HEALTH, KNOWLEDGE & RESEARCH
SECURING NORTH QUEENSLAND’S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN AQUACULTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
AQUACULTURE IS SET TO BE AUSTRALIA’S 2ND LARGEST AGRI-FOOD EXPORT BY 2050:
The Tropical Aquaculture Accelerator will kickstart the expansion of Northern Australia’s aquaculture industry to a $1.34 billion per year export industry. North Queensland has a game-changing opportunity to entrench Queensland’s position as the epicentre of aquaculture in Australia and globally. The $79.5 million Accelerator will combine James Cook
Unlocking the land value of Northern Australia – 1.2 million hectares suitable. Demand for high quality seafood protein is skyrocketing. Market set to be worth $12.8 billion by 2050. Northern Australia aquaculture is set to increase production five-fold within a decade and exceed $1.34 billion each year.
University’s ( JCU) global expertise in Aquaculture innovation, research and commercialisation and world-leading, fit-forpurpose facilities with entrepreneurial and expanding industry partners including Ornatas, Mainstream Aquaculture and Seafarms. The Accelerator will catalyse this landmark industry-facing initiative by providing tanks, laboratories, training and support for innovation that will enable the Aquaculture industry to do the critical on-going research it needs to meet current demand and continue to grow, including: Domesticating new species, such as tiger prawns. Enhancing quality, disease resistance and growth rates with genomics-driven breeding. Creating new low-net-waste production systems. Devising new quality control systems that can match every prawn against market expectation. T his project is shovel ready. Work can start this financial year as a result of several years of planning by JCU with consultants Oceanis and AEC.
Ornatas strategically chose Townsville for several reasons including the proximity to JCU having access to world leading researchers in aquaculture, bioremediation and aquatic health will be vital to exploit our technology to its full potential. SCOTT PARKINSON CEO, ORNATAS
WHAT WE NEED
$2.6BN
$26.5 million from both the State and Federal Governments to match $26.5 million committed funding from JCU.
State Funding
Federal Funding
State and/or Federal
GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT
Funding N/A
11,227
FTE JOBS BETWEEN 2023/24 AND 2034/35
2023 STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGET SUBMISSION
35
