State boost to aquaculture

Three Kimberley traditional owner groups have welcomed a State Government boost to aqauculture, which officially designates the fledgling industry as “strategically important” in a new policy statement.

Under the recently unveiled “statement of commitment”, the Government undertakes to “recognise and support aquaculture as a legitimate use of the State’s land and aquatic resources”.

The policy statement pledges the Government to support the existing industry, establish new aquaculture zones, streamline or reduce regulation and strengthen the industry by offering longer- term leases and other Government support.

About 2000 tonnes a year of barramundi are produced in a special aquaculture zone in Cone Bay in the Kimberley, with the potential to grow to 20,000t of fish.

The communities of Mayala, Dambimangari, and Bardi Jawi are part of the Aarli May Aquaculture Project in conjunction with Maxima Opportunity.

The group has applied for a licence to farm 20,000 tonnes of finfish annually in the Cone Bay aquaculture zone, north of Derby.

Traditional owners involved in the Aarli Mayi venture believe the development of commercial opportunities in the aquaculture industry are part of the solution for a better future for Aboriginal communities.

“Realising our aspirations to participate in aquaculture is a natural extension of our traditional saltwater culture and our skills in managing natural resources,” Mayala Aboriginal Corporation director and Elder Graham Ejai said.

“There is also the added benefit of significant potential for economic development and jobs on country for our people,”

Bardi Jawi prescribed body corporate chairpman and Bardi Jawi Aarli Mayi representative Kevin George, said his people were excited about the commitment and the prospect of long term economic benefits.

“This means jobs on country for our people and the opportunity to generate wealth and careers for traditional owners,” he said.

Maxima Opportunity boss John Hutton said the Aarli Mayi project would be 75 per cent owned by traditional owners of the Kimberley.

“The project brings together the strong saltwater skills and knowledge of the three saltwater country custodians and Maxima’s history in pioneering the development of commercial seafood projects in the Kimberley,” he said.

Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Peter McCumstie said the proposed project would "provide opportunity for traditional owners to get back on their country with a sustainable economic base."

The State Government has said it hopes to attract new investment in both production and development which will lead to increased employment in our state’s regions and this is a welcome boost to traditional owners.

While about half of the globe’s seafood production comes from aquaculture as opposed to wild catch fisheries, in WA only 22 per cent of the State’s $427 million production in 2012-13 came from aquaculture.

The Government believes there is huge potential for aquaculture to serve both the domestic and Asian markets.

Fisheries Minister Ken Baston said the same demographic factors spurring investment in WA’s beef production — a rising Asian middle class — were also in play for fresh seafood.