WA's aquaculture industry will be featured at the Perth Royal Show

22/9/99

Western Australia's valuable and exciting aquaculture industry will be featured at the Fisheries WA stand at the 1999 Royal Show.
Fisheries Minister Monty House said thousands of people were expected to visit the colourful display this year, which is titled Aquaculture - An Opportunity for Growth in Western Australia.
The Minister said the State Government was committed to building aquaculture into a viable and sustainable industry in WA.
The Government had invested $12.5 million in aquaculture planning and developments in key regions of the State since 1994.
"We want to increase the community's awareness about our pearling and aquaculture industries which create vital export dollars and employment," Mr House said.
"Aquaculture is emerging as a growth industry in Western Australia, and much is being done in research and development.
"This State is a leading player in Australia's aquaculture industry with the most valuable pearling industry worth more than $180 million annually.
"WA aquaculture is experiencing increasing levels of interest with new projects being considered for species such as abalone and black pearls. An important initiative is the concept plan for a large-scale barramundi aquaculture industry in Lake Argyle which has the potential to contribute substantially to the State's economy."
The State's first prawn farm was also being built at Exmouth at a cost of $9 million.
Mr House said the aquaculture industry was environmentally and ecologically sustainable. As a result, it offered enormous potential to meet growing demand for seafood and to reduce pressure on wildstock fisheries.
As well as enjoying the beauty and colour of WA fish, the Fisheries WA display would also demonstrate how to set up an aquarium. Other activities would include exploring the Fisheries WA web site and finding out more about Fisheries WA and its programs designed to sustain WA's fisheries resources for the future.
Fisheries WA staff, particularly aquaculture staff, and Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers would be on hand to answer questions from the public.
Public surveys on aquaculture would be conducted by students from the Fremantle Maritime Centre at South Metropolitan College of TAFE.
The Fisheries WA Aquaculture Display is in the Silver Jubilee Pavilion at the 1999 Perth Royal Show, Claremont Showgrounds, from Saturday, September 25 to Saturday, October 2, 9am to 9pm every day.
Media contact: Julie Cole [08] 9481 2044