Perth based-Australis Aquaculture Ltd has won a prestigious prize at the 7th Annual Australian Sustainability Awards, taking out the "Special Award for Environment" for its approach to Barramundi farming.
The awards, held in Melbourne last week, recognise excellence in Australian Stock Exchange listed companies across corporate sustainability factors.
Australis, a member of the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association, has pioneered new indoor recirculating aquaculture technology that uses a closed loop system to minimize water consumption, isolate fish stocks from the surrounding environment, reduce feed requirements and generally minimizes the environmental impact of the facility.
Australis was selected for the Environment award against strong competition, including Corporate Express, Westpac, Mirvac, ANZ Banking Group, Energy Developments, The GPT Group, Stockland, IAG Insurance Group, Transpacific Industries Group and Transurban.
Australis was also a finalist in the Sustainable Small Business category.
Australis director David O'Sullivan said it was great honour for the company and one that put Australian seafood producers in the limelight for environmental stewardship.
"Australis has committed to the highest standards of sustainable aquaculture and made a significant investment in marketing its barramundi as "The Better Fish": Better Tasting, Better For You, Better For Our Environment". In this way, Australis is both expanding the marketplace for sustainable and healthy fish, and proving that sustainable aquaculture can be a commercially successful venture," he said in a statement.
The presenters of the award cited Australis for addressing a large and challenging issue with a combination of technical care and marketing savvy.
Operating a 10,000 square meter facility in the US with output capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes per annum, Australis' is demonstrating success in these areas at a very large-scale, Mr. O'Sullivan said.
"Australis has played a key role in establishing dialogues between the aquaculture industry, major buyers and environmental NGO's in an effort to develop rigorous performance standards that will help to reshape the industry at large over the next five years."
