 |
Ref:468/02 |
|
|
 |
AUSTRALIA
- Oct 29, 2002 |
|
|
|
Aquaculture Giants sign deal for South Australia |
|
A PARTNERSHIP between two major aquaculture industry
players announced yesterday could see the booming industry
in the State grow even bigger.
The Stehr Group has signed a deal with the world's biggest
multi-national aquaculture company Nutreco to grow out
kingfish in Spencer Gulf on a contract basis.
In return, the joint venture will see Nutreco using its
marketing experience to help sell the locally produced fish
all around the world.
"This is not only positive for Port Lincoln but for all of
South Australia," Hagen Stehr said.
"You've got the biggest aquaculture company in the world
tied up with the Stehr Group."
He said his company had already developed a close working
relationship with Nutreco through the company's feed
subsidiary, Skretting.
The Stehr Group feeds a large percentage of its tuna and
kingfish with Skretting's manufactured pellets.
The partnership should mean the Stehr Group reaches its
target of having 2000 tonnes of harvestable kingfish in the
waters off Arno Bay a lot quicker, Mr Stehr said.
The new deal specifically relates to kingfish, but Nutreco
was interested in other aspects of the local aquaculture
industry.
Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Paul Holloway met
with Craig Foster of Skretting Australia and Mr Stehr last
week to hear details of a joint venture and marketing
agreement between the two companies.
Nutreco also leads the world in the development of
manufactured fish feeds, which offer the potential to
enhance the sustainability of both tuna and finfish farming
operations.
"While it will obviously benefit the companies involved, the
improved market access will be of major benefit to the
State's aquaculture sector as a whole," Mr Holloway said.
"The fact that Nutreco - which is renowned for its high
environmental standards - has chosen to enter into this
arrangement, recognises the importance of the sound
environmental practices applied in South Australia."
Mr Foster said the joint venture for production and
marketing represented an excellent opportunity to secure
international market access for South Australian finfish.
"Nutreco could have chosen anywhere in the world for this
project, however South Australia was chosen because of its
good reputation for clean products," he said.
In addition, Mr Foster cited the company's confidence in
South Australia as a result of the State Government's
ongoing commitment to sustainable aquaculture and the
synergies between Nutreco's longer term goals and those of
the Stehr Group as key factors in reaching the agreement. |
|
|
|
