Fisheries officials are preparing to extend a marine hatchery research project off Port Stephens, as part of a plan to improve the sustainability of the fishing industry.
Department of Primary Industries says the next phase of its aquaculture research will involve a five year trial of floating offshore sea cages off the coast at Hawks Nest.
NSW Fisheries Manager of Aquaculture Ian Lyall says it aims to validate the commercial potential of species in the Port Stephens area.
“We’ve had some really good research done at Port Stephens Fisheries at Taylors Beach with species such as Snapper, Mullaway and Yellowtailed King Fish but we are a bit limited in the area we have there,” he said.
“We really need to look at the commercial scale operation of these activities.”
Mr Lyall says the research off Hawks Nest is focussed on the sustainability of the fishing industry.
“To have a good aquaculture industry you need high quality water conditions and you need to have an industry that will be there for the long term,” he said.
“To do that we need to better understand these different research aspects and that will help us build a picture.
“So if we have investors come in or if we move to look at where aquaculture could be placed we could put in management plans and policies based on good sound research”.
