A new partnership between mariculture company PFG Group Pty Ltd. and the University of Tasmania is looking to commercialize rock lobster production research and establish the world’s first hatchery for the crustaceans.
Despite the high value of rock lobsters, until now the long and complex lifecycle has made it impossible to produce the species in a commercially scalable hatchery. However, research at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), supported by the ARC Research Hub for Commercial Development of Rock Lobster Culture Systems, is looking to overcome these challenges.
PFG has invested in a university spin-out company to secure the Australian licensing rights to the research.
University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Brigid Heywood said it was “emblematic” for the university that a Tasmanian firm, led by an alumnus – Michael Sylvester, CEO of PFG – had agreed to help it realize a project that had been 15-plus years in the making.
“We are passionate about the role of research and innovation in providing a platform for economic renewal and the creation of entirely new economic sectors. This is a very fine example of that in action.
“This partnership paves the way for Tasmania to become the birthplace of a global industry for rock lobster aquaculture,” said Heywood.
Over the next two years, scientists working at IMAS Taroona will complete the final two years’ work of the Australian Research Council-backed hub, focusing on the optimization of technology that will underpin commercial production.
PFG’s commitment includes the construction of the commercial scale hatchery.
Sylvester said the partnership would lead to further opportunities for its existing portfolio of products and services while opening entirely new export markets.
“This arrangement brings together government, academia and industry in partnership that will create direct employment within Tasmania, and allows us to export our intellectual property to the world,” he said.
“We already have significant technical capacity in the field and this research platform allows us to leverage that capacity in new and exciting ways.”
PFG anticipates the first commercial production will start at the new hatchery facility within four years.
