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Australian Prawn Farmer’s Association has welcomed the Queensland
Governments gazettal of the “Environmental Code of Practice for
Australian Prawn Farmers.” The code will introduce a new
environmental management regime across Queensland’s prawn farming
industry. The approval comes after four years of public consultation
that included input from
CSIRO, the Australian Institute of
Marine Science, World Wide Fund for Nature, the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park Authority and many non-profit environmental groups.
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Association President, Mr Col Price,
welcomed the government’s support saying the Code is strongly supported
by industry. He said that the Environmental Code of Practice is a
responsible, sensible and practical response to community concerns.
Further, he hoped that it would lead to improvements in their
environmental performance as well as in their public image
Every prawn farmer would have a legal
obligation to prevent or minimize environmental harm. Likewise, for
those failing to follow the Code of Practice no protection can be
afforded, continued Mr Price. The Code sets out rules for managing a
range of important environmental issues relevant to prawn farming. It
is a practical document with an on-farm focus, informing farmers what
practices are acceptable and how to implement those practices to
minimize environmental impacts.
Mr Price said the Association is hoping
to work with the Agency in organizing and conducting regional workshops
for industry and interested community groups about the Code and its
obligations. A copy of the Code can be downloaded from the
APFA website or directly via the link
below.
Australian Prawn Farmers Association
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