Govt backs climate change-hit scallop farmers

The state government has stepped in to fund a research program to futureproof WA’s scallop industry in the face of mounting difficulties caused by climate change.

Fisheries Minister Don Punch on Wednesday revealed the government would plough $1.6 million into a two-year research partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Rottnest Island scallop farmer One Sea.

The FRDC will contribute a further $700,000 and One Sea will invest $431,000.

Research will hone in on propagation techniques to boost survival rates of larvae in hatcheries, improve release methods and increase harvest yield and consistency.

Mr Punch said the work would build on Fisheries research which has proven the ability to grow scallop spat in hatcheries with a reasonable chance of survival.

“Scallop meat is a delicacy, and in high demand in local and international markets,” he said.

“We know climate change and climate variability is having an impact in terms of our ability to harvest wild scallops.

“The ability to actually produce spat and baby larvae, get them into the water and help sustain the fisheries into the future is a very significant way of ensuring we can meet demand (and) make sure this delicacy is sustainable for future generations to enjoy.”

Mr Punch said the state government was also canvassing more sites on the WA coast for aquaculture.

Macquarie University will be engaged to develop tracking methods for hatchery-produced scallops so they can be compared with wild counterparts.

The study comes after a marine heatwave in 2011 forced the closure of WA’s major scallop fisheries for several seasons.

“We realised that we had left a significant amount of stock in the ocean, and the following year there was nothing left,” One Sea director Clayton Nelson said.

“We didn't fish for four years, we had to sell a vessel, there was a significant impact and you know, we have had to reinvest.

“So we look at the mitigation effect, we have worked closely with CSIRO just to look at modeling of rain and heat waves, and we see it's going to be an increasing event on the West Coast and also the east coast of Australia.”

One Sea hopes to grow 10 million scallops from spat a year during the trial but said further investment would be needed to grow hatchery capacity for future commercial production.

WA’s scallop fishery value fluctuates wildly, with a 2019 Department of Agriculture memo placing its value at $15 million.

The bulk of WA’s scallops are farmed in Shark Bay and the Abrolhos Islands.