POSITION PAPER

Sustainable Aquaculture Legislation in Australia – An ESG Perspective

Australia’s aquaculture industry is at a crossroads. With one of the world’s longest coastlines and an ambition to double aquaculture production by 2027, the nation faces the challenge of expanding seafood farming while upholding the highest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. This paper evaluates the current legislative framework governing aquaculture at both federal and state levels through an ESG lens, identifies critical gaps – especially in environmental protection, industry regulation, Indigenous rights, and governance – and proposes a roadmap for reform.