Kingfish Fish Investors Confident
Submitted by SARFAC Thursday, 30th January 2003

From: mccnsa@senet.com.au
To: Recipient list suppressed
Thursday, January 30, 2003 12:15 PM
Subject: Kingfish Fish investors confident

Fish Investors Confident
Reference : Pt. Lincoln Times
By Stan Gorton
Thursday, 30 January 2003

The proponents of what would be the first fin-fish farm on the West Coast say allegations about the negative impacts of kingfish farms are unfounded and could jeopardise what they say will be a well-managed boost to local economies.

Hamachi Ocean Culture spokesman Scott Kempe said a new location for the sea cages was in the relatively deep waters in the Yalata shipping channel north of Goat Island, while the hatchery would be located at the old jetty site at Elliston.

The company recently held a public meeting in Ceduna to answer questions of those critical of the fish farm, which was now proposed for near Ceduna following concerns about a nearby sea lion colony at the initial proposed location at Sceale Bay.

The proponents were confident the new site was the best location for kingfish farming.

"Throughout our consultation period to date no issue has come to light that we were not aware of and had not prepared for," Mr Kempe said.

"All issues of concern are addressed through licencing and management controls through PIRSA (Primary Industries and Resources SA) or through separate direct fishing controls through Fisheries SA."

Hamachi says it will use state-of-the-art technology such as stainless steel link mesh and special filtration systems on its cages and is consulting with Port Lincoln company Diesel Marine Services to design and build the sea cages.

"The plant and equipment will be new age products sourced globally and manufactured and assembled locally," Mr Kempe said.

"Our commitment to world's best practice and quality assurances has enabled the research and development process to allow a due diligence investigation that is the complete package."

PIRSA Aquaculture general manager Ian Nightingale said Hamachi had received approval for its previous site at Sceale Bay, but would now need to submit additional studies and surveys relating to the new site.

"Our assessment will look at a general range of environmental sustainability issues - is it the right place?" Mr Nightingale said.

Once PIRSA Aquaculture gives its interim approval or "indication of licence" the proposal then goes to the State planning authority known as the Development Assessment Commission, which would be responsible for public notification and reviewing the arguments for and against, he said.

If the commission grants approval, then PIRSA would grant a pilot licence that would initially be renewed on an annual basis.

Mr Nightingale said it was up to the applicant to determine their practices and equipment, but he had heard of stainless steel link mesh cages being used elsewhere in the world.

The criticism of the farm at the recent public meeting seemed to be levelled at fish farming in general and PIRSA was present to hand out a list of answers to frequently asked questions about kingfish aquaculture, he said.

While the kingfish would be farmed off Ceduna, Hamachi is sticking with its plan to build a hatchery and other facilities at Elliston.

Elliston District Council acting chief executive officer Hayden Manhood said the council had been very frustrated as the project was first mooted more than five years ago, but acknowledged that much of the delay and controversy over Sceale Bay was "out of its hands". vDespite some concerns from the community about the suitability of the site for an industrial use, the council approved the development and has a standing lease arrangement to make available the old jetty site to Hamachi, he said.

"The economic activity associated with the development is a major reason why approval was granted," Mr Manhood said.

Ceduna mayor Peter Duffy said many of 100 or so people that attended the recent community meeting in Ceduna just wanted more information, and he predicted that opposition to the proposal would decline once details of the proposal were revealed.

He noted that there was strong opposition when the region's oyster farms were first proposed, and that "fear of the unknown" was the main reason for concern.

"This is something new and while the industry may have had some teething problems elsewhere PIRSA will have to be satisfied that everything is in order," Mr Duffy said.

Such visible support from both the Ceduna and Elliston councils was heartening for Hamachi proponents Mr Kempe and his two partners, both West Coast residents.

They pointed out that the proposal could see as many 30 people employed both on land and at sea and that benefits would flow on to many sectors in the community. "The trend is and must be to aquaculture," Mr Kempe said.

"The fishing industry is the only food production industry that allows its natural resource base to be harvested and, while the change cannot be overnight, it will change from a natural resource harvesting base to a stock managed, husbandry orientated aquaculture base."