Blue Economy Zone
Bass Strait Aquaculture Research Trial in Commonwealth Waters
TRIAL SITE COMMISSIONING
Trial Site commissioning has officially commenced for the Bass Strait Blue Economy Zone Aquaculture Research Trial.
The Research Team is pleased to announce that preparations are on track for grid build in May 2025, initial finfish stocking in July 2025, with a second finfish stocking phase scheduled for October 2025.
This milestone represents a significant step forward in sustainable aquaculture research for Commonwealth Waters.
OVERVIEW
The Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre is delivering a targeted research portfolio to understand challenges and opportunities for sustainable ocean economic development in Australia.
As part of this, we are establishing, commissioning, operating, evaluating, and decommissioning a multi-species aquaculture research trial in the Commonwealth Waters of Bass Strait.
This research trial is the first in Australia and is fundamental to building awareness, confidence and readiness to support the governance reform required to introduce multi-species aquaculture into Commonwealth waters.
TRIAL SITE
The Research Trial Site is in Commonwealth waters, adjacent to Tasmanian coastal waters and approximately 12km off the coast of Burnie, Tasmania. The Trial Site is characterised by open ocean, higher energy, deeper waters and stronger currents.
Figure 1. Location of Research Trial Site within existing MOU Fisheries Arrangements Area.
Table 1. Coordinates of trial site.
| E | N | Lat | Long | |
| NW | 409626 | 5467732 | 40.936546964 | 145.926455813 |
| SW | 410251 | 5466838 | 40.944667894 | 145.933749403 |
| NE | 410412 | 5468282 | 40.931679776 | 145.935870587 |
| SE | 411038 | 5467389 | 40.939791227 | 145.943176841 |
The Research Trial Site sits within a Blue Economy Zone (BEZ), which is an open ocean site for research focused aquaculture and renewable energy activities and is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments.
The Commonwealth Government has previously consulted on a Fisheries Arrangement Area and an initial trial site in 2022.
In 2024, the Blue Economy CRC Research team consulted on varied Research Trial Site coordinates to those previously consulted on and outlined within the 2022 MOU.
The variation to the Trial site location was approved in 2024 through an exchange of letters in accordance with the MOU. The new site provides for more suitable benthic conditions, deeper water and safer positioning of infrastructure given known sea and wind characteristics.
The broader Fisheries Arrangement Area has not changed.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
The Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre is having conversations on the Bass Strait multi-species Aquaculture Research Trial in the Commonwealth Waters Blue Economy Zone.
Monday 12th May, 3pm – 7pm
Burnie Surf Life Saving Club
2 North Terrace, Burnie
TRIAL APPROVALS
The Research Trial has received:
- Approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Read the Notification of referral decision – not controlled action if taken in a particular manner at (EPBC Number: 2024/09946) .
- Approval under the Tasmanian Government Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and pursuant to section 6.1 (a) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Crown in Right of Tasmania to support the implementation and operation of an aquaculture research trial in Commonwealth waters adjoining Tasmanian Waters in Bass Strait (the MoU).
Other approvals that are needed are also underway, including ethics and biosecurity.
SUPPORT
2023-206 Blue Economy Zone – Australia’s first aquaculture research trial in Commonwealth waters” is led by the Blue Economy CRC, with funding from Blue Economy CRC, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.
CONTACT
Blue Policy and Planning Team
Blue Policy and Planning Team
