Huon Aquaculture is expanding its commercial foray into growing yellowtail kingfish after receiving a license for a new farm off the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia.
Huon recently completed the first phase of a two-year-long joint trial with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries growing kingfish in a smaller farm site in Providence Bay, New South Wales. Huon Aquaculture CEO Peter Bender called the trial a success and said it gave the company confidence to move forward with a full-scale commercial project.
“The trial has proven that not only is it possible to grow kingfish in warm water, but the fish are an exceptional quality and grow very well," Bender said in a press release. “We are excited to begin a new chapter as we look towards commercially farming yellowtail kingfish.”
The trial, however, was not without its mishaps, as 20,000 kingfish escaped from the trial farm in January 2018. In a statement on its website, Huon admitted the New South Wales site “had some challenges.”
“Every farming site is unique, particularly in the marine environment with a range of environmental considerations. The research trial lease in New South Wales is in a very exposed site which, earlier this year, waves of over 11 meters passed through. In comparison, the lease in Western Australia is relatively sheltered behind the Abrolhos Islands. Wave modeling has shown that the new lease will be sheltered from the worst of the weather, which will be an added layer of protection for the operation,” the company said. “As an outcome of the trial in NSW, we have made changes to some of our pen rigging and implemented improved maintenance operations. These are learnings that we intend to apply to our new lease in [Western Australia].”
Dover, Tasmania, Australia-based Huon said it is expanding its operations to Western Australia because a dedicated aquaculture development zone made it feasible.
“We believe that Western Australia is the right place to set up commercial kingfish operations as there is an abundance investment-ready lease space, the water temperature is ideal for optimal growth, and the government and community are open to investment,” it said.
With its choice to raise kingfish at the site, the company is expanding beyond salmon and ocean trout aquaculture, it said.
“With the decline in kingfish wild catch, there is a significant opporunity to fill a gap in the market for a sustainably Australian-grown white-fleshed fish,” it said.
Now that its lease has been secured, the company will pursue the construction of a shore base, nursery, and other farming infrastructure, it said.
“To ensure the long-term success of the new farm, we will take our time and work with the local government to identify suitable locations for a shore base and new nursery. We will then install equipment on the lease in preparation for our very first batch of Western Australian-grown kingfish,” Huon said.
Huon said it would not stock its farm until after it conducted “rigorous planning” and community engagement.
Photo courtesy of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
