Yumbah opens new $1 million South Australian processing facility

Yumbah Aquaculture – the largest abalone producer in the southern hemisphere – has today officially opened its new million dollar Central Processing Facility at Wingfield, South Australia.

Opened by The Honorable Leon Bignell MP, South Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, the new facility – initially staffed by 12 full-time employees – will process more than 600 tonnes of abalones per annum. Packaged sales of abalone from this facility are estimated to be more than $26 million AUD next year alone.

Yumbah – meaning large shellfish in the indigenous Yaygirr language – is a collection of four on-shore abalone farms located at Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Narrawong (near Portland in Victoria) and Bicheno in Tasmania.

Anthony Hall, Director, Yumbah Aquaculture, said the opening of its new Central Processing Facility was a significant milestone in the development of the company, and one that will ensure the organisation continues to evolve and grow.

“As the largest abalone producer in the southern hemisphere, Yumbah Aquaculture is driving a vertical integration model to bring greater efficiencies and certainty into its supply chain, to continue its growth supplying local and export markets with premium seafood.

“Following the establishment of Yumbah Aquafeeds at Lonsdale in Adelaide’s south earlier this year, the opening of this new Central Processing Facility means we are now the only Australian abalone farmer to own and control every aspect of our operations from feed development right through to processing, packaging, and sales” Mr Hall said.

South Australia’s Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell said high quality local seafood was an important part of the State Government’s plan to capitalise on the increasing global demand for premium products.

“The aquaculture industry in South Australia is one of the largest in economic value in Australia and the most diverse in the country,” Mr Bignell said.

“To have Yumbah’s central processing facility here in South Australia – receiving abalone from across the country and exporting it to the world – is great for the State’s economy and employment.”

“The growing world demand for premium products – like abalone – which are cleanly, safely and sustainably produced creates significant opportunities for South Australia’s food and beverage businesses to continue to grow and develop.”

Mr Hall continued, “I want to thank The Honorable Leon Bignell MP for officially opening our new Facility here today and we look forward to continuing to work with the South Australian Government to expand and develop our various businesses across the state in the coming months and years.”

Yumbah Aquaculture accounts for more than 80 full-time jobs across its four farms and support businesses, as well as millions of dollars in revenue for the Australian economy with turnover exceeding $20million AUD in 2017. Its two South Australian based operations in Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island have a current net value of more than $65 million.

More than 80 per cent of the 700 tonnes of abalone grown at Yumbah’s four farms is exported to Japan, Asia, the US and Europe.

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