What was left of the first batch of Yellowtail Kingfish farmed in sea pens at Port Stephens has been harvested and will start being sold in Sydney and Newcastle in the coming days.
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The amount of kingfish, grown in sea pens in Providence Bay as part of a fish farm trial by Huon Aquaculture, about to hit the market is lower than first planned after 20,000 of the fish escaped in January.
“This harvest is a big day for Huon Aquaculture because it is our first step towards farming commercial quantities of Yellowtail Kingfish,” the company’s CEO and co-founder Peter Bender said.
The NSW Government and Huon Aquaculture is conducting a five-year pilot aquaculture trial to assess the viability and sustainability of Yellowtail Kingfish in sea pens.
Two sea pens, located 6 kilometres offshore, were installed in October 2016 and shortly after kingfish fingerlings, reared in tanks at the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, were transported to the pens.
In January 2018, about 20,000 of the fish – about one-third of the stock with a retail value of more than $2 million – escaped when the pens were lashed by four days of rough seas and severe weather.
The remaining fish have now reached 5 kilograms in weight and are suitable for harvest.
Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, said aquaculture, commonly known as fish farming, in NSW is thriving and experiencing unprecedented growth.
“Whether it’s prawns, oysters, kingfish or anything in between, one thing is for sure – aquaculture has an exciting future in NSW, with a $70 million farm gate value last financial year alone,” Mr Blair said.
“The NSW Government is committed to making sure this kingfish trial is not only providing high-quality seafood, but is also seeing more jobs, traineeships and investment into the local Hunter economy.
“Currently about 85 per cent of seafood purchased in NSW is imported from other states or overseas, it’s time to see that number turned around – we want to see more local seafood on local plates.”
The Yellowtail Kingfish will be sold at Sydney Fish Market and Newcastle Commercial Fishermen’s Co-operative.
It will not be the first taste consumers get of the kingfish, with the fish being offered to try at events such as the Love Seafood festival in Port Stephens in August 2017.
Related reading
- October 2017: Huon Aquaculture and NSW DPI transfer yellowtail kingfish into sea pens
- October 2017: Research casts off poo fears about Huon Yellowtail Kingfish sea pens
- January 2018: Rough seas cause fish farm escape
- January 2018: 20,000 fish lost from Huon Aquaculture pen in big seas
- January 2018: Tales of a haul: Yellowtail Kingfish snapped up
- February 2018: Calls for review of fish farm that allowed 20k to get away
- February 2018: Catching 25 Kingfish in less than 5 minutes | photos, video
- February 2018: Fish farm will live on under increased maintenance
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
