Dr John Robertson

	Dr John Robertson

	Dr John Robertson is the General Manager of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Development Division in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. John has been in this role for eight months having come from overseeing strategic research and development across a broad range of intensive animal industries including aquaculture.
	John has worked over the last twenty years in both government and private industry in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture. He has been closely associated with the development of the barramundi farming industry in Queensland. John was one of the founding members of Sea Hatcheries Pty Ltd, a public barramundi farming which commenced trading in the late 1980s. John was also the General Manager for Barramundi Waters from 1999 to 2002.
	John is a strong supporter of aquaculture industry development and considers that government has an important role to play in facilitating and realising industry growth by providing effective policy and planning, streamlining approval processes, attracting investment and through the provision of enabling research and industry development initiatives. John has qualifications in marine science and resource economics.
	The Presentation The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries approach to growing aquaculture in Queensland has been through the seven key priorities identified by the Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister in 2007. These seven key priorities are: Attracting investment Capitalising on our R&D potential Managing biosecurity risks Boosting exports Promoting agricultural [aquaculture] precincts Improving skills and labour Reducing impediments for business John will discuss the initiatives being undertaken by the DPI&F under these principles in order to support industry growth. These initiatives are as applicable to the freshwater aquaculture as they are to other aquaculture sectors.