Pemberton Hatchery to benefit from $8.5 million in State Government funds for aquaculture research

A Lower South West research facility is set to benefit from $450,000 of State Government funding to support the continued expansion of the popular freshwater trout fishery. The Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre — which helps contribute more than $20 million to the regional WA economy — will receive upgrades and modernisation to the existing infrastructure at the site to secure its supply of trout. Priority upgrades to be completed in the next financial year will be made to the existing water system to secure future water supply for the hatchery for greater control in the summer months and will include the installation of a brood stock recirculating aquaculture system. Pemberton is one of three research facilities in WA to receive a share in the $8.5 million funding to help implement key projects to drive aquaculture research and development across Western Australia, including Albany and Broome. Key projects have been identified in the Aquaculture Development Plan for WA — identifying opportunities for industry and the State Government to work together on projects which fast-track industry growth — and will be enacted by the three facilities. 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,” he said. “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.”