Growing the future Barra farmers
A pre-employment program builds a career path in aquaculture
There is great demand for skilled aquaculture workers in northern Australia, particularly at Humpty Doo Barramundi. Our recent West Farm expansion of 12 ponds means more fish on your plate in the future; it also creates a need for more people now to make it happen!
Fortunately, a career pathway for people passionate about working in aquaculture is within reach thanks to a collaboration between NT Seafood Council, Charles Darwin University (CDU) and ISACNT, along with Humpty Doo Barramundi and Paspaley Pearling Company, to initiate the Watch it Grow program.
Watch it Grow offers a tailored four week pre-employment program consisting of alternate weeks of study and worksite visits. Once the four week program is completed, participants have the opportunity to transition into a Certificate III in Aquaculture with either Humpty Doo Barramundi or Paspaley Pearling Company.
Nine students were selected in the first Watch it Grow program, which includes work experience at Humpty Doo Barramundi and Paspaley Pearling. The students' first visit to the farm supported their learning at CDU, and it was great to see a range of ages, backgrounds and life experience - including those with some aquaculture knowledge.
We're looking forward to welcoming the students on farm for work experience, and hopefully as new team members, in the very near future.
So, what's in the feed?
The food is designed to mimic our Barra's natural diet needs as much as possible while easing pressure on wild fish stocks by incorporating a range of proteins from vegetables and grains, as well as proteins from places that manufacture food for human consumption, including chicken, beef and fish. Instead of being discarded, these proteins are heat treated and dried, allowing what would normally be wasted to be converted into sustainable barramundi food and form part of a circular economy.
Barramundi can digest a wide range of proteins to optimise their health and growth. In the wild, they will eat other fish, birds, frogs, prawns, crabs, tadpoles, insects etc - if it's in the water, and it fits in their mouths, they'll eat it!
By incorporating proteins that would otherwise be discarded, we can grow a premium Australian product sustainably, while reducing pressure on our oceans and reducing food waste.
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