The Western Australian Government has increased its research capability for the State’s aquaculture industry with the completion of renovations to shellfish research facilities at Hillarys.
The State Government allocated $500,000 to renovations at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development site in Hillarys as part of the $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan.
Minister for Fisheries Don Punch said that Aquaculture is the world’s fastest-expanding food production sector, with shellfish aquaculture being Western Australia’s fastest-growing aquaculture sector.
“We are investing in world-class facilities and research to support the expansion of WA’s aquaculture industry, which presents a great opportunity to help diversify the WA economy and create regional jobs,” Fisheries Minister Don Punch stated.
The enhancements will help the development of the aquaculture business in regional Western Australia, with the establishment of a small-scale hatchery to provide research opportunities for the burgeoning marine shellfish sector.
The site’s seawater supply has been enhanced, and a new algal food supply system, as well as an enlarged laboratory and nursery space, have been supplied, all of which are critical for shellfish seed production.
In addition, facilities have been enhanced to enable shellfish breeding stock to be brought in from the wild and housed separately and securely to reduce disease risk.
“Upgrades to the Hillarys facilities mean our shellfish aquaculture research can be expanded to include species such as scallops, driving industry diversification and market competitiveness of the State’s aquaculture industry,” Minister Punch added.
A new research study will begin in 2023 with funding from One Sea Pty Ltd and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation to test the hatchery production of Southern saucer scallop spat.
This research is critical for sustaining wild stocks as well as prospective commercial production.
