Western Australian barramundi could soon be a more common feature on international menus, if a proposed major expansion of a Kimberley fish farm is successful.
Singapore-based aquaculture company Barramundi Group has revealed plans for a $300 million development near its Cone Bay operations off the coast of Derby.
The company, which runs barramundi farms in Singapore and Brunei, acquired Cone Bay in 2018, and is operating 32 sea cages at the site.
The expansion would see the development of 13 new leases across the Buccaneer Archipelago, which would increase its Kimberley barramundi production rate from 1,500 tonnes a year to 30,000 tonnes.
Barramundi Group chief executive Andreas von Scholten said the company was now in a position to upscale and improve profitability at the "loss-making" Kimberley operation.
"To justify that investment and the cost, you need scale," he said.
"What makes us very excited about it is obviously we have now a few years of experience in seeing how the fish are thriving in the waters in the Kimberley in Cone Bay.
The proposed development would take place in three stages over 10 years, increasing in 10,000 tonne capacity increments.
Pending financing and approvals, Mr von Scholten said the first fish could be pulled from the new sites as early as 2025.
Once fully operational, it was expected to create 400 jobs.
Increasing demand for fish
Cone Bay barramundi was primarily consumed by Australia's domestic market, with limited international exports.
But Barramundi Group had big ambitions to develop international markets for the popular restaurant dish, with interest already established with customers from the United States, China and Singapore.
"There has been quite good feedback from the various consumers that we have introduced the product to," he said.
"We also believe that as supply increases, we will see more channels open up in terms of demand.
Mr von Scholten said the company had not yet decided whether its new sites would produce fish for the Cone Bay brand, or whether it would establish a new product line.
Environmental concerns
While Barramundi Group was confident its plans would have minimal impact on the marine environment, environmental groups weren't convinced.
Environs Kimberley executive director Martin Pritchard said the proposal would have a negative effect on the region's relatively untouched coastline.
"The proposal to farm tens of thousands of tonnes of barramundi along a near-pristine coast means the introduction of significant infrastructure, large volumes of fish food and waste and has the potential to pollute the marine environment, as this industry has done in many other parts of the world," he said.
"The internationally significant Kimberley coast shouldn't be sacrificed to industrial fish farming."
Mr von Scholten said the company had spent several years liaising with experts to formulate a proposal that would mitigate environmental risks.
Barramundi Group referred its project plans to the Environmental Protection Authority last week, with six responses submitted during the public comment period, which closed on May 25.
The EPA will now consider whether it will assess the proposal.
