Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry in Tasmania, 2015
Research by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural
and Resource Economics and Sciences
About my region 15.50
March 2015
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
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ABARES 2015, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015, About my region 15.50, Canberra, March.
CC BY 3.0.
ISBN TBA
ABARES project 43009
Internet
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania 20145is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares.
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Acknowledgements
ABARES relies on the voluntary cooperation of farmers participating in the annual Australian Agricultural and
Grazing Industries Survey, Australian Dairy Industry Survey, and Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey
to provide data used in the preparation of this report. Without their help, these surveys would not be possible.
ABARES farm survey staff collected most of the information presented in this report through on-farm
interviews with farmers.
This regional profile was updated by Therese Thompson, Haydn Valle, Timothy Connolly, Lucy Randall, Kasia
Mazur and Sharan Singh.
i
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Contents
1
Regional overview .............................................................................................................................. 1
2
Employment .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Agriculture sector ............................................................................................................................... 4
3
Value of agricultural production ................................................................................................... 4
Number and type of farms ............................................................................................................... 4
Farm financial performance—Tasmania ................................................................................... 6
Fisheries sector ................................................................................................................................. 12
4
Forestry sector .................................................................................................................................. 14
References ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
Tables
Table 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13 .................................................... 5
Table 2 Financial performance, Tasmania broadacre industries, 2011–12 to 2013–14,
average per farm ................................................................................................................................. 7
Table 3 Financial performance, Tasmania dairy industry, 2011–12 to 2013–14, average
per farm ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Table 4 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses,
Tasmania, 2012–13 and 2013–14 ............................................................................................. 11
Figures
Figure 1 Employment profile, Tasmania, November 2014 ............................................................ 3
Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Tasmania, 2012–13 .................................................. 4
Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Tasmania,
2012–13 .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm............................... 7
Figure 5 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm ........................................... 8
Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm .............................................. 9
Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm ......................................... 10
Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, Tasmania, 2005–
06 to 2013–14 ................................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure ............................................................................................ 14
Maps
Map 1 Broad land use of Tasmania.......................................................................................................... 1
Map 2 Agricultural industries of Tasmania .......................................................................................... 2
ii
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
1 Regional overview
Tasmania covers a total area of around 68 401 square kilometres and is home to approximately
495 354 people (ABS 2011). Agricultural land in Tasmania occupies 17 921 square kilometres,
or around 27 per cent of the state. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments
(nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 32 303 square kilometres, or
48 per cent of the state. The most common land use by area is nature conservation, which
occupies 18 122 square kilometres or 27 per cent of the state.
Map 1 Broad land use of Tasmania
Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)
1
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Map 2 Agricultural industries of Tasmania
Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)
Employment
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the 2014 Labour Force Survey indicate that
around 237 200 people were employed in Tasmania. Tasmania accounts for 2 per cent of total
employment in Australia and 4 per cent of all people employed in the Australian agriculture,
forestry and fishing sector.
Health care and social assistance was the largest employment sector with 31 100 people
followed by retail trade with 27 500 people (Figure 1). Other important employment sectors in
the region were education and training (20 800 people), accommodation and food services
(19 500 people) and manufacturing (19 100 people). The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector
employed 13 500 people, representing 6 per cent of the state’s workforce.
2
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Figure 1 Employment profile, Tasmania, November 2014
Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Education and Training
Accommodation and Food Services
Manufacturing
Construction
Public Administration and Safety
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Other Services
Administrative and Support Services
Wholesale Trade
Financial and Insurance Services
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
Information Media and Telecommunications
Mining
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services
Arts and Recreation Services
Employed total ('000 ) -
10
Note: Annual average of the preceding 4 quarters.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 6291.0, Labour Force, Australia
3
20
30
40
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
2 Agriculture sector
Value of agricultural production
In 2012–13, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in Tasmania was $1.2 billion,
which was 2 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Australia ($48 billion).
The most important commodity in Tasmania based on the gross value of agricultural production
was milk (Figure 2). In 2012–13, milk contributed 26 per cent ($305 million) to the value of
agricultural production in the state. Vegetables accounted for 20 per cent ($237 million) with
the major vegetable crops being potatoes ($120 million), carrots ($29 million) and onions
($27 million). Cattle and calves accounted for 15 per cent ($183 million), fruit and nuts 9 per
cent ($113 million) and wool 7 per cent ($82 million).
Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Tasmania, 2012–13
Milk
Vegetables
Cattle and calves
Fruit and nuts (excluding grapes)
Wool
Sheep and lambs
Hay
Nurseries, cut flowers and turf
Wine grapes
Eggs
Wheat
Other
$m
100
200
300
400
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia
Number and type of farms
ABS data indicate that in 2012–13 there were 3935 farms in Tasmania with an estimated value
of agricultural operations of more than $5000 (Table 1). The state accounts for 3 per cent of all
farm businesses in Australia.
Farms are classified in Table 1 according to the activities that generate most of their value of
production. Beef cattle farms (1090 farms) were the most common, accounting for 28 per cent of
all farms in the Tasmania, and 3 per cent of all beef cattle farms in Australia.
4
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Table 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13
Industry Classification
Tasmania
no.
1 090
555
453
317
287
268
145
74
45
36
33
25
606
3 935
Beef Cattle
Sheep
Dairy
Vegetable
Mixed livestock
Fruit and nuts
Other Crop growing
Other livestock
Nurseries, Cut Flowers and Turf
Grain growing
Poultry
Mixed grains and livestock
Other
Total Agriculture
%
28
14
12
8
7
7
4
2
1
1
1
1
15
100
Australia
no.
39 380
11 938
7 612
3 980
6 434
10 136
1 519
4 123
1 558
11 595
1 031
11 558
17 817
128 682
%
31
9
6
3
5
8
1
3
1
9
1
9
14
100
Note: Where the estimated value of agricultural operations is more than $5000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
There is a large percentage of small farms in the region in terms of their value of agricultural
output. Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of
production from farms and a measure of the business size. Around 45 per cent of farms in
Tasmania had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 3). These farms accounted for only 3 per
cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2012–13. In comparison, 23 per cent of farms
in the region had an EVAO of more than $350 000 and accounted for an estimated 80 per cent of
the total value of agricultural operations in the region.
Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Tasmania,
2012–13
50
40
30
20
10
%
< $50k
$50k to $150k
$150k to $350k $350k to $500k
Share of farms
$500k to $1 m
Share of value of agricultural operations
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
5
> $1 m
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Farm financial performance—Tasmania
Each year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its
annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in this survey include the grains, grains–
livestock, sheep, beef and sheep–beef industries. The information collected is a basis for
analysing the current financial position of farms in these industries and expected changes in the
short term. This paper uses data from the ABARES Australian agriculture and grazing industries
survey (AAGIS), Australian dairy industry survey (ADIS), and Australian vegetable growing
industry survey to report estimates of financial performance indicators (Box 1) for broadacre,
dairy and vegetable farms in Tasmania.
Box 1 Definitions
Major financial performance indicators


Total cash receipts: total revenues received by the business during the financial year.
Total cash costs: payments made by the business for materials and services and for permanent and casual hired
labour (excluding owner manager, partner and family labour).

Farm cash income: total cash receipts – total cash costs

Farm business profit: farm cash income + changes in trading stocks – depreciation – imputed labour costs

Profit at full equity: return produced by all the resources used in the business, farm business profit + rent +
interest + finance lease payments – depreciation on leased items

Rate of return: return to all capital used, profit at full equity * 100 / total opening capital

Equity ratio: Farm capital minus farm debt expressed as a percentage of farm capital
Industry types

Grains: farms mainly engaged in producing broadacre crops such as wheat, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses, and
including farms running sheep and/or beef cattle in conjunction with substantial broadacre crop activity.




Sheep: farms mainly engaged in running sheep.
Beef: farms mainly engaged in running beef cattle.
Dairy: farms mainly engaged in milk production.
Vegetable: farms mainly engaged in growing vegetables.
Performance of broadacre farms—Tasmania
Tasmanian broadacre farm cash incomes are projected to increase slightly to average
$71 000 per farm in 2013–14 (Figure 4, Table 2), around 2 per cent below the average farm cash
income recorded for the 10 years to 2012–13.
The projected increase for Tasmanian broadacre farm cash incomes is mainly due to lower
interest payments and reductions in expenditure on purchases of beef cattle and sheep. Overall,
receipts from wool and sheep are expected to remain similar to those in 2012–13. An increase in
beef cattle receipts, mainly because of higher cattle turn-off, is projected to be offset by reduced
crop receipts.
6
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm
150
100
50
2013–14
0
$'000
Australia
Tasmania
Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.
Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey
Table 2 Financial performance, Tasmania broadacre industries, 2011–12 to 2013–14,
average per farm
Performance indicator
Total cash receipts
Total cash costs
Farm cash income
Farms with negative farm cash income
Farm business profit
Profit at full equity - excluding capital appreciation
Farm capital at 1 July a
Farm debt at 30 June b
Equity ratio b
Rate of return - excluding capital appreciation c
Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b
units
$
$
$
%
$
$
$
$
%
%
$
2011–12
324 300
216 990
107 320
10
66 390
90 830
4 932 490
332 270
93
1.9
33 080
2012–13p
293 200
230 000
63 200
12
600
28 500
3 860 300
340 500
91
0.7
40 800
RSE
(8)
(9)
(14)
(41)
(1873)
(35)
(8)
(17)
(1)
(35)
(14)
2013–14y
292 000
221 000
71 000
10
0
25 000
na
330 000
na
0.7
na
Note: a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July.
p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed
as a percentage of the estimate provided.
Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey
Performance of sheep industry farms—Tasmania
In 2012–13 a reduction in average prices received for adult sheep, lambs, and wool resulted in a
decline in average farm receipts for sheep industry farms is Tasmania. Despite reduced
expenditure on livestock purchases, average farm cash costs increased due to higher
expenditure on crop and pasture chemicals, repairs and maintenance, interest, and fertiliser. A
combination of lower receipts and increased costs led to a decline in farm cash income for
Tasmanian sheep industry farms to an average of $73 000 per farm (Figure 5).
In 2013–14, farm cash income for Tasmanian sheep industry farms is projected to decline
slightly to average $72 000 per farm.
7
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
An increase in prices for adult sheep and lambs is projected to outweigh lower sheep and lamb
turn-off leading to an increase in sheep and lamb receipts. Crop receipts are projected to decline
on Tasmanian sheep industry farms due to the combination of a smaller area sown to crops and
lower prices.
Figure 5 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm
200
150
100
50
2013–14
0
$'000
Australia
Tasmania
Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.
Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey
Performance of beef industry farms—Tasmania
In 2012–13, beef cattle turnoff increased on Tasmanian beef industry farms. Lower average sale
prices for beef cattle more than offset the increase in turnoff to result in average beef cattle
receipts declining by around 8 per cent. The decrease in farm receipts was combined with higher
cash costs in 2012–13, due mainly to increased expenditure on fertiliser, repairs and
maintenance, and fuel. Overall, average farm cash income for Tasmanian beef industry farms
declined to an average of $49 200 per farm in 2012–13 (Figure 6).
In 2013–14, higher beef cattle turnoff in combination with a slight increase in average sale
prices received, are projected to result in beef cattle receipts increasing by almost 5 per cent. In
addition, a small reduction in expenditure on purchases of beef cattle together with lower
interest expenditure is projected to lead to a reduction in farm cash costs. Average farm cash
income for beef industry farms are projected to increase slightly to average $69 000 per farm in
2013–14.
8
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm
150
100
50
0
2013–14
-50
$'000
Australia
Tasmania
Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.
Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey
Performance of dairy industry farms— Tasmania
In 2012–13 a reduction in farmgate milk prices and a reduction in milk production, together
with increased cash costs driven mainly by increased expenditure on fodder, resulted in reduced
farm cash incomes for dairy farms in all states. Nationally, average farm cash income declined
from $143 360 in 2011–12 to just $44 200 in 2012–13. An estimated 33 per cent of dairy farms
recorded negative farm cash incomes in 2012–13. In Tasmania, average farm cash income
declined from $164 490 in 2011–12 to $35 500 in 2012–13 (Figure 7, Table 3) and 41 per of
Tasmanian dairy farms are estimated to have recorded negative farm cash incomes.
In 2013–14 average farm cash incomes are projected to rebound strongly with large increases in
milk prices for milk producers in Tasmania. Average farm cash income is projected to increase to
$210 000, almost double the average for the previous 10-years of $107 000.
9
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm
250
200
150
100
50
2013–14
0
$'000
Australia
Tasmania
Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.
Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey
Table 3 Financial performance, Tasmania dairy industry, 2011–12 to 2013–14, average per
farm
Performance indicator
Total cash receipts
Total cash costs
Farm cash income
Farms with negative farm cash income
Farm business profit
Profit at full equity - excluding capital appreciation
Farm capital at 1 July a
Farm debt at 30 June b
Equity ratio b
Rate of return - excluding capital appreciation c
Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b
units
$
$
$
%
$
$
$
$
%
%
$
2011–12
909 430
752 100
157 340
1
103 730
265 450
4 935 730
1 737 520
65
5.5
6 730
2012–13p
804 600
769 900
34 700
41
- 73 500
65 700
5 118 200
1 635 700
68
1.3
6 300
RSE
(7)
(9)
(89)
(30)
(41)
(40)
(11)
(14)
(5)
(40)
(37)
2013–14y
1 024 000
813 000
210 000
17
124 000
269 000
na
1 671 000
na
5.0
na
Note: a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July.
p ABARES preliminary estimates. y ABARES provisional estimates. na Not available. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed
as a percentage of the estimate provided.
Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey
Performance of vegetable industry farms—Tasmania
Nationally in 2013–14, average farm cash income is estimated to have declined to $156 000,
4 per cent lower than in 2012–13. Average to above average seasonal conditions helped growers
to maintain the high yields of 2012–13. Overall vegetable production was also higher because
the average area planted to vegetable crops increased. However, the resulting increase in
vegetable cash receipts was partially offset by lower vegetable prices.
Vegetable production as a proportion of total state gross value of agricultural production is
higher in Tasmania than any other state, accounting for 20 per cent. Vegetable growing farm
10
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
businesses in the state are also the most diverse, with only 51 per cent of total farm receipts
attributable to vegetables.
Despite vegetable cash receipts declining, estimated average farm cash income increased
marginally in 2012–13 to $135 400 (Table 4), 30 per cent higher than the eight-year average (in
real terms) to 2012–13 (Figure 8). Yields were variable across vegetable commodities,
decreasing for potatoes, but increasing for carrots and onions. The average area planted
decreased for all vegetable commodities, decreasing most strongly for the main vegetable
commodities. The effect on receipts of lower vegetable production was offset by an increase in
vegetable prices.
Average farm cash income is estimated to have decreased in 2013–14 to $107 000 (Table 4),
although this was 14 per cent higher than the nine-year average (in real terms) to 2013–14
(Figure 8). The average area planted was down across all vegetable commodities, although
yields were marginally higher for potatoes, reflecting the better than average seasonal
conditions for most farms.
Table 4 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses,
Tasmania, 2012–13 and 2013–14
average per farm
Selected estimates
units
2012–13 p
RSE
2013–14 y
RSE
(16)
% Change
from 2011–12
–1
310 000
(27)
% Change
from 2012–13
–4
Vegetable cash receipts
$
321 700
Area sown to vegetables
ha
26.7
(15)
–10
22.6
(30)
–15
Quantity of vegetables produced
t
1 131
(12)
–12
927
(24)
–18
Farm cash income
$
135 400
(20)
5
107 000
(36)
–8
Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the
estimate. Updated data for vegetable farm businesses will be available November 2015.
Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey
Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses,
Tasmania, 2005–06 to 2013–14
average per farm
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.
Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey
11
2013–14 y
2012–13 p
2011–12
2010–11
2009–10
2008–09
2007–08
2006–07
20
$'000
0
2013–14
2005–06
40
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
3 Fisheries sector
The various Tasmanian regions produce a combination of wild-catch finfish, crustacean, mollusc
and aquaculture fisheries production. Hobart is the main fishing port in Tasmania servicing
fishers across a range of commercial fishing activities. The Greater Hobart region is also
renowned for its significant Atlantic salmon aquaculture sector. In the region, the Derwent River,
Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay estuaries are popular sites for both recreational and
commercial fishing. The rest of Tasmania is predominantly a wild-catch production area for
shellfish, in particular Southern rocklobster, abalone and scallop, and finfish occurring mostly
along the south west coast of Tasmania and at King Island. The Tasmanian greenlip abalone
population is abundant along the north coast and around the Bass Strait islands. King Island is a
large centre for giant crab production. Georges Bay and Ansons Bay are key shellfish producing
areas, including cockles, clams and some aquaculture oysters. The ports of Bridport and St.
Helens are important landing sites for scallop fishers operating in both Commonwealth and
Tasmanian fisheries. Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout aquaculture also occurs in Macquarie
harbour.
In 2012–13 the gross value of Tasmanian fisheries production is estimated to be around
$695.9 million, an increase of 0.4 per cent ($3 million) from 2012–13. Tasmania contributed
29 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2012–13. In value terms, the
wild-catch sector accounted for 25 per cent ($175.9 million) of the state’s total production and
the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 75 per cent ($520 million).
Tasmania’s wild-catch fisheries sector is dominated by two main products—abalone and
southern rocklobster—which account for 56 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, of the total
value of wild-caught production in 2012–13. Over the last decade the real value of Tasmania’s
wild-caught fisheries products has reduced by 16 per cent to $175.9 million 2012–13. The
decline in value was driven by 40 per cent decline in the average unit price of several major
wild-catch species and despite a 40 per cent increase in the total volume of wild-catch fisheries
products.
The product for which the real value of production declined most over the past decade is
abalone (both wild-caught and aquaculture), falling by 24 per cent to $97 million in 2012–13.
This was the result of a 26 per cent reduction in the real unit price, despite s 2 per cent increase
in volume. A large proportion of abalone is exported, mostly to Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Exchange rate movements have a significant effect on the value of abalone exports and, in turn,
production.
Southern rocklobster accounts for a significant proportion of Tasmanian wild-catch production,
accounting for 17 per cent and 37 per cent of the total volume and value, respectively, of wildcatch production in 2012–13. However, the value of Southern rocklobster exports declined by
30 per cent in 2012–13, primarily reflecting a 23 per cent (75 tonnes) reduction in the volume
exported from Tasmania and falling export unit prices.
Commonwealth fisheries active in the Tasmania region include the Commonwealth Trawl Sector
(main source of domestic fresh fish for Sydney and Melbourne markets) and the Shark Gillnet,
Hook and Trap Sector (supplies gummy shark or ‘flake’ to Melbourne) of the Southern and
Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery. The Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery and Small
Pelagic Fishery (mostly fishmeal for aquaculture and agriculture) also operate in the waters off
Tasmania.
12
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
The importance of aquaculture in Tasmanian fisheries production increased over the past
decade. Over the past decade the real value of aquaculture production tripled reaching
$520 million in 2012-13, representing around 75 per cent of the state’s fisheries production.
Most of the growth in aquaculture production is attributed to increases in the output of farmed
salmonid species, in particular Atlantic salmon.
In 2012–13 the volume of Tasmania’s aquaculture production is estimated to have declined by
4 per cent (2088 tonnes) to 46 375 tonnes. Salmonids accounted for 90 per cent of this volume
and 94 per cent of the total value of Tasmanian aquaculture in 2012–13. Most Tasmanian
salmonid production supplies the domestic market. A key factor contributing to the rapid
growth in recent years was a strong focus on marketing salmon to Australian consumers. In
2012–13 an estimated 41 762 tonnes of salmonids valued at $489 million were produced.
In 2012–13, Tasmania’s fisheries product exports were valued at $131.9 million, lower by 20 per
cent decline compared with 2011-12. The main export products include abalone, salmon and
Southern rocklobster, which collectively accounted for around 93 per cent of the total value of
Tasmania’s fisheries exports in 2012–13.
Hong Kong, Vietnam and China are the major destinations for Tasmanian fisheries exports,
accounting for 35 per cent, 21 per cent and 19 per cent of the total value of exports in 2012–13,
respectively. Other major export destinations include Japan (8 per cent), Singapore (6 per cent)
and Taiwan (2 per cent).
Recreational fishing is popular in Tasmania with Tasmanians spending over $50 million on
recreational fishing and one in every three Tasmanians reported to go fishing. This includes
gamefishing for species including southern bluefin tuna and, with the seasonal extension of the
East Australian Current, tropical species, such as yellowfin tuna and striped marlin. Recreational
fishing also includes Southern rocklobster, abalone and a range of finfish species, such as
flathead, Australian salmon, flounder and bream. The South East region has the highest
participation in recreational fishing in Tasmania, with 33 per cent of the resident population
aged five years or older fishing at least once in the 12 months prior to November 2007 (Lyle et
al. 2009). Recreational fishing is also a very popular pursuit with residents in the Greater Hobart
region where an estimated twenty seven per cent of residents aged five years or older went
fishing at least once in the 12 months prior to November 2007 (Lyle et. al. 2009).
13
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
4 Forestry sector
In 2012–13, the total plantation area in Tasmania was approximately 311 000 hectares,
comprised of approximately 236 300 hectares of hardwood plantations and 75 100 hectares of
softwood plantations. The main hardwood species planted are blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus)
and shining gum (E. nitens), and the main softwood species planted is radiata pine (Pinus
radiata).
In 2011, there were approximately 3.4 million hectares of native forests in Tasmania, comprised
mainly of Eucalypt medium woodland (approximately 1.0 million hectares), Eucalypt tall open
(829 000 hectares), rainforest (708 400 hectares) and Eucalypt tall woodland
(261 600 hectares) forest types. The majority of the native forests in nature conservation
reserves (approximately 1.2 million hectares), 875 300 hectares are privately managed and
923 200 hectares are multiple-use public forest available for timber production (Figure 9).
Major timber processing industries are located in Bell Bay, Boyer, Burnie, Forcett, Geeveston,
Hampshire, Launceston, Smithton and Southwood.
Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure
Source: ABARES Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013
Sales and service income in the Tasmanian forest and wood product industry was estimated at
approximately $593 million in 2012–13, of which $257 million was from wood product sales.
The remaining $336 million was generated from the sale of paper and paper products. Exports
of woodchips from Tasmania have declined sharply following the global economic downturn,
falling to 1.5 million tonnes in 2010–11 with an estimated value of $236 million. In 2011–12,
woodchip exports declined further to 419 000 tonnes, valued at $64 million. In 2011, the
Tasmanian forestry sector employed 3 526 workers (1.7 per cent of the total employed
workforce in Tasmania) compared with 5 390 (2.7 per cent) in 2006 (number of people
employed includes forestry support services and timber wholesaling).
14
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES
References
ABS 2011, Census of Population and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.
ABS 2014a, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2012–2013, cat. no. 7121.0, Australian Bureau
Statistics, Canberra.
ABS 2014b, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2014, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003,
Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.
ABS 2014c, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2012–13, cat. no. 7503.0,
Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics-Bureau of Rural Sciences 2010, Land
use of Australia 2005-06, Version 4, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.
ABARES 2014, Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014. Department of
Agriculture. http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences 2014, Australian forest
and wood products statistics: March and June quarters 2014, Australian Bureau of Agricultural
and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.
Lyle, JM, Tracey, SR, Stark, KE & Wotherspoon, S 2009, 2007–08 Survey of Recreational Fishing
in Tasmania, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
Montreal Process Implementation Group for Australia and National Forest Inventory Steering
Committee 2013, Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013, Australian Bureau of Agricultural
and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.
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