Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Bunbury region of Western Australia, 2016 ABARES

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Bunbury region of Western Australia, 2016

Research by the Australian Bureau of Agriculturaland Resource Economics and Sciences

About my region

June 2016

© Commonwealth of Australia 2016

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ABARES 2016, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Bunbury region of Western Australia, 2016. About my region, Canberra, June. CC BY 3.0.

ABARES project 43009

Internet

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Bunbury region of Western Australia, 2016 is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares/publications.

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

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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 on 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 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, Aruni Weragoda, Jeremy van Dijk, Peter Martin, Milly Lubulwa, Dale Ashton, Mark Oliver, Beau Hug, Robert Curtotti, Jacob Savage, Peter Lock, Geoff Dunn, Lucy Randall and Evert Bleys.

Contents1Regional overview1Employment22Agricultural sector3Value of agricultural production3Number and type of farms6Farm financial performance—Western Australia83Fisheries sector154Forestry Sector17References19

Tables

Table 1 Value of agricultural production, Bunbury region, 2014–154

Table 2 Number of farms, by industry classification, Bunbury region, 2013–146

Table 3 Financial performance, Western Australia broadacre industries, 2013–14 to 2015–16, average per farm9

Table 4 Farm cash income of Western Australia broadacre farms, by region, 2014–15 to 2015–16, average per farm10

Table 5 Financial performance, Western Australia dairy industries, 2013–14 to 2015–16, average per farm13

Table 6 Physical and financial performance, Western Australia vegetable industry farms, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm14

Figures

Figure 1 Employment profile, Bunbury region, November 20152

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Bunbury region, 2014–153

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Bunbury region, 2013–147

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm9

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, beef industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm 11

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm11

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, grains industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm12

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm13

Figure 9 Real farm cash income, vegetable industry, 2005–06 to 2014–15, average per farm14

Figure 10 Area of native forest, by tenure, Bunbury region17

Maps

Map 1 Broad land use in the Bunbury region1

Map 2 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions10

Boxes

Box 1 Definitions8

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Bunbury region of Western Australia, 2016 ABARES

iv

Regional overview

The Bunbury region of Western Australia is located in the south-west part of the state, south of Perth. The region includes the major regional towns of Bunbury and Margaret River (Map 1) and comprises the 13 local government areas of Augusta—Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown—Greenbushes, Bunbury, Busselton, Capel, Collie, Dardanup, Donnybrook—Balingup, Harvey, Manjimup, Nannup and Waroona. The region covers a total area of around 24 800 square kilometres or 0.98 per cent of Western Australia, and is home to approximately 158 100 people (ABS 2011).

Agricultural land in the Bunbury region occupies 7 105 square kilometres, or 29 per cent of the region. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 7 596 square kilometres, or 31 per cent of the region. The most common land use by area is production forestry, which occupies 7 758 square kilometres or 31 per cent of the Bunbury region.

Map 1 Broad land use in the Bunbury region

Source: Land Use of Australia 2010–11 (ABARES, 2016 forthcoming)

Employment

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the November 2015 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 93 600 people were employed in the Bunbury region. The region accounts for 7 per cent of total employment in Western Australia and 36 per cent of all people employed in the Western Australia Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector.

Health Care and Social Assistance was the largest employment sector with 10 900 people, followed by Construction with 10 600 people and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing with 9 800 people (Figure 1). Other important employment sectors in the region were Retail Trade, Manufacturing, and Education and Training. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing represented about 10 per cent of the region's workforce.

Figure 1 Employment profile, Bunbury region, November 2015

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

Agricultural sectorValue of agricultural production

In 2014–15, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in the Bunbury region was $637.52 million, which was 8 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Western Australia ($7.92 billion). This is the most recent year for which ABS data are available.

The Bunbury region has a diverse agricultural sector. The most important commodities in the region based on the gross value of agricultural production (Figure 2; Table 1) were milk ($141.45 million), followed by cattle and calves ($80.46 million) and avocados ($63.48 million). These commodities together contributed 45 per cent of the total value of agricultural production in the region. Additionally, in 2014–15 the Bunbury region accounted for 79 per cent of Western Australia's other stone fruit production, predominantly producing plums.

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Bunbury region, 2014–15

Note: The graph shows aggregated values for all published data. In some cases data are not included at the commodity level to ensure confidentiality. The missing data results in under reporting for some groups of commodities

a The "Other commodities" classification includes totals for commodities not shown elsewhere plus total for the unpublished values.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia (ABS, 2016b)

Table 1 Value of agricultural production, Bunbury region, 2014–15

Agricultural Commodity

Value of Production ($)

Wheat

1 122 950

Oats

3 887 661

Barley

5 724 305

Maize

177 778

Triticale

328 620

Other pulses

331 850

Canola

4 804 029

Other broadacre crops

2 444

Total broadacre crops

16 379 637

Hay (cut) - lucerne

761 134

Hay (cut) -pasture

25 729 634

Hay (cut) - cereal

4 488 147

Hay (cut) - other

1 206 436

Total hay and Silage

32 185 350

Nurseries

21 547 292

Cut flowers

6 359 558

Turf

326 225

Total nurseries, cut flowers and turf

28 233 075

Mandarins

2 231 132

Oranges

669 146

Other citrus fruits

60 385

Apples

44 937 491

Pears

3 612 780

Cherries

185 769

Nectarines

988 339

Peaches

369 791

Other stone fruit

11 316 344

Avocados

63 477 610

Other orchard fruits

667 171

Other fruits

161 258

Macadamias

93

Other nuts

737 149

Total fruit and nuts

129 414 459

Grapes - wine

39 385 003

Grapes - other

2 450 121

Total grapes

41 835 124

Table 1 Value of agricultural production, Bunbury region, 2014–15 (continued)

Agricultural Commodity

Value of Production ($)

Beans

214 056

Capsicums

52 580

Carrots

not available

Lettuces

1 017 365

Melons

7 948 559

Onions

16 732 884

Potatoes

29 668 708

Tomatoes - processing

not available

Tomatoes - to market

5 857 729

Other vegetables

not available

Total vegetables

101 656 259

Total crops a

349 703 905

Wool

32 465 840

Milk

141 453 932

Eggs

124 470

Sheep and lambs

27 173 194

Cattle and calves

80 461 309

Pigs

not available

Poultry

not available

Other livestock for meat

124 873

Total livestock for meat

113 774 182

Total livestock products

174 044 242

Total agriculture b

637 522 329

Note: Confidential data (and their aggregations) are included in tables as null values. Where possible unpublished commodity values are included in totals.a Total crops is the aggregation of: total broadacre crops; total hay and silage; total grapes; total nurseries, cut flowers and turf; total fruit and nuts; and total vegetables.b Total agriculture is the aggregation of: total crops; total livestock products; and total livestock for meat.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia (ABS, 2016b)

Number and type of farms

ABS data indicate that in 2013–14 there were 2 109 farms in the Bunbury region with an estimated value of agricultural operations of more than $5 000 (Table 2). The region contains 20 per cent of all farm businesses in Western Australia.

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

Industry classification

Bunbury region

Western Australia

Number of farms

% of region

Number of farms

Contribution of regionto state total%

Beef Cattle Farming (Specialised)

704

33.4

1 828

38.5

Sheep Farming (Specialised)

246

11.7

1 643

15.0

Other Crop Growing nec

220

10.4

568

38.7

Dairy Cattle Farming

213

10.1

296

72.1

Grape Growing

182

8.6

393

46.3

Vegetable Growing (Outdoors)

126

6.0

406

31.1

Other Fruit and Tree Nut Growing

99

4.7

219

45.1

Horse Farming

65

3.1

290

22.3

Apple and Pear Growing

61

2.9

101

60.3

Olive Growing

49

2.3

78

61.9

Grain-Sheep or Grain-Beef Cattle Farming

24

1.1

1 583

1.5

Citrus Fruit Growing

23

1.1

82

28.2

Total agriculture

2 109

100

10 623

19.8

Note: Estimated value of agricultural operations greater than $5 000. Industries contributing less than 1 per cent to the region total are not shown, but are included in the total. nec “not elsewhere classified”.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Farms in Table 2 are classified according to the activities that generate most of their value of production. Beef cattle farms (704) were the most common, accounting for 33.4 per cent of all farms in the Bunbury region, and 38.5 per cent of all beef farms in Western Australia.

Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of production from farms and a measure of their business size. Around 43 per cent of farms in the Bunbury region had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 3). These farms accounted for only 3 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2013–14. In comparison, 6 per cent of farms in the region had an EVAO of more than $1 million and accounted for an estimated 49 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in the Bunbury region in 2013–14.

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Bunbury region, 2013–14

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

Farm financial performance—Western Australia

Each year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in ABARES surveys 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 Western Australia.

Box 1 Definitions

Major financial performance indicators

· Total cash receipts: total revenues 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 capital

Industry 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.

Performance of broadacre farms—Western Australia

Incomes of Western Australian broadacre farms increased in 2014–15 to an average of $300 100 a farm as a result of higher receipts from livestock and a small reduction in farm cash costs from lower fuel prices and lower interest rates on farm debt. Receipts from sheep, lambs and beef cattle increased as a result of higher average prices received and increased turn-off of beef cattle. Overall, higher livestock receipts offset a reduction in crop receipts as winter crop production declined from the large winter crop produced in 2013–14. Overall, the reduction in crop receipts was small, cushioned by pool payments received in 2014–15 from sale of the large 2013–14 wheat and barley crops.

In 2015–16, decline in wheat and barley yields and lower grain quality driven by variable seasonal conditions is projected to result in a decrease in average broadacre crop receipts, particularly in the Central and South Wheat Belt (see Map 2). On mixed grains-livestock farms, the impact of lower quality grain on farm cash receipts is expected to be partly offset by increased wool receipts resulting from higher wool prices as well as by pool payments received on grain delivered in 2014–15. In the northern pastoral regions of the Kimberley and the Pilbara, and the South West regions, higher beef cattle prices are projected to increase farm receipts and raise average farm cash income (Table 4).

Overall, broadacre farm cash income in Western Australia is projected to increase to an average of $326 000 a farm in 2015–16 (Figure 4; Table 3). If achieved, this would be around 80 per cent above the 10–year average to 2014–15.

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm

Note: y Provisional estimate.

Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

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

Performance Indicator

units

2013-14

2014-15p

RSE

2015-16y

Total cash receipts

$

932 080

952 700

(6)

1 003 000

Total cash costs

$

657 870

652 600

(7)

676 000

Farm cash income

$

274 210

300 100

(10)

326 000

Farms with negative farm cash income

%

21

11

(34)

10

Farm business profit

$

161 850

126 800

(21)

172 000

Profit at full equity a

$

250 340

197 500

(14)

243 000

Farm capital at 30 June b

$

5 329 600

5 595 500

(6)

na

Farm debt at 30 June c

$

1 011 060

843 000

(12)

876 000

Equity ratio c d

%

81

84

(2)

na

Rate of return a e

%

4.8

3.6

(14)

4.3

Off-farm income c f

$

24 730

25 200

(14)

na

Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

RSE Standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided. p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. a Excludes capital appreciation. b Excludes leased plant and equipment. c Average per responding farm. d Equity expressed as a percentage of farm capital. e Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. f Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse. na Not available.

Table 4 Farm cash income of Western Australia broadacre farms, by region, 2014–15 to 2015–16, average per farm

Region

2014–15p

$

RSE

2015–16y

$

511: Kimberly

901 000

(26)

1 402 000

512: Pilbara and Southern Rangelands

467 000

(161)

831 000

521: Central and South Wheat Belt

346 000

(10)

288 000

522: North and East Wheat Belt

343 000

(16)

382 000

531: South West

69 000

(19)

119 000

Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey RSE Standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided. p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.

Map 2 ABARES Australian broadacre zones and regions

Note: Each region is identified by a unique code of three digits. The first digit identifies the state or territory, the second digit identifies the zone and the third digit identifies the region.

Source: ABARES

Performance of beef industry farms—Western Australia

In 2014–15, a 24 per cent increase in average beef cattle prices and higher turn-off of beef cattle for both live export and slaughter, particularly from the pastoral regions of the Kimberley and Pilbara, resulted in average farm cash income of Western Australian beef farms increasing from an average of $56 900 a farm in 2013–14 to an average of $186 400 in 2014–15 (Figure 5).

Beef cattle turn-off is projected to increase slightly in 2015–16 and together with a further increase in saleyard prices for beef cattle will result in higher farm receipts, more than offsetting an expected increase in expenditure on purchase of beef cattle. Average farm cash income of Western Australian beef farms is projected to increase to average $301 000 a farm in 2015–16. If achieved, this would be more than triple the 10–year average to 2014–15 of $82 500.

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, beef industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm

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

Performance of sheep industry farms—Western Australia

In 2014–15, higher prices for sheep and lambs combined with increased turn-off resulted in farm cash income of Western Australian sheep industry farms increasing to average $105 700 a farm (Figure 6).

In 2015–16, higher sheep, lamb and wool prices are projected to result in a further increase in farm cash income of sheep industry farms to average $133 500 a farm. This would be more than double the 10–year average to 2014–15 of $62 500.

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm

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

Performance of grains industry farms—Western Australia

Incomes of Western Australian grains farms decreased slightly in 2014–15 to an average of $423 100 a farm as a result of reduced winter crop production compared with the very large 2013–14 crop (second largest on record) and despite a small reduction in total farm cash costs as a result of lower fuel prices and lower interest rates (Figure 7).

In 2015–16, crop receipts are projected to decline as a result of slightly lower wheat and barley yields and lower grain quality driven by variable seasonal conditions. The impact of lower grain receipts is expected to be partly offset by pool payments received in 2015–16 for grain delivered in 2014–15 and by increased wool receipts on grains farms with sheep. Overall, average farm cash income of Western Australian grains farms is projected to decrease slightly to an average of $414 000 a farm. This is still around 62 per cent above the 10–year average to 2014–15 of $256 000 a farm.

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, grains industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm

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

Performance of dairy industry farms—Western Australia

Average farm cash income of Western Australian dairy farms increased from an average of $161 260 a farm in 2013–14 to $234 900 in 2014–15 as a result of both higher milk prices and higher milk production (Figure 8; Table 5). Higher milk receipts were augmented by increased receipts from the sale of beef and dairy cattle as average sale prices for cattle increased, but farm cash costs were also higher as expenditure on fodder increased to achieve the increase in milk production.

In 2015–16, farm cash income of Western Australian dairy industry farms is projected to increase further to an average of $254 000 a farm, around 50 per cent above the 10–year average to 2015–16. This is the result of a further small increase in forecast milk prices and milk production 2015–16, together with increased receipts from the sale of dairy and beef cattle as a result of higher cattle prices. The resulting increase in total farm cash receipts is expected to more than offset further increases in total farm cash costs.

The increase in the average farm cash income projected for Western Australia in 2015–16, contrasts with the decline projected for other states as a result of lower farm gate milk prices, lower milk production and higher cash costs of production, particularly as a result of drier seasonal conditions in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, 2001–02 to 2015–16, average per farm

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

Table 5 Financial performance, Western Australia dairy industries, 2013–14 to 2015–16, average per farm

Performance Indicator

units

2013-14

2014-15p

RSE

2015-16y

Total cash receipts

$

1 085 070

1 258 300

(6)

1 347 000

Total cash costs

$

923 800

1 023 300

(7)

1 094 000

Farm cash income

$

161 260

234 900

(10)

254 000

Farms with negative farm cash income

%

8

4

(20)

5

Farm business profit

$

70 910

149 400

(20)

102 000

Profit at full equity a

$

191 820

263 700

(11)

220 000

Farm capital at 30 June b

$

9 564 860

9 952 600

(11)

na

Farm debt at 30 June c

$

1 160 880

1 104 300

(14)

na

Equity ratio c d

%

88

89

(2)

na

Rate of return a e

%

2.1

2.7

(15)

2.2

Off-farm income c f

$

12 290

14 700

(35)

na

Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

RSE Standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided. p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. a Excludes capital appreciation. b Excludes leased plant and equipment. c Average per responding farm. d Equity expressed as a percentage of farm capital. e Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. f Off–farm income of owner manager and spouse. na Not available

Performance of vegetable industry farms—Western Australia

There were 322 vegetable growing farms in Western Australia in 2014–15, accounting for around 12 per cent of Australian vegetable growing farms. Most farms were located along the coast extending north and south from Perth, around Carnarvon along the Gascoigne River and in the far north of the state in the Ord River irrigation area.

Average farm cash income of vegetable growing farms in Western Australia is estimated to have increased in 2013–14 to around $392 600 a farm (Table 6), mainly as a result of increases in average prices received for vegetables.

Table 6 Physical and financial performance, Western Australia vegetable industry farms, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Selected estimates

units

2012-13

RSE

2013-14p

RSE

2014-15y

RSE

Vegetable cash receipts

$

1 044 560

(13)

1 237 800

(17)

1 107 000

(26)

Area sown with vegetables

ha

29

(17)

28

(15)

26

(26)

Quantity vegetables produced

t

1 184

(20)

1 129

(14)

1 186

(31)

Farm cash income

$

273 550

(20)

392 600

(19)

298 000

(34)

Source: ABARES Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey RSE Standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided. p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.

Average farm cash income is estimated to have declined in 2014–15 to $298 000 a farm, still around 8 per cent higher than the 10–year average for Western Australia to 2014–15 (Figure 9).

Despite reduction in the average area planted to vegetables and widespread wind damage to vegetable crops around Carnarvon caused by Cyclone Olwyn in March 2015, increased yields for most vegetable types resulted in vegetable production remaining similar to 2013–14. Prices for cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce increased in 2014–15 but these were was more than offset by lower prices for broccoli, potato and tomato, resulting in lower average vegetable cash receipts.

Figure 9 Real farm cash income, vegetable industry, 2005–06 to 2014–15, average per farm

Note: y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey

Fisheries sector

The Bunbury region straddles the West and South Coast marine areas of Western Australia. The western part of the coast line contains the important Geographe Bay area, which contributes to Western Australia’s annual harvest of saucer scallops. This coastal area also serves Western Australia’s western and demersal gillnet and longline fishery, which lands a range of shark species. Estuarine coastal fisheries contribute a range of finfish species including pilchard, Australian herring, black bream, cobbler, western Australian salmon, scaley mackerel, white bait, southern garfish. Crustacean species are also caught in the area, including southern rock lobster and blue swimmer crabs. A significant portion of West Australia’s pilchard and greenlip and brown lip abalone catch is processed in this region. There are few aquaculture activities in the Bunbury region.

In 2013–14, the gross value of Western Australian fisheries production (both aquaculture and wild-catch) was $489.9 million, an increase of 15 per cent ($63.1 million) from 2012–13. Western Australia accounted for 20 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2013–14. In value terms, the wild-catch sector accounted for around 85 per cent ($416.8 million) of the state’s total production and the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 15 per cent ($73.1 million).

Western Australia’s wild-catch sector is dominated by the production of western rocklobster, which accounted for around 77 per cent of the state’s total wild-catch production in 2013–14. Other major wild-catch seafood products include prawns (9 per cent) and abalone (2 per cent). Over the past decade the real value of Western Australian wild-caught fisheries is estimated to have declined by 21 per cent. The decline in value was mostly driven by a 53 per cent decline in total production volume.

The product for which the real value of production declined significantly over the past decade is western rocklobster, falling by 7 per cent to $32.1 million in 2013–14. This was the result of a 57 per cent reduction in the volume caught following adverse seasonal conditions and the introduction of catch limits in 2009–10. A large proportion of rocklobster production is exported, mostly to Hong Kong. Exchange rate movements have also had a significant effect on the value of rocklobster exports and, in turn, production value.

Prawns also account for a significant proportion of Western Australian wild-catch production, accounting for an estimated 15 per cent and 4 per cent of the total volume and value, respectively, of wild-catch production in 2013–14. The value of prawn production increased by 35 per cent to $36 million in 2013–14. This mostly reflects a 27 per cent increase in production volume.

The real value of Western Australian aquaculture production has declined over the past decade by 57 per cent to $73.1 million in 2013–14. Most of the decline can be attributed to a reduction in the value of pearl oyster production.

The value of aquaculture production in 2013–14 declined by 24 per cent ($23 million) to $73.1 million. This reduction was mainly the result of an $18 million drop (23 per cent) in the value of pearl production. Pearls are the most valuable aquaculture product in the state and contributed around 83 per cent ($60.7 million) of aquaculture production value in 2013–14. The edible seafood component of Western Australia’s aquaculture sector accounted for 17 per cent ($12.4 million) of total aquaculture production value in 2013–14.

In 2013–14, Western Australia’s seafood product exports were valued at $393.4 million, representing a 29 per cent increase in value compared with 2012–13. The main export seafood product is western rocklobster, which accounted for 91 per cent of the state’s exports of seafood in 2013–14. Other major export seafood products include prawns (5 per cent) and abalone (3 per cent).

Vietnam and Hong Kong are the major destination for Western Australian seafood exports, accounting for around 64 per cent and 18 per cent of the total value of exports in 2013–14 respectively. Other major export destinations include Japan (6 per cent) and the United States (5 per cent).

Recreational fishing is a popular activity in Western Australia, with an estimated 643 000 people fishing recreationally in the state (Government of Western Australia 2013). Most of the activity is in Perth and the surrounding area. Recreational fishing makes a significant contribution to the state economy and attracts thousands of visitors to regional Western Australia each year (Government of Western Australia 2013). There is also a large charter boat sector providing recreational fishing experiences to local, interstate and international tourists.

Forestry Sector

In 2010–11, the most recent year for which data are available, the total plantation area in the Bunbury region was approximately 119 700 hectares, including approximately 70 900 hectares of hardwood plantations and 44 400 hectares of softwood plantations. The main hardwood species planted is blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and the main softwood species planted is radiata pine (Pinus radiata).

In 2011, there was approximately 1.6 million hectares of native forests in the Bunbury region, comprised mainly of Eucalypt medium open (936 500 hectares), Eucalypt medium woodland (272 700 hectares) and Eucalypt tall open (180 300 hectares) forest types. Approximately 755 100 hectares of the native forests are multiple-use public forest available for timber production and 577 500 hectares are in nature conservation reserves (Figure 10). The main native forest industry is in the north of the region. Major export and timber processing industries in the Bunbury region are located at Manjimup (woodchipping), Middlesex (wood-based panel production), and Dardanup and Yarloop (sawnwood production). The main timber export facility is the Bunbury Port.

Figure 10 Area of native forest, by tenure, Bunbury region

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

In 2013–14, the total plantation area in Western Australia was approximately 391 500 hectares, comprised of approximately 287 300 hectares of hardwood plantations, 98 500 hectares of softwood plantations and 5 700 hectares of other plantations. The main hardwood species planted is blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and the main softwood species planted are maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) and radiata pine (Pinus radiata).

In 2014–15, the volume of native hardwood logs harvested in Western Australia was 331 000 cubic metres valued at $26 million. The volume of plantation hardwood logs harvested was 3.4 million cubic metres valued at $239 million. The volume of softwood harvested was 969 000 cubic metres valued at $61 million.

Sales and service income of the Western Australia wood product industry was estimated at $949 million in 2013–14.

In 2011, Western Australia’s forestry sector employed 5 580 workers (0.5 per cent of the total employed workforce in Western Australia) compared with 5 972 (0.5 per cent) in 2006. The number of people employed includes forestry support services and timber wholesaling.

References

ABS 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 2016, Australian forest and wood products statistics: September and December quarters 2015, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra, May.

ABARES 2016 (forthcoming), Land use of Australia 2010–11, Version 5, Canberra. CC by 3.0.

Government of Western Australia 2013, Recreational Fishing Guide 2013 – simpler rules for better fishing, Department of Fisheries, Perth.

Montreal Process Implementation Group for Australia and National Forest Inventory Steering Committee 2013, Australia's State of the Forests Report 2013, ABARES, Canberra, December.

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