall woodland (261 600 hectares) forest types. Approximately 1.2 million hectares of native forests are in nature conservation reserves, while 875 300 hectares are privately managed and 923 200 hectares are multiple-use public forest available for timber production (Figure 9).

In 2016 Tasmania’s wood processing industries comprise sawmills utilising native hardwood and plantation softwood logs, hardwood veneer, pulp and paper manufacturing, and log and woodchip export facilities. These mills are located throughout Tasmania. The major timber processing centres include Bell Bay, Boyer, Launceston and Smithton. The principal ports exporting forest products are Bell Bay, Burnie and Hobart.

Figure 8 Area of native forest, by tenure

Source: ABARES Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013

In 2013–14, sales and service income from wood products industries (comprising sawmills, wood-based panels and log and woodchip exports) was estimated at $335 million (ABARES, 2015b). While this was a large increase on 2012–13, many forest product industries have contracted in Tasmania, especially following the global economic downturn in 2008 and restricted access to resources and infrastructure. For example, the value of woodchip exports fell by 85 per cent between 2007–08 and 2011–12 (the last full year for which state-based woodchip exports are available), from $417 million to $64.3 million. Based on ABS Census data, the Tasmanian forestry sector employed 3 526 workers (1.7 per cent of the total employed workforce in Tasmania) in 2011, compared with 5 390 (2.7 per cent) in 2006. This number includes people employed in forestry support services and timber wholesaling.

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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2016 ABARES

ReferencesABS 2011, Census of Population and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2015, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2015, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2016a, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2014–2015, cat. no. 7121.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2016b, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2014–15, cat. no. 7503.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2016c, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Industry classification, 2014–15, unpublished report, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABARES 2015a, Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2015. Department of Agriculture. http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20150415_11a.xml

ABARES 2015b, Australian forest and wood products statistics: March and June quarters 2015, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

ABARES 2016 in prep, Land use of Australia 2010–11, Version 5, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.

Montreal Process Implementation Group for Australia and National Forest Inventory Steering Committee 2013, Australia's State of the Forests Report 2013, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

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