Barramundi exporter MPA stymied by red tape

Written on the 24 April 2016

One of the nation's most promising aquaculture companies has accused the West Australian government of thwarting its plans to begin exporting barramundi from the Kimberley and to relist on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Marine Produce Australia which sells its award-winning Cone Bay barramundi to some of Australia's most prestigious restaurants says it has been waiting for years to find out whether it can double production capacity to 15,000 tonnes a year.

MPA's chairman, Perth businessman Miles Kennedy, said foreign investors were lined up to back the company but would not do so until they knew whether MPA would be able to begin ­exports.

"I've never encountered anything like this before," he said. "This is beyond extraordinary. There is no action, it is moribund.

"And it's a tragedy because we could be growing barramundi and setting up processing and filleting factories in Derby and employing people."

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Source: The Australian

Image: Marine Produce Australia chairman Miles Kennedy is flabbergasted by delays in gaining export approval for his fish. Picture: Colin Murty, The Australian