The expansion of Western Australia's aquaculture industry has received a massive boost with one of Australia's most significant aquaculture companies locking in its commitment to the State.
In Geraldton today, Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley revealed Huon Aquaculture is now fully licensed to begin operations in WA's Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone.
Huon Aquaculture's yellowtail kingfish project planned for the waters off Geraldton will contribute substantially to the Mid-West economy and create a significant number of jobs.
The McGowan Government has allocated $10 million of funding for development of a state-of-the-art marine finfish nursery as part of WA's COVID-19 Recovery Plan, which will provide juvenile stock for commercial grow-out for Huon Aquaculture and other license holders in the region.
Huon Aquaculture's aquaculture license follows the recent opening of a processing facility in Forrestdale. The facility, which will create 40 local jobs, is currently processing salmon but has the capacity to expand to yellowtail kingfish once their operations commence in the Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone.
As stated by Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley:
"The McGowan Government has delivered record government investment to grow WA's aquaculture industry to support economic diversification and to create thousands of new jobs.
"I am excited by the potential for WA as aquaculture growth continues to deliver new jobs and opportunities.
"Huon Aquaculture's new Forrestdale fish processing factory will generate up to 40 local jobs, and is an example of the kind of downstream processing jobs that will be created from growth in WA's aquaculture industry.
"When it's operating at full capacity, the whole Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone area will create up to 1,400 jobs."
