NSW: NSW govt approves Australian-first snapper farm

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2001
NSW: NSW govt approves Australian-first snapper farm

The New South Wales government says a new fish farm off the state's mid-north coast
will reduce Australia's need for snapper imported from New Zealand.

NSW Urban Affairs and Planning Minister ANDREW REFSHAUGE says the proposed 30-hectare
farm -- the size of 60 football fields -- will generate $5 million worth of snapper a
year.

He says within five years, the fish farm will also produce more snapper than all the
commercial fishing boats in NSW combined.

The NSW government today approved the farm, which will be situated on Providence Bay
at the entrance of Port Stephens, near Newcastle.

It'll be the first commercial off-shore fish farm in NSW.

According to NSW Fisheries, NSW currently imports 700 tonnes of snapper each year from
New Zealand and Western Australia combined.

The new snapper farm will reduce this demand by producing a further 500 tonnes of snapper a year.

AAP RTV rk/jjs/hn/

KEYWORD: SNAPPER (SYDNEY)

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