Tasmania’s reputation for producing high quality, clean, fresh and safe seafood for the nation’s dining tables has again been strengthened.
Our vision to double the value of the state’s salmon industry to $1 billion by 2030 is on track with the opening today of the state-of-the-art Cressy Aquaculture Hatchery.
The farm gate value of the industry is worth over $550 million a year with Tasmania producing in excess of 4,200 tonnes and the new hatchery means that Petuna can continue to grow and keep up with the ever-growing demand for high-quality seafood through Australia.
Petuna now supports 300 jobs across the state, with the hatchery expansion adding 26 jobs in the last 12 months alone.
There are more than 1,500 Tasmania’s working directly in aquaculture and a further 3,800 jobs supported by the industry in Tasmania and throughout Australia, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The construction of the new hatchery provided work for over 70 Tasmanians and the continued growth of the company will create additional employment opportunities around the state in the future.
The Government supports the continued growth of the industry as it supports thousands of Tasmanian families and we are committed to the sustainable growth of the sector to $1 billion by 2030.
The hatchery uses less than five per cent of water compared to traditional systems and allows for environmental control of light, temperature and oxygen. It will allow Petuna to grow 3.5 million smolt and enhance Tasmania’s international reputation for quality produce.
Congratulations to Peter and Una Rockliff, who founded Petuna 65 years ago, and to the current CEO Mark Porter for growing the company into a Tasmanian icon in one of the world’s fastest growing food sectors.