For aquaculture in Australia to meet the target set by the national Aquaculture Agenda, farmers need to hear about the latest technology and issues that will govern how they operate and expand. Scientists and technicians need to share their data and ideas and hear first hand from industry what their priorities are. Policy makers need to understand the industry they regulate. All groups benefit from understanding Australian aquaculture in the context of international developments. There are many lessons to be learnt from aquaculturists overseas. An international aquaculture conference will meet these needs.

Many conferences fail to meet the needs of industry because industry is not involved with the planning and organisation of the conference. The organisation of International Aquaculture, Australia 2004, will be carried out by the National Aquaculture Council (NAC) of Australia, the Asian Pacific Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) and the Tasmanian Aquaculture Council (TAC). The NAC and TAC will ensure the conference is strongly focussed to Australian aquaculture industry needs while the WAS will ensure the conference is managed to the highest possible standards and is attended by international experts and equipment suppliers.
International Aquaculture, Australia 2004, will include a technical program designed by the Australian aquaculture industry to address their priority concerns and issues. The conference will also include a fully integrated trade show and exhibition. The conference will bring together Australian and international aquaculturists, equipment and service suppliers, scientists and policy makers.

The conference will provide an ideal opportunity to report on progress toward meeting the Australian aquaculture industry’s vision of an industry worth $2.5 billion by 2010 and on the following priority constraints and opportunities identified as part of the Aquaculture Industry Action Agenda: Communications and Promotion; Resource Access and Sustainability; Investment Environment; Management and Regulatory Framework; Research and Development; Education and Training.

Overcoming major constraints to the realisation of aquaculture’s potential will require knowledge and overcoming the difficulty many farmers have in accessing available knowledge. This conference will address those constraints. This conference is needed to help Australian aquaculture meet the targets set by the National Aquaculture Agenda of $2.5 billion/y by 2010.