The plan identifies opportunities for industry and the state government to work together on projects which fast-track industry growth by reducing the risk to new and existing industry operators looking to enter or expand aquaculture operations in Western Australia (WA).
Part of the funding will be used to develop industry plans to guide research and investment in key sectors including marine shellfish and finfish, freshwater aquaculture and emerging industries like seaweed and algae production.
There will be upgrades to the Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre to support the continued expansion of the popular freshwater trout fishery and continued maintenance of the Albany Aquaculture Park and Albany Shellfish Hatchery to drive the growth of shellfish aquaculture on the South Coast.
Additional investment in the WA Seafood Quality Assurance
Program will support the classification of additional areas which are suitable
for shellfish production for human consumption.
There will also be a project to scale-up research into the commercialisation of a dietary additive with global significance for finfish production as well as ongoing monitoring of aquaculture development zones to ensure economic and environmental sustainability.
An additional $2 million will be invested to redevelop and modernise the Broome Tropical Aquaculture Park to meet growing industry demand to expand aquaculture production and research capability in the north of the state.
Announcing the funding, Fisheries and Regional Development Minister Don Punch said: "WA's aquaculture industry, excluding pearling, is worth $21 million and is vital to growing WA's food industries and creating new jobs, especially across regional WA.
"Having modern, fit-for-purpose aquaculture facilities is essential to increasing production and research capacity to attract new investment in the aquaculture industry in areas such as finfish and seaweed research and production.
"Projects under the Aquaculture Development Plan will continue to support the production of yellowtail kingfish, barramundi, abalone, mussels, marron, silver perch, rainbow trout, yabbies and oysters, as well as provide opportunities for emerging industries such as coral and seaweed, to build a strong and sustainable aquaculture industry for the future."
