As the Australian Aquaculture Industry makes more use of genetic techniques, and works more with fully domesticated stock, there is a need to be fully informed of advances in this area. To remain competitive, and to maximise the effectiveness of limited research funds, industry and government will require to identify and access technologies developed overseas as rapidly as possible.

Advances in genetics are occuring at considerable speed and there is a need to establish and maintain interactions with research groups worldwide. The effectiveness with which this can be done is enhanced not only by demonstrating the research skills developed in Australia, but by exposure of International scientists to Australia, it aquaculture industries and research groups.

Holding the 7th International Symposium on Genetics in Aquaculture in Australia will provide an excellent opportunity to provide this exposure, to establish or strengthen networks, and, by maintaining the tradition of the "Genetics in Aquaculture" Symposia, establishing our position in the International scene in this area of research and technology development.

The importance of this area of research and technology development was demonstrated by the demand for, and the conduct of, a national meeting on Genetics in Aquaculture in Perth in Sept 1998 supported by FRDC. At that meeting, the development of international interactions were identified as an important requirement for Australia.