Febryary 21, 2006

New aquaculture licences in Victoria, Australia up for grabs

The Victorian government in Australia wants to double the value of the state's aquaculture production with new licences up for grabs in Port Phillip and Western Port bays.

Nine licences will be auctioned for more than 1,500 hectares of farmed mussels, scallops and abalone.

Executive director of Fisheries Victoria Peter Appleford is reluctant to put a figure on how much the licences will sell for.