The Minns Labor Government is continuing to invest in the South Coast’s aquaculture industry, today announcing the government together with four local businesses are investing $5.7 million into boosting the Shoalhaven South Coast oyster, kelp and seafood sector.
Today’s funding follows a recent announcement of a $14.3 million investment by the Minns Government and 10 aquaculture businesses on the Far South Coast to boost production and productivity, enhance sustainability and create more jobs and economic growth.
The aquaculture sector is a natural fit for NSW’s coastal communities and landscape, and the NSW Government is driving new economic opportunities by funding modernisation and productivity gains.
This funding follows the launch of the NSW Aquaculture Vision Statement by the Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty in 2024, in collaboration with the industry to target doubling of the sector’s economic output by 2030.
The South Coast will see the Minns Government investing $3.79 million and the grant recipients co-funding $1.9 million, across the following four projects:
- $2 million – NSW Marine Biorefinery: GMP Processing Scale-Up for Seaweed Extract Marine Bioproducts
- Venus Shell Systems will expand a seaweed processing facility to produce much larger volumes of high‑value ingredients used in skincare, nutrition and medical products. This will create local jobs, support other marine producers, and turn more seaweed and by‑products into useful goods instead of waste.
- $1.48 million – On-Country Value Creation Through Sustainable Sea Urchin Fisheries
- Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation to purchase new machinery to process sea urchins more efficiently, create new food products from urchins, and turn leftover shells into material that can improve soil. The grant builds on Minns Government support that enabled Joonga to develop feasibility and business plans to ascertain the validity of the business and build a robust and practical business plan.
- $166,612 – Improving Oyster Spat Survival and Nursery Productivity through Modernised Handling Equipment
- Goodnight Oysters will install new equipment that handles young oysters more gently, helping more of them survive and grow to full size, increasing yield. The upgrades will improve safety and increase the number of oysters available for other local farmers.
- $145,895 – The Lake Conjola and Burrill Lake industry expansion project
- Southern Oyster Culture will obtain a new grading machine and install a new cool room which removes long transport trips and makes oyster handling faster and more efficient. This will support local jobs and increase production in Lake Conjola and Burrill Lake.
With these projects domestic and international customers of NSW seafood will benefit from a reliable, year-round supply of high quality, and carbon reduced food products that taste fantastic.
Further announcements of successful recipients under the NSW Government’s Aquaculture Industry Development Program will be made in the coming weeks.
More than $200 million from the NSW Government’s Regional Development Trust is currently being delivered through programs and projects that provide strategic and sustainable investment where it is needed to support regional and rural industries, businesses and communities grow.
