WA Recovery Plan to fund Albany shellfish hatchery’s expansion

  • Unprecedented demand for spat as WA’s shellfish aquaculture industry expands 
  • $700,000 for additional infrastructure will create more jobs under WA Recovery Plan
  • Albany’s Shellfish Hatchery produces multiple species of spat for commercial farmers 
  • Albany’s state-of-the-art Shellfish Hatchery will use an extra $700,000 allocated under the McGowan Government’s WA Recovery Plan to expand its production capacity and help underpin an estimated 1,200 jobs.

    Industry demand for shellfish spat has soared since Premier Mark McGowan officially opened the Albany hatchery in December 2017 as part of the Government’s drive to create jobs in Western Australia’s emerging aquaculture industry. 

    Commercial operators’ demand for shellfish spat for rock and akoya oysters, mussels and scallops has exploded since the hatchery’s opening.

    Expanding the hatchery’s production capability will not only strengthen existing commercial operations, but also lay the foundations for future jobs – estimated at more than 2,000 State-wide.

    In the next 12 months, the Albany Shellfish Hatchery expansion – an important step as proposed Aquaculture Development Zones for shellfish begin to open up on the South Coast – will deliver up to 15 local contracting jobs.

    The $700,000 in additional infrastructure will include a greenhouse to increase microalgae production to feed young oysters and a new nursery to allow part of the production cycle to be located outside the existing hatchery, freeing space to increase spat output.

    As stated by Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley:

    “Aquaculture is a significant growth industry for WA and creating 1,200 jobs in shellfish aquaculture around the State will support new opportunities to diversify regional economies.

    “Albany’s Shellfish Hatchery was established three years ago in a joint effort between the State Government and the Aquaculture Council of WA.

    “This additional $700,000 will facilitate additional infrastructure and expand its production capacity.

    “Since the start of hatchery operations, significant private investment in shellfish aquaculture in WA has driven demand for spat to an extent that has greatly exceeded original forecasts.

    “This bodes well for the future of aquaculture in WA and signals an important way to increase diversified markets, both export and domestic, and create much-needed regional jobs.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.