Abalone producer wins global award
THE largest abalone producer in the southern hemisphere — with an onshore shellfish farm at Bicheno — has won a prestigious national agribusiness award.
Yumbah Aquaculture, a geographically diverse company with a turnover of $25 million, won its first national export award at the 2017 Australian Export Awards.
Yumbah Bicheno grows 70 tonnes of abalone a year and, with 12 full-time staff, is the biggest employer in the small East Coast town. It is planned to increased production to 100 tonnes.
Yumbah Aquaculture also has onshore abalone farms in Victoria and South Australia. More than 80 per cent of the 700 tonnes of abalone grown at Yumbah’s four farms is exported to South-East Asia, the US and Europe. Abalone from Bicheno is also sold into Tasmanian markets.
Tim Rudge, who is on Yumbah Aquaculture’s executive team, said the Bicheno farm was on the ocean’s edge.
“The farms depend on clean, cool water, the connection to the ocean is the lifeblood of the farm,” Mr Rudge said.
“Bicheno is an outstanding site, we love the product the farm grows. Although [it’s] one of our smaller farms it has enormous potential to grow.”
The abalone farm, established in 1984, was one of the earliest abalone farms set up in Australia. In 2010 Yumbah bought the site.
“At Bicheno we breed our own stock, grow endemic abalones to the area,” Mr Rudge said.
He said water was pumped from the ocean to farm tanks. The used water, with any effluent, is sent to a water treatment plant, where it is monitored for quality standards before being sent back to the ocean.
“It’s sustainable farming and our treatment of used water sets us apart from other farm seafood operations,” Mr Rudge said.
“Abalone farming has a bright future and we have growth plans across the company.”
Abalone is one of the oceans’ most highly prized delicacies — particularly in northern Asia, where it has been enjoyed using traditional cooking methods for thousands of years.
Through a joint venture with Cameron of Tasmania, Yumbah also produced premium oyster spat from its Port Lincoln site.
With permission from the traditional custodians of the Yaygirr language the company calls itself Yumbah, meaning “larger shellfish”.
The 2017 awards recognised Australian companies engaged in international business.
Yumbah Aquaculture director Anthony Hall said the award win was a significant achievement for the organisation.
“Everyone at Yumbah is thrilled to have won this and we welcome the official recognition of our team’s hard work across all our locations,” Mr Hall said.
For more information, visit www.yumbah.com