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Ref:598/03 |
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australia
- Mar 14, 2003 |
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Something fishy in Dudley |
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Kangaroo Island is
proving a popular hub for land-based aquaculture
and in recent weeks a Dudley Peninsula farmer has
joined the ranks with his unique trout farm.
Inspired by the large scale production of trout on
Macquarie Harbour in western Tasmania, Rob Howard
has embarked on the commercial production of trout
on his family's property near Penneshaw. |
Rob Howard with
the trout he is farming on his family’s Dudley
Peninsula property. |
Three small cages have
been placed in the farm's large dam that was once
used as a back up water supply for Penneshaw and
now houses around 2,500 trout of varying sizes.
Already restaurants and cafes on the Dudley
Peninsula are putting Island grown trout on the
menu and they are receiving rave revues from
diners.
"We have received very positive feedback from the
outlets buying our fish and demand is increasing
all the time," Rob told The Islander.
Rob ran some trials in 2001 to see if trout would
be suitable, with varying degrees of success. "I
put 1,000 juveniles in a cage that I had been
advised would by ideal for fish of that size -
every single one them escaped in one night," he
said.
After more trial and error and some helpful hints
from industry experts on the mainland he now has
an efficient operation that received its official
licence last month.
"I need to express my sincere appreciation to our
local Member Dean Brown who provided invaluable
support and advice while trying to get my licence
through ... he even phoned me on Christmas Day."
Rob says there is most demand from restaurants for
fish of about 350 grams, however some of them are
more 1.4 kilograms from his earlier trials.
He is wanting to expand his operation to include
stocking eating houses elsewhere on the Island. If
you are interested in purchasing fish from Rob he
can be contacted on 8553 1068. |
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