Value chains and aquaculture

Value Chains

Aquaculture supply & value chains

Lead researchers 

Dr Peggy Schrobback (pictured right) is a resource and environmental economist at the School of Business and Law at the Central Queensland University (CQU). She has expertise in the area of aquaculture and fisheries economics.

 

 See Peggy's project presentation: 

Enhancing Agricultural Value Chains_Peggy_Schrobback_RECOE_Forum_Toowoomba_Oct2019.pdf

 

Professor John Rolfe is Professor of Regional Economic Development at the School of Business and Law at the Central Queensland University (CQU). John is experienced in non-market valuation, regional development analysis, economic impact assessment in regional areas.

Background

The demand for seafood in Australia exceeds domestic supply and is increasing due to:

  • population growth,
  • rising household incomes, and
  • heathier food choices by consumers.

The aquaculture industry has the potential to significantly expand to supply the domestic and export markets with farmed seafood. 

The Queensland Government supports the future development & growth of the aquaculture industry. Yet, growth has been slow, potentially because complexities and barriers in the supply & value chains of seafood that is cultivated in Queensland (Figure 1). 

Figure 1: Simplified aquaculture supply & value chain

 

Research need

Needed is:

  • an improved understanding about the structure & processes within existing aquaculture supply & value chains, and
  • an understanding about factors that affect the performance of the supply chains.

Case study: Edible oysters

The oyster industry in Queensland is characterised by:

  • a relatively small production volume compared to oyster production in other Australian states,
  • the Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) is the key species produced, mainly in Moreton Bay,very small volumes of black-lip oysters (Saccostrea echinare) and milky oysters (Saccostrea scyhophilla) are cultivated in tropical regions of Queensland.

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the supply & value chain for oysters produced in Queensland differs from the supply network of oysters in other states in Australia, and if so to identify possible reasons for that.

Method

Data will be collected using semi-structured interviews of oyster farmers in Queensland and other oyster producing states as well as other supply chains stakeholders (e.g., wholesalers, retailers).

Expected outcomes 

 

Contact

Email: p.schrobback@cqu.edu.au

Phone: 07-3023 4277