Australia Accelerated Aquaculture Tender

The McGowan Government has fast-tracked plans for a Geraldton-based finfish nursery as part of its push to expedite investment in the Midwest Aquaculture Zone to create significant regional employment opportunities.Accelerating processes for the design fit-out and construction of the state-of-the-art Geraldton Marine Finfish Nursery will facilitate the supply of juvenile yellowtail kingfish to commercial aquaculture companies a pre-requisite for commercial scale farming.The nurserys ability to provide seed stocks for grow-out in the sea cages of new and existing operations is central to the creation of new jobs and the growth of the local economy.Estimates indicate hundreds of direct jobs when the nursery is operating at full capacity including both direct and indirect job opportunities for local businesses supplying raw materials goods services trades transport and eventually tourism.The McGowan Government has already approved 7 million for the construction and operation of the nursery and the Midwest Aquaculture Development Zone and is prepared for new operations that are expected to significantly expand the regions economic opportunities.Accelerating the process which is expected to create 20 immediate construction jobs at the nursery site will shave months off the previous schedule. It is now estimated that nursery operations could start as early as September 2021.The fast-tracking of project delivery is expected to foster a new level of confidence for ongoing investment in Western Australian aquaculture.