Tasmania’s Huon Aquaculture has launched the first of its four state-of-the-art feed barges.
The barges are being built by local steel fabrication company Haywards, and will assist Huon in improving the way it feeds its salmon, whilst also reducing the company’s impact on the environment.
“Our new feed barges will be the best in the world without question. They will be the best in terms of design, technology, safety and efficiency,” said Huon Aquaculture managing director, Peter Bender.
Huon says that the $14.5 million investment in these four vessels means that the company will be delivering feed to its salmon more efficiently than anywhere else in the world.
The Huon, the first of the four feed barges, was launched on 30 June by the Honourable Will Hodgman, Premier of Tasmania, alongside Huon co-founders and owners Peter and Frances Bender.
“Our new feed barges are already generating world-wide interest and we only launched our first one today. I think that interest is testament to our approach to business improvement; we scour the world for the best available technology and then try to improve it right here in Tasmania. That’s how we developed our new fortress pens and these new feed barges,” said Peter Bender.
In addition to world leading feed system technology, the new feed barges will be home to Huon’s dedicated feed teams and have been fitted out with all the creature comforts as well as ensuring the safety of staff at all times.
Other benefits of the new barge include high tech feed systems that use cutting-edge technology to determine when the fish are hungry and when they are full, which means less waste and less impact on the environment.
“To continue to grow responsibly and remain at the forefront of our industry we must constantly improve. Right now we are poised to make substantial advances in our farming operations as we grow our business and this new feed barge is another example of how we are doing that,” said Mr Bender.
