Boost for Barramundi Farm

Gippsland will become home to the world’s largest indoor barramundi aquaculture farm with financial support from the Federal Government.

The Federal Government has announced a $30 million grant for Opal and Mainstream’s Latrobe Valley Aquaculture project.

The announcement made by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, will support the $125 million project to diversify the viability of Maryvale Mill.

The project will bring premium Barramundi to the Australian market through a state-of-the-art recirculating Aquaculture System facility. The Latrobe Valley Aquaculture project would be co-located at Opal Australia’s Maryvale Mill paper manufacturing site, providing direct access to a wide range of key services such as heating, water treatment, energy and transport infrastructure.

Designed and operated by MainStream Aquaculture, a global leader in barramundi aquaculture, the growing and processing facility will use efficient and sustainable technology for primary food production, with the barramundi to be processed into high value and nutritious products to be delivered across Australia, meeting growing demand and replacing imports.

Over the last 18 months, Food & Fibre Gippsland has been delighted to have the opportunity to advocate support for the project and CEO Nicola Pero congratulated Opal on the funding announcement.

“Opal is a valued F & F G member and we’re really pleased to see this project supported by the Federal Government. Circular economy is a major focus across a range of our programs, activities and projects so it’s exciting to see this significant investment in a facility that brings the principles of resource re-use and energy recycling to life whilst cultivating a food source for which there is so much local and export demand, underpinning our development and recent release of the Gippsland Trusted Provenance, a licensing brand developed for the region’s produce and products.”"

“We’re looking forward to seeing this Gippsland farmed barramundi on menu’s locally and all around the world, with a premium quality product that is embraced by consumers and the food industry as a whole“.

Funding this diverse aquaculture project will provide an injection of jobs in the region, including 364 jobs during construction and once operational, the facility will support 263 direct and flow on jobs.

The facility will produce 3,700 tonnes of premium barramundi for the Australian market and have the potential to expand to over 10,000 tonnes.

The project will boost Gippsland’s regional economy and support food stability whilst securing more local employment opportunities.

This cutting-edge regional aquaculture project is set to create a completely new industry sector for the Latrobe Valley, supporting high value skilled jobs and opportunities for sustainable growth into the future.