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Fishing in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Danny Martin Danny Martin Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2024 ANZSIC A0410

Revenue

$1.4bn

2024-25

$1.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

4,708

Businesses

4,011

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Fishing in Australia industry analysis

Fisheries have come up against intense trading conditions. Trade tensions with China depressed lobster exports, with rock lobster providers turning to other regions like Hong Kong to stay afloat. Government-imposed quotas have restricted the overall volume of seafood caught over recent years, with the goal of long-term sustainable fish populations. Overall, fishing revenue is expected to weaken at an annualised 7.3% over the five years through 2024-25, to $1.4 billion. This trend includes an anticipated dip of 7.8% in 2024-25 as sales of domestic fish and other seafood trend downwards amid higher prices, inflationary pressures on stores and stretched consumer budgets.

Trends and Insights

  • Aquaculture competitors are eating into wild fisheries' market share. While industry fishers are best placed for specific species of fish and seafood, some mainstream varieties are well-suited for aquaculture production.
  • China has imposed restrictions on the trade of rock lobsters, citing contamination concerns. The restrictions have yet to be lifted, hurting export demand.
  • Fisheries operate in climates that support the growth of fish and seafood. For example, Queensland’s warm weather is optimal for prawns, pushing up the number of prawn farms and fisheries located in the state.
  • Imports have grown as a share of domestic demand as fisheries ramp up production globally. As the Australian dollar has strengthened, local markets have become more inclined to sign contracts with overseas suppliers.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 7.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Higher fish prices and have deterred consumer spending

  • The high price of Australian-caught fish and other seafood and the rising Australian dollar have discouraged export markets from purchasing locally caught fish, constraining revenue.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Fishing in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Australian lobster farmers are hopeful that the lifting of trade restrictions will spur trade

  • Trade restrictions between China and Australia have thawed, with products like wine, barley and cotton finding their way back into the overseas market.

Biggest companies in the Fishing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd
153.2
Stehr
41.8
A Raptis & Sons
34.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Fishing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Fish, Rock lobsters and Other crustaceans. Fish is the largest segment of the Fishing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Aquaculture operations continue to expand as wild fishing volumes stall

  • Fisheries catch fish like salmon, sardines, barramundi, bream, trout, dories, flathead, gemfish, orange roughy, Spanish mackerel, tuna, whiting, mullet and pink ling.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry operators primarily catch ocean fish and seafood products, including finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, prawns, rock lobsters, oysters, pearls and other seafood products.

What's included in this industry?

FishRock LobstersCrabs and PearlsMolluscsPrawns

Companies

Austral Fisheries Pty LtdStehrA Raptis & Sons

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CRUSTACEANSMOLLUSCSGEARBYCATCHABALONE VIRAL GANGLIONEURITIS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 0411 - Fishing in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Aquaculture competitors are eating into wild fisheries' market share. While industry fishers are best placed for specific species of fish and seafood, some mainstream varieti...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

China has imposed restrictions on the trade of rock lobsters, citing contamination concerns. The restrictions have yet to be lifted, hurting export demand.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Fisheries operate in climates that support the growth of fish and seafood. For example, Queensland’s warm weather is optimal for prawns, pushing up the number of prawn farms ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Imports have grown as a share of domestic demand as fisheries ramp up production globally. As the Australian dollar has strengthened, local markets have become more inclined ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Fisheries have engaged in acquisitional activities to bolster their market share. For example, West Australia-based Austral Fisheries has acquired Queensland-based Moreton Ba...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Stehr's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of A Raptis & Sons's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Stehr, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for A Raptis & Sons, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Poultry is a lean meat substitute for seafood. Given the jump in seafood prices, poultry's relatively smaller price hikes have attracted consumers looking for a less expensiv...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Fishing technology developments have caused purchase costs to mount as fisheries attain new productivity-enhancing equipment. Fuel cost spikes, driven by trade sanctions rela...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Fishing industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Fishing industry in Australia is $1.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Fishing in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 4,011 businesses in the Fishing industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Fishing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Fishing industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 7.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Fishing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Fishing industry in Australia is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Fishing market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Fishing market in Australia are Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd, Stehr and A Raptis & Sons

What does the Fishing in Australia include?

Fish and Rock Lobsters are part of the Fishing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Fishing in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd.

How competitive is the Fishing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Fishing industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Aquaculture in Australia

Complementors

  • Seafood Processing in Australia
  • Fish and Seafood Wholesaling in Australia
  • Fresh Meat, Fish and Poultry Retailing in Australia

International industries

  • Fishing Boat Charter in the US
  • Fishing & Seafood Aquaculture in Canada
  • Fishing and Aquaculture in New Zealand
  • Marine Fishing in the UK

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.