The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) will oversee the construction of a state-of-the-art marine finfish nursery facility at the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute in Geraldton to breed yellowtail kingfish. The juvenile kingfish will be supplied to existing and new commercial operators within the Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone to grow in open water farms using sea cages.

This initiative will help kick-start the industry to achieve its growth potential, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and attract future capital investment. DPIRD will further support the development of the State’s aquaculture industry with ongoing research for nutrition, health and disease resistance for yellowtail kingfish.

Since March 2017, the McGowan Government has been working to grow the WA aquaculture industry. This includes investing $1 million into a state-of-the-art aquatic animal health lab; opening the Albany Shellfish Hatchery; and granting Australian seafood giant Huon, a 2,200-hectare lease in the Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone.

“By developing the necessary infrastructure to support commercial operations, we are building confidence in the viability of this new industry to attract vital future commercial investment\", Fisheries Minister, Dave Kelly said. “Over the next decade, the WA aquaculture industry could be worth as much as $600 million, on the back of the Mid-West and Kimberley zones reaching their estimated production capacity.”