Aquaculture Environment Review Series: General Introduction

<p><strong>As the global aquaculture industry continues to grow, knowledge of how this industry interacts with the environment is key to ensuring long-term economic and environmental sustainability.</strong></p> <p>All forms of aquaculture will interact with the environment along numerous pathways, with potential effects positive, negative or neutral. The form of aquaculture, prevailing environmental conditions, and ecosystem structure and function are important factors that determine response, vulnerability and resilience of the receiving environment.</p> <p>In Tasmania, aquaculture is a vital industry for the economy, providing direct financial benefits, employment opportunities and indirect opportunities across the state. It is a growth industry, with sustainability key to long term prosperity for the state.</p> <p>The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) has commissioned the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) to perform an independent review of literature relating to marine farming interactions with the environment.</p> <p>The series is intended to support the planning and regulation of marine farming in Tasmania, as well as providing a reference source for people with an interest in Tasmanian aquaculture, including proponents of aquaculture developments, resource managers, and the general public.</p> <p>It is intended to cover all forms of existing or proposed marine-based aquaculture within Tasmanian state waters, and will be regularly updated and revised to consider new scientific information.</p>