Pandanus Park Freshwater Prawn Farm

<b>The Community</b>
Pandanus Park, ideally situated on the Fitzroy River and Great Northern Highway south of Derby, is establishing a grow-out farm for the production of the giant freshwater prawn or Cherabin for the local and domestic markets. The community has established a small training facility growing Cherabin and barramundi with members undertaking level 2 and 3 aquaculture training. Feasibility study, marketing and business planning has been undertaken, the site cleared, and licensing and approvals underway.<p>

<b>The Project</b>
The community is seeking support to establish a pilot project, commencing with the construction of 2 earthen grow-out ponds and a settlement pond with associated pumping and drainage infrastructure at the Pandanus Park site. During the project the community, with the support of KAAC and other support services, will trial production technology and methods, establish markets and build their skills and capacity to manage a developing enterprise, with the view to expanding to a more commercial level over the next 24 months. The trial ponds will have a production capacity of around 1,500kg/ha per year.<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>