Angel Seafood set to expand eco-friendly global oyster production plans

Following oyster bans and ensuing acquisitions, a staple of the seafood export market is set to expand its seafood empire. See what’s in store.

The Eyre Peninsula’s aquaculture prospects have received a significant boost following the announcement of an aquacultural farming takeover.

Coffin Bay-based Angel Seafood has been is set to acquire four smaller oyster farming leases near Port Lincoln in order to expand its operations.

The oyster producer plans to build infrastructure to facilitate environmentally conscious oyster farming practices at Franklin Harbour, a landlocked bay in the Eyre Peninsula.

The acquired oyster farming site was previously owned by Adelaide man Bill Robins.

Coffin Bay oyster farmers checking their nets. Picture: SATC

Angel Seafood’s application indicated its intention to use FlipFarm methods to farm its oysters, new farming methods that are “ less labour intensive and rely on less infrastructure in comparison to current systems.”

The method is designed to minimise the environmental and visual impact of oyster aquaculture, with less oyster posts and physical presence from workers required to farm the ocean.

A reduced number of posts means less physical disturbance to the ocean ecosystem and associated sedimentation effects on surrounding habitats.

The development for both sites would have a total of 206 posts, whereas traditional farming methods would require approximately 16706 posts to be driven into the sea floor.

The Franklin Harbour development would take place in water depths between 0.9m and 2.8m to ensure that baskets will float clear of the sea floor.
Earlier this year majority shares in Angel Seafood were sold to Queensland agribusiness fund manager Laguna Bay in a $32m deal.

The sale followed the SA oyster company being affected by a vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak, which saw the distribution of Coffin Bay oysters banned due to an outbreak of foodborne illness.

The South Australian Research and Development Institute’s SA Aquaculture Report states that aquaculture is currently the fastest growing livestock industry in Australia with an annual growth of seven per cent between 2021-22.

Estimates from the report also predicted an expected annual aquaculture export of $2 billion by 2027 to meet increasing global seafood demand.

Spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, said “SA is in a prime position to contribute to that growth as a world leader in the ecologically sustainable development of aquaculture.”

SA oysters are currently farmed in seven main growing regions (Coffin Bay, Streaky Bay, Smoky Bay, Cowell, Ceduna, Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula) with 351 licensed sites covering approximately 1,037 hectares.