Bardi Ardyaloon Hatchery

Bardi Ardyaloon has established a tropical aquaculture hatchery near the Bardi community at One Arm Point, on the Dampier Peninsula. The hatchery was established to produce the top-shell Trochus niloticus which is an established Indigenous fishery in the community for the sale of the Mother-of-Pearl quality shell. As trochus stocks were indicated to be in decline the hatchery produces juvenile trochus for restocking purposes to support the commercial fishery and for sale to the aquarium industry in the eastern states.<p>

<b>The Project</b><br>
The Ardyaloon hatchery has successfully been producing trochus for a number of years as well as trialling other species such as barramundi and tropical abalone. It employs local trainees and provides training to school students, and is now opening to tourists with the intention of improving the commercial viability of the facility.<p>

Although the hatchery is located a number of kilometres away from the community and employs over 5 staff it lacks basic amenities to support these staff, trainers and visitors, such as ablutions and suitable shade cover.<p>

Bardi Ardyaloon is seeking support to construct an ablution block and a gazebo to provide the basic requirements for staff and allow fee-paying visitors to the facility. The provision of amenities to allow tourism at the hatchery will improve the commercial prospects and sustainability of the Ardyaloon hatchery. <p>

<b>Kimberley Aquaculture Aboriginal Corporation</b><br>

Kimberley Aquaculture Aboriginal Corporation (KAAC) is the peak representative body for Indigenous aquaculture in the Kimberley. The non-profit organisation supports Aboriginal communities from the Dampier Peninsula to Kununurra in developing sustainable aquaculture enterprises and achieving significant involvement in the industry, with the objective of establishing a long-term economic base for communities and building the skills and capacity of Indigenous people.<p>

There are a number of communities in the Kimberley that have access to prime aquaculture resources particularly highly suitable land, good quality water and pristine location. They have excellent potential for growing a range of species including barramundi, freshwater prawns (Cherabin), edible oysters, aquarium fish, and particularly marine prawns. What they are lacking is capital and start-up finance to develop aquaculture enterprises.<p>

Communities are seeking a range of investment from joint venture partnerships to start-up grants. Proponents interested in investment in community aquaculture ventures can contact KAAC to discuss potential sites and community enterprises further.<p>

KAAC is collaboratively supporting a number of specific community projects in their developing stages.<p>