Fisheries & Aquaculture
The Bundaberg fishing fleet consists of approximately 206 vessels and 307 fishing businesses. The major TAFE Fishing and Marine Training Centre for Northern Australia is based at the Bundaberg Port. The Bundaberg industry is based on scallops, prawns, spanner crabs, mackerel, mullet and reef fish. It is estimated to be worth about $37.1 million annually or 11% of Queensland's total and generates 829 jobs to the local economy.
Source: Fenton and Marshall (A guide to the Fishers of the Queensland Commercial Fishiing Industry), Technical report no. 36, Townsville CRC Research Centre
This industry's competitive edge is based on the export quality of the fresh and frozen products. Current markets include local, interstate and export destinations predominantly in Asia and Europe.
As one of the State's most decentralised industries, the wealth created by the seafood industry makes an important contribution to regional economies. Fenton and Marshall (2001) demonstrate that over 70% of the business and household expenditure by Queensland commercial fisheries is spent within the local community.
Species caught in the Bundaberg Region:
| Barramundi | Red Throat Emperor |
| Flathead | Snapper |
| Silver Bream | Squid |
| Mullet | Scallops |
| Blue Salmon | Bugs |
| King Salmon | Mud Crab |
| Summer Whiting | Sand Crab |
| Winter Whiting | Spanner Crab |
| Dart | Banana Prawns |
| Grey Mackerel | Bay Prawns |
| Spotted Mackerel | Endeavour Prawns |
| Spanish Mackerel | King Prawns |
| School Mackerel | Tiger Prawns |
| Coral Trout | Tuna |
| Red Emperor |
(Source: QFMA (Heidenrich & Lupton, 1999, DPI) Queensland Seafood Industry Association.)
Aquaculture Species in the Bundaberg Region:
| Silver Perch | Dawson River Gold Perch |
| Sleepy Cod | Barramundi |
| Jade Perch | Crab |
| Murray Cod | Prawn |
| Sea Scallops | Range of Aquarium Fish |
(Source: Department of State Development, Bundaberg Office).