In The Zone: Region's potential casts a wide net

Written on the 18 May 2016

Western and Northern Australia are typically associated with vast tracts of red earth and untamed seas, sacred indigenous lands and a lot of mining.

But a big push from state and federal government agencies and industry is giving impetus to the creation of a vibrant aquaculture industry with potential for earning sizeable export dollars feeding the world's rapidly growing protein-hungry middle classes.

ASX-listed firm Seafarms Group is in the early stages of development for what is tipped to become Australia's largest aquaculture producer and one of the largest prawn growers in the world.

Project Sea Dragon aims to breed, harvest and export native black tiger prawns in big numbers off the coast at Legune Station in the Northern Territory, close to the West Australian border.

According to Seafarms Group general manager Dr Chris Mitchell, once full capacity is reached in the next seven to eight years, about 100,000 tonnes of prawns will come out of Sea Dragon each year.

To put that in perspective, Australia's entire grown prawn production is 5000 tonnes per year.

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Source: The Australian

Image: Seafarms general manager Chris Mitchell wants to make waves in the 'blue economy'. Picture: Stuart McEvoy