Australian Fisheries Minister, Peter Tinley, unveiled an industry-supported Aquaculture Development Plan to expand Western Australia's blue economy, attract new investment and help create an estimated 6,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The plan was developed to build WA's aquaculture industry and assist local operators in taking advantage of the rising global demand for quality seafood. Prospective growth areas include barramundi and rock oyster in the Kimberley, rock oyster and other shellfish species in the Pilbara and west coast, finfish, coral and seaweed in the Mid-West, and abalone and shellfish in the Great Southern region.

An expanding aquaculture industry will create upstream and downstream business opportunities, such as feed and equipment manufacturing, processing and value-adding. The McGowan Government's commitment to supporting aquaculture infrastructure has already created the Albany Shellfish Hatchery and progressed the Marine Finfish Nursery in Geraldton. The government is also exploring options for a new hatchery to underpin long term growth with a more modern replacement for the existing Fremantle facility. Possible locations for a new hatchery are being scoped.

“Aquaculture is the world's fastest-growing food production sector and the McGowan government has been positioning WA to meet the increasing demand for seafood. Since 2017, the government has declared and fully allocated the finfish aquaculture zone for the Mid-West and begun establishing a South Coast development zone for shellfish. We are also upgrading research and development facilities at Hillarys to expand production of tropical and local species of rock oysters and scallops that will support industry growth,” said Tinley.

Check out the aquaculture plan here.