The CSIRO says the pompano, a new fish species suited to the northern Australian climate, has the potential to add more than $1 billion to the economy by reducing the country’s reliance on white-flesh imports. Photo: Supplied.
A new variety of fish suited to northern Australia’s tropical climate could be swimming onto local plates and adding more than $1 billion to the country’s economy following successful breeding trials by the CSIRO.
As consumer demand continues to grow for Australian-sourced white fish, an opportunity to diversify aquaculture and cultivate species at scale efficiently and in a sustainable way was identified, leading scientists to put the pompano (Trachinotus anak) in their crosshairs.
The CSIRO believes a new pompano industry would help Australian aquaculture reduce its reliance on around 100,000 tonnes of white-flesh fish imports annually.
Lead scientist Dr Polly Hilder told delegates at CSIRO’s AgCatalyst2024 event last week the new variety of fish was suited to commercial aquaculture applications.
“The pompano is a robust, sociable fish endemic to northern Australia that grows really quickly and tastes great, making it an ideal candidate for adapting to our aquaculture environments,” Dr Hilder said.
“We’re bringing a new species to Australian plates to give consumers more options, while opening up new export opportunities to strengthen Australia’s white-flesh fish industry.
“We’re now working to scale production processes in commercial trials with industry.”
By partnering with industry to bring the pompano to the mainstream market, CSIRO said it was aiming to create a new, sustainable Australian white-flesh fish industry in near future.
“We’re applying innovative circular economy approaches designed around welfare that make use of resources end-to-end – from capturing value from production processes, through to utilising the whole fish at the consumer end,” Dr Hilder explained.
