December 21, 2015

Australian abalone raiser upbeat about growing Chinese demand

A fast-growing Australian abalone raiser plans to further expand by adding more farms due to growing Chinese demand, the West Australian reported, according to Undercurrent News.

The four-year- old Ocean Grown, which breeds abalone on artificial reefs in Augusta's Flinders Bay is eyeing to develop two additional farms in West Australia.

Ocean Grown has increased its abalone for breeding to 1.2 million, up from the initial 800,000 in 2011. The first harvest in April next year is expected at 100 metric tonnes. Abalone grows to marketable size in about four years.

From 40 hectares in 2011, Ocean Grown's farm area doubled to 80 ha last year.

Brad Adams, owner of the farm, said, according to Undercurrent News, that the huge demand for Australian seafood in China and the free trade agreements that will come into effect are fuelling more demand for abalone.

Abalone is priced wholesale at US$140 per kilogramme in China.