Australia’s aquaculture and food processing company Huon Aquaculture has received a permit to begin aquaculture operations in Western Australia’s (WA’s) Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone.

WA’s Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley made the announcement.

Tinley said: “The McGowan Government has delivered record government investment to grow WA’s aquaculture industry to support economic diversification and to create thousands of new jobs.

“I am excited by the potential for WA as aquaculture growth continues to deliver new jobs and opportunities.”

Tinley explained that the Huon Aquaculture’s yellowtail kingfish project, off Geraldton is expected to create significant employment opportunities and contribute to the Mid-West economy.

As part of the Covid-19 Recovery Plan, the WA government allocated A$10m ($7.6m) of funding for the development of a marine finfish nursery. It will offer juvenile stock for commercial grow-out for Huon Aquaculture as well as other licence holders in the region.

Huon Aquaculture’s licence follows the launch of its new processing facility in Forrestdale, a suburb of Perth, WA.

The facility, expected to support 40 new employment opportunities in the region, engages in salmon fish processing activities.

Going forward, the Forrestdale facility will reportedly process yellowtail kingfish once Huon Aquaculture begins its operations in the Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone.

Tinley noted: “Huon Aquaculture’s new Forrestdale fish processing factory will generate up to 40 local jobs and is an example of the kind of downstream processing jobs that will be created from growth in WA’s aquaculture industry.

“When it’s operating at full capacity, the whole Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone area will create up to 1,400 jobs.”