SIA gets $1.275 million grant to develop seafood export markets
Australia’s seafood industry has been handed a $1.275million grant to help develop and expand its export opportunities.
The Federal Government grant will be managed by Seafood Industry Australia with a goal to open new and emerging markets, build into markets with high growth potential and consolidate exports to existing markets.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the grant will help implement the Australian Seafood Industry Export Market Strategic Plan, focusing on high priority sectors such as rock lobster and abalone, and provide greater access to markets for smaller producers.
Sadly, the project will endeavour to take the ‘Great Australian Seafood’ brand into established and emerging international markets, such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, the US and the UK. This is a questionable approach as it will require a significant investment of scarce funds which could have been better applied to assisting producers to build resilient supply chains into diversified markets. The risks of centralised branding across overseas markets with highly variable cultures and consumer behaviours are very high.
Seafood Industry Australia CEO, Veronica Papacosta said the funding will underpin increased industry collaboration and practical approaches for building out diverse export markets for the Australian seafood industry.