Aquaculture development zones

As part of its commitment to developing a sustainable marine aquaculture industry, the State Government is establishing aquaculture development zones.

An aquaculture development zone is a designated area of water selected for its suitability for a specific aquaculture sector (for example marine finfish or shellfish). The zones provide ‘investment ready’ areas of water with strategic environmental approvals and management policies already in place. This allows commercial aquaculture operations to be set up without the need for lengthy, complex and expensive approval processes.

Active Zones

To date, three aquaculture development zones have been established in Western Australia: one in the Kimberley, one in the Mid-West and the latest one in Albany.

Albany Aquaculture Development Zone

The State Government has invested $1.3 million to identify and establish an Aquaculture Development Zone on the south coast of WA. A new zone on the south coast off Albany will offer “investment-ready” opportunities for large-scale commercial shellfish aquaculture. At full capacity, resulting shellfish farming operations are expected to create more than 200 direct jobs.

The Zone encompasses four separate areas, covering around 800 hectares. These are:

1. an area in Oyster Harbour, comprising 500 hectares;
2. two areas in King George Sound (near Mistaken Island and in Frenchmans Bay); and
3. an area in Princess Royal Harbour (in Shoal Bay).

​The Zone was declared in two stages:

1. First stage: Oyster Harbour area (declared 7 August 2020).

• ​​​it is the first marine shellfish aquaculture development zone established in Western Australia. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is currently undertaking a site allocation​ process for this zone

• Existing farms operate within the boundaries of the Albany Aquaculture Development Zone - Oyster Harbour Area. These existing sites occupy 173.819 hectares out of the total Oyster Harbour area.

2. ​​​​​​​Second stage: Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound (declared 2 December 2021).

 Albany Aquaculture Development Zone map​

 Albany Aquaculture Development Zone - Shoal Bay map

 Albany Aquaculture Development Zone - Mistaken Island map

 Albany Aquaculture Development Zone - Misery Beach map

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document​ provides information about: 

• aquaculture activities that will take place within the Zone 
• the benefits to the community and region that will ensue from aquaculture 
• the controls and management practices established to ensure the industry remains environmentally sustainable. 
  
  

DPIRD has undertaken additional environmental assessments using independent science-based research and modelling. The final BMT environmental assessment report can be viewed here Environmental assessments in support of shellfish farming in Albany, Western Australia - South Coast Aquaculture Development Zone R-1757_00-2 July 2021​.

Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone

The Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone is in Cone Bay, at the northern end of King Sound, about 215 kilometres north-east of Broome. Declared by the Minister for Fisheries in 2014, this was the first aquaculture development zone for marine finfish to be established in Western Australia. This zone is fully allocated.

 

Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone. Click on the image above to download a larger version of the map.

 

The following documents are part of the  Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone Management Framework:

• Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone Management Policy;
• Kimberley Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan;
• Aquaculture Licence;
• Management and Environmental Monitoring Plan (MEMP); and
• Aquaculture Lease.

Information in relation to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Office of the Environmental Protection Authority’s assessment process with respect to the Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone can be found at the following link.

Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone

The Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone is located across an area of open water between Geraldton and the southern region of the Abrolhos Islands group. It was declared in 2017 as the state’s second marine finfish aquaculture development zone. This zone is fully allocated but not yet operational.

Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone map

The following documents are part of the Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone Management Framework:

• Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP);
• Marine Fauna Interaction Management Plan (MFIMP);
• Ministerial Statement;
• Aquaculture Licence;
• Management and Environmental Monitoring Plan (MEMP); and
• Aquaculture Lease.

Information in relation to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Office of the Environmental Protection Authority’s assessment process with respect to the Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone can be found at the following link.

Further information

For more information, please email aquaculture@dpird.wa.gov.au