Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainable Farming Practices: Respecting Our Environment

As stewards of the Southern Ocean, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. The vast, cold expanse of the Southern Ocean absorbs up to 40% of the world’s human generated carbon dioxide, making it crucial to Earth’s climate. Our farming practices reflect our deep respect for this vital ecosystem.

Our commitment to sustainability extends throughout our operations

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Power

In 2022, we installed a 200kW solar system that saves up to 332 tonnes of emissions per year. This significant investment in renewable energy is complemented by energy-efficient technologies throughout our farm, including heat pumps and heat exchangers in our nursery that provide the most energy efficient way to increase water temperatures.

Looking to the future, we’ve partnered with the Australian Ocean Energy Group as a member of Project AquaGrid, exploring the generation and storage of renewable ocean energy. If successful, wave or tidal energy generation in a hybrid microgrid will reduce our reliance on traditional grid-supplied coal-powered energy, bringing us closer to our goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.

Reducing Waste and Environmental Impact

Our innovative approach to sustainability extends to every aspect of our operations. We’ve modified reusable fish ‘bins’ with pumps and spray systems to keep our abalone comfortable and in top condition during transport, saving 5,000-7,000 polystyrene boxes each year.

Our farm’s geographical footprint is small compared to traditional agriculture, minimising our impact on the surrounding environment. We take active measures to protect the dunes and wildlife around us, with fencing and limited access to the beach and dunes ensuring native species are impacted as little as possible.

Water Quality and Marine Ecosystem

The water flowing through our farm is part of a carefully managed system that respects the natural environment. After passing through our tanks, water flows into settlement ponds where sand and solids (uneaten food and faeces) settle out before the water returns to the sea.

These ponds form their own mini ecosystem where bacteria, microorganisms, worms, seaweed, and other animals break down excess nutrients, ensuring the water flowing out is clean. We adhere to strict EPA regulations, with quarterly testing of outflowing water by independent testers measuring dissolved oxygen, ammonia, phosphorous, and suspended solids.

Our commitment to marine health is evident in the diverse sea life that visits our farm tanks, including anemones, crabs, crayfish, elephant snails, fish, nudibranchs, octopuses, sea hares, and sea stars. Southern right whales pass by annually, while pods of dolphins and orcas have also been spotted along with breaching humpbacks, a testament to the health of our marine environment.