A call for tenders to fit-out a marine yellowtail kingfish nursery facility in Geraldton, Australia, was opened. When operational the $7 million nursery is expected to produce 200,000 juvenile yellowtail kingfish every two months, supplying both new and existing commercial aquaculture operations in Western Australia.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) Fremantle hatchery will support Geraldton's new marine finfish nursery by supplying yellowtail kingfish at a size of one gram and will be transferred to offshore commercial farms at 50 g. The new nursery, located at the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute, is the first module in a facility that will allow the addition of extra modules to accelerate the growth of aquaculture projects and create regional jobs.

"The investment of $7 million over three years to build and operate the Geraldton marine finfish nursery is an important step in expanding Western Australia's aquaculture industry and delivering economic benefits to our whole community. This much-needed nursery will not only deliver services to existing commercial operators, who've been aquaculture pioneers, but offer incentive for new operators who invest in Western Australia," said Fisheries Minister, Peter Tinley.

The tender call closes on March 26.