Kimberley to get a taste of giant black tiger prawns

2/6/04
An innovative Kimberley aquaculture project focussing on giant black tiger prawns has entered an exciting new development phase.
The Kimberley Aquaculture Aboriginal Corporation (KAAC), the Western Australian Department of Fisheries and other industry stakeholders are set to conduct a test project to explore the viability of tiger prawn farming on a commercial scale with local stocks.
Fisheries Minister Kim Chance said the project was critical to helping promote investment of black tiger prawns and aquaculture in the Kimberley in general.
"Black tiger prawns currently form only a small part of the WA commercial catch but are highly prized on the world market, so this is a good business opportunity," Mr Chance said.
"Aquaculture in the Kimberley has been hampered by a lack of investment and success in this project should stimulate activity."
The Minister said the Kimberley region had large sites that were attractive for prawn aquaculture and black tiger prawns had been identified as the priority species.
"This project offers opportunities for researchers to compare prawn growth rates for different genetic stocks and in different salinities," he said.
"Farming trials will also involve different densities of prawns in ponds to find suitable methods for indigenous and high-tech aquaculture farms."
The commercial trial was made possible by a $726,000 grant from the Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services through the Kimberley Sustainable Regions Program.
Apart from the KAAC and the WA Department of Fisheries, other partners in the project are the Kimberley Prawn Company, Westmore Fisheries and Tiger International.
"The project began with surveys and collection of black tiger prawn brood stock from Nickol Bay and Joseph Bonaparte Gulf," Mr Chance said.
"Disease survey work is well advanced and indicates that local tiger prawns are currently free of major viruses that have caused losses on the east coast and overseas.
"At a hatchery in Broome, the brood stock is maintained with appropriate diets and water temperatures if necessary. At one month old, the offspring will be taken to a purpose-built pond facility in Derby, where they will grow to adult prawns.
"Environmental monitoring, marketing and communication are important elements of the project."
KAAC is managing another joint project with the WA Department of Fisheries to use aquaculture and brood stock management techniques to help repair trochus fisheries in the Kimberley.
Other recent investments in the Kimberley include rapid expansion of the barramundi cage farm in Lake Argyle, establishment of KAAC's multi-species hatchery at Broome, and the development of a large redclaw (a tropical freshwater crayfish) farm near Kununurra.
Minister's Office - 9213 6700