The table compares the amount in metric tons of local fish production and fish bought from foreign countries over an 11-year period, from 2004 up to 2014.
Overall, the local catches of fish in Australia had shown an increasing trend over the first five years, from 2004 up to 2009, while the fresh fish imports were shown over the first six years, beginning from 2004 up to 2006. Similarly, the total fish consumption in the country was reported to have increased from the beginning up to 2009.
Looking at the number of the nation’s fish production, it was 2677.7 metric tones in the initial survey year, 2004, and this number tripled to reach 7844.9 metric tones after five years, in 2009. This number showed a decrease in 2010, 6831.4 metric tons, and continued its decline until 2013, when it started to revive, reaching 4739.9 metric tons, and kept increasing and reached 5031.9 metric tons in 2014. Despite this, the import fresh fish was very low in 2004 accounting for only 463 metric tons. This number sky-rocketed and reached 1203.7 metric tonnes after a six-years-period, in 2010. This increase is very high relative to the local production. The import showed a fluctuation for the next four years and it was reported to be 782.7 metric tons in 2014.