In the Spotlight – AquaBlue Seafoods managing director Neil Meyrick

AquaBlue Seafoods is one of Australia’s most modern and technically advanced aquaculture operations on the east coast, created by Neil Meyrick and Terry Brissett to bring dams, ponds and lakes back to life.

Now expanding into end-of-life mine cycles, the Australian Mining Review spoke with Neil about the history behind the company and how stocking former minesite dams is environmentally friendly.

AMR: Can you share the story behind how AquaBlue Seafoods started?

NM: I was working in Sydney at the time and a friend of mine, Terry Brissett, mentioned that he’d like to grow fish. It struck a chord with me as something beneficial for the environment and ease the pressure on our natural resources.

Restocking was mentioned in our discussion, and perhaps even feeding the world as Terry had put it – he said he would love to feed the world, aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors. With Terry’s help and philanthropic support, we formed a company and started with a small system in Sydney, just in a backyard garage and, within a few years, we’d become quite successful and, to expand our horizons, purchased a property.

It was difficult to find a property that was perfect for aquaculture as we needed access to salt and fresh water, but we bought a farm in the year 2000 and things got underway. We branched out from there into breeding, and it took three to four years to complete the infrastructure required, including planning and building the sheds and getting everything into place, before actually getting live fish involved.

Not many people are prepared to do three or four years of work without income, and it’s not just about setting up a fish hatchery farm. You have to acquire heathy quality selected brood stock.

Native Australian Bass brood stock collecting commenced in 2005. We collected Bass from the wild with a licence from NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries), collecting from the wild to enhance genetic diversity. Our first Bass breeding season of 2005-06 was a great success. Native silver perch, shrimp, yabby and mussel seed stock was also underway at this time. It’s been an incredible process to see it grow from strength to strength.

AMR: Can you elaborate on the Dollar For Dollar Native Fish Stocking program? This is an exciting initiative.

NM: The Dollar For Dollar program, run by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), is a chance for fishing clubs, councils and public stocking groups to stock public water with fish species. So, if a stocking group were approved to put $1,000 worth of fish in a dam or river, the NSW DPI would match that and put in $1,000 worth of fish. This year, however, the NSW DPI announced it would match $2 to the dollar because of the drought and it’s done to support the stocking of native fish to protect and enhance the surrounding environment. We’ve participated in a number of public stocking programs already at Parramatta Lakes, Penrith Lakes, and Glenbawn Dam. This type of program supports aquaculture businesses such as ourselves, and we can continue to stock private farms successfully.

AMR: Can you expand on how working with mining companies helps with their ESG during the end-of-life mine cycle phase and what the process is?

NM: When mining companies are rehabilitating formerly mined land, they often use native trees and grasses to create the final landform. Stocking native fish in former mine water storage can be a valuable addition, site-specific of course, as each mine has different requirements. Mining companies have thorough reporting systems and great water quality control so the dams are more than adequate to support animals. AquaBlue Seafoods will check the pH and temperature to assist with acclimatising the fish into the water. The environmental aspect of it is so incredibly important. It’s fantastic to have live fish in these site dams to take care of the mosquito population, which in turn attracts birds and generally sees more native fauna making an appearance. Because these dams aren’t connected to river systems, there’s nothing better than stocking native Australian fish that can live and grow sustainably – the fish grow and have long, happy lives.

AMR: What species does AquaBlue Seafoods provide, and why those particular types?

NM: About five years ago, we stocked Glencore’s former mining operation Westside open cut in the Lake Macquarie Area of NSW with Australian Bass Fry. This year I received a call from Westside environment and community manager Ben Clibborn who said the Bass have grown in size and are healthy. This is a prime example of how Australian Bass can thrive in areas of mine rehabilitation while simultaneously adding value to the ecosystem. As the fish don’t breed, we recently did an enhancement stocking at Westside. It was fantastic to see that the dam was crystal clear and beautiful. It’s really shows that Australian Bass can be a fantastic addition to a mining operation’s rehabilitation program.

AMR: What areas of Australia do you currently service and what gives you the competitive edge?

NM: We can freight small orders, a few 100 fingerlings, yabby, shrimp, fresh water mussels, to most large cities and large town areas, some rural areas and maybe regional depot collections to minimise freight times. We also supply and deliver larger orders of fingerlings with a fish transport vehicle within a day’s drive. We also deliver larger silver perch (25cm+), ready to catch, and we supply fish to private farm dams and aquaponic fish growers in NSW, Queensland and Victoria. There are some translocation restrictions to supply WA, but we do intend to expand in the future. Our competitive edge is that we can supply the complete package – native fish, natural foods and living water filters. Stocking native fish is a great addition to dams/ponds. We are proud to be a part of the native fish stocking program and we receive many photos from dam owners with kids and grandchildren holding up the prize catch from their own private dams. It’s rewarding to work with Mother Nature.

AMR: What exciting developments do you have in the works for the future of AquaBlue Seafoods?

NM: We are a NSW DPI Fisheries HQAS quality assurance approve fish hatchery, and we have received many inquiries and orders for the Dollar for Dollar program restocking 2023/24 season. We are well under way with this fantastic season’s response. We’ve recently stocked more than ever before due to an increase in demand for sustainably farmed, market-size food fish. Plus, our recent work at a former mine site is really valuable, so thank you to Westside open cut for the opportunity.

Stocking of fingerlings and natural self-producing foods is a sustainable and rewarding exercise for a future filled with healthy, thriving fish. In fact, the silver perch that we stock is listed as critically endangered nationally, vulnerable in NSW, threatened in Victoria and protected in parts of Queensland. So having this species in waterways is a complete benefit to the environment. AquaBlue Seafoods is proud to make a real difference in this area.