The Minns Labor Government is investing in the state’s aquaculture industry in a major funding boost that will create jobs and drive innovation in aquaculture businesses across New South Wales – from Tweed Heads down to Eden on the South Coast.
Funded through the Regional Development Trust, the Minns Labor Government is supporting 31 projects in the aquaculture industry with a $27 million investment, while the selected businesses’ projects will contribute nearly $14 million, bringing the total investment to $41 million.
Modern oyster cultivation systems, increased kelp farming and clean energy seafood production, are among the projects being funded. The NSW Government increased its initial allocation by $7 million to fund the large number of projects focused on modernisation, innovation and productivity.
NSW’s aquaculture sector contributes almost a quarter of a billion dollars to the state economy and supports 2,200 jobs. This investment increases economic outcomes, drives more sustainable practices and enables businesses to continue providing delicious seafood across the state.
In 2024, the Minns Government launched the NSW Aquaculture Vision Statement in partnership with industry, setting an ambitious target to double the sector’s economic output by 2030.
The investment in these projects enables greater sustainability in the industry to re-use by-products and waste, improving environmental outcomes and creating new products.
There are many projects focused on moving away from diesel powered assets to electrical assets powered by solar and batteries delivering cost savings and carbon friendly products for customers.
Some of the 31 projects receiving NSW Government funding include:
- $1.69 million – Armstrong Oysters Pty Ltd at Laurieton – to expand its Sydney Rock Oyster nursery which will help bridge a production gap by increasing the supply of juvenile oysters to support commercial growers and enable product diversification into other species.
- $1.3 million – Ocean Watch – to partner with NSW aquaculture operators and wild-catch fisheries to recover end-of-life plastics, shell, seafood offal and fish frames currently disposed of as waste and convert these to nutritional bait and pet-food products.
- $2 million – Australia Bay Lobster Producers (ABLP) at Chinderah – to build a new hatchery to breed finfish for ornamental use, supply fingerlings to other aquaculture operations, and support restocking of NSW estuaries.
- $1.948 million for K&C Fisheries Global Pty Ltd in Lake Cargelligo – to build an inland fish processing facility which will unlock the value from harvested European Carp by producing high quality aquaculture feed and clean up local waterways of the pest carp fish.
- $175,595 for Deano’s Smoked Trout at Black Mountain – for a renewable energy and circular economy infrastructure project which will improve operational resilience, lower carbon outputs, improve water efficiency, fish health, food quality and production capacity.
- $1,284,798 – Wapengo Rocks Wild Organic Oysters – to modernise oyster farming operations replacing traditional methods with automated on-water infrastructure with 10,000 additional units, solar power, reduce water fouling and grow premium product.
- $2 million – NSW Marine Biorefinery: GMP Processing Scale-Up for Seaweed Extract Marine Bioproducts – Venus Shell Systems will expand a seaweed processing facility to produce much larger volumes of high‑value ingredients used in skincare, nutrition and medical products. This will create local jobs, support other marine producers, and turn more seaweed and by‑products into goods.
- $1.48 million – On-Country Value Creation Through Sustainable Sea Urchin Fisheries – Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation will purchase new machinery to process sea urchins more efficiently, create new food products from urchins, and turn leftover shells into material that can improve soil. The grant builds on Minns Government support that enabled Joonga to develop feasibility and business plans to ascertain the validity of the business.
The grants are another important step toward building upon the Minns Government’s vision and supporting the long-term growth of the industry in regional NSW.
For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust
Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
“This $41 million investment demonstrates the Minns Government’s commitment to building a modern, sustainable aquaculture sector and positioning NSW as the leader in quality seafood production and marine bioproducts.
“This funding program is new to the industry and delivers on our plan to grow this unique sector so we can boost jobs and innovation along our coast and inland waterways now and into the future.
“Our seafood products are amongst the best in the world, and we need to increase production, enhance supply chain efficiency and sustainability, so that our local businesses can take advantage of market demand for quality and low carbon footprint seafood.”
Armstrong Oysters Co-owner Brandon Armstrong said:
“Armstrong Oysters thanks the NSW Government for this funding, which will strengthen our hatchery/nursery capacity and deliver reliable, high-quality oyster stock for the industry.
“This investment will help Armstrong Oysters increase production and support the industry’s goal of doubling output by 2030.
“This project will improve supply and help build a stronger, more resilient NSW oyster industry.”
OceanWatch CEO, Lowri Pryce said:
“This investment helps OceanWatch do what we do best – bring industry, science, government and communities together to solve practical environmental challenges.
“It will allow us to work directly with NSW oyster growers, fishers, co-operatives and seafood businesses to turn end-of-life plastics, shells, fish frames and seafood by-products into new circular economy products – reducing waste while creating value for regional communities.”
Australia Bay Lobster Producers Managing Director and Founder Michael Dalton said:
“This initiative will help promote ecologically sustainable land-based development, best-practice management, and grow investor confidence on sites like ABLP, which has Australia’s only dedicated temperate ocean intake seawater pipelines and services a developing aquaculture precinct in Northern NSW.
“The hatchery will grow ornamental finfish to supply the global public aquarium market and position the Tweed Shire as a leader in sustainable marine aquaculture, delivering integrated economic, environmental, and social benefits to boost regional prosperity and ecological sustainability.”
