Fifteen-Thousand Yellowtail Kingfish Arrive in Tasmania for Bass Strait Aquaculture Trial

Fifteen-thousand juvenile yellowtail kingfish have arrived in Tasmania from Western Australia as part of an ongoing aquaculture research trial in Bass Strait led by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). The transportation of the fingerlings from Fremantle to Hobart marks a critical next step in a three-year project examining the viability of commercial fish farming in Commonwealth offshore waters.

The fish were transported in two specialist air-freight shipments, packed carefully inside oxygenated bags and sealed within insulated polyboxes. According to Maxi Canepa, a researcher and kingfish impact lead with the Blue Economy CRC, the 3,000-kilometre journey was successfully completed with zero mortalities. Dr Canepa noted that the juvenile fish appeared very healthy upon arrival and highlighted that the species is well-suited for aquaculture due to its rapid growth rate.

Following their arrival, the fingerlings will be held and grown on land at the University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) facility in Taroona. They will remain in tanks at the research facility for approximately three months until they reach a weight of between 100 and 150 grams. Once they reach this size, the kingfish will be transferred via vessel to the trial site located 12 kilometres off the coast of Burnie. After a period of acclimatisation, the fish will be released into an offshore sea pen where they are expected to grow to a mature harvest weight of about four kilograms.

The initiative forms part of the Blue Economy Zone (BEZ), Australia's first aquaculture trial conducted in Commonwealth waters. The project is managed by the independent not-for-profit Blue Economy CRC under the federal government's CRC program, which fosters industry-led collaborations across research and community sectors. The broader research aims to generate evidence regarding what is required to grow new species offshore and build national capabilities in open-ocean aquaculture. Previous trials at the site involved introducing 15,000 Atlantic salmon, which were successfully harvested following a growth period.

Blue Economy CRC chief executive Angela Williamson stated that the salmon performed well in the rough, high-energy conditions of Bass Strait, noting that they grew above predicted modelled weights and did not require bathing. However, Ms Williamson acknowledged that regular mortalities occurred over the period and noted that project metrics, including wildlife interactions and marine debris incidents, are publicly tracked on the organization's website dashboard to ensure transparency. Infrastructure at the site has also been engineered to withstand the challenging marine conditions.

The offshore initiative has faced pushback from local community members and industry critics concerned about potential environmental impacts. Tasmanian independent Braddon MP Craig Garland voiced strong opposition to finfish aquaculture in the region, citing concerns over tourism and environmental integrity. In response, Ms Williamson acknowledged the diverse perspectives surrounding aquaculture in coastal communities across Australia, emphasizing that the project aims to gather comprehensive data to help inform future regulatory and policy frameworks for Commonwealth waters.

The current research trial is scheduled to run until 2028. Following the final harvest of the kingfish in May 2028, the offshore infrastructure will be decommissioned. Project permit arrangements allow harvested species, including salmon, kingfish, and seaweed, to be sold commercially, with profits directed back into the CRC program to offset research costs. Data and findings gathered throughout the multi-year trial will ultimately provide industry and government stakeholders with critical knowledge to determine the future governance and feasibility of offshore aquaculture in Australia.