Indigenous aquaculture in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia is set for a boost – supported by Broome’s major Aboriginal cultural tourism experience, the Manbana Aquaculture Centre incorporating a Multi Species Hatchery.

These operations recognised a need to strengthen their commercial focus – and contracted Rural Solutions SA to analyse their business and plan a viable way forward.

The contract involved wide consultation with all stakeholders plus significant market research – and the delivery of detailed recommendations and action plans for the three associated businesses: the Kimberley Aquaculture Aboriginal Corporation (KAAC), Multi Species Hatchery (MSH) and Manbana Discovery Centre (MDC).

The Rural Solutions SA team (including partners Dos Aqua and Edge Tourism) brought to this project a broad working experience of commercial indigenous business and sustaining traditional culture from work with projects on bush food cultivation, mining rights negotiations and responsible environmental management.

As the regional industry body representing indigenous people and organisations with aquaculture interests,KAAC is gathering all appropriate experience to meet its goals. Some of the recommendations presented to KAAC included how to develop identified business opportunities; guidelines for pursuing non-Government and fee for service work; and tighter budgeting and monitoring tools.

MSH management and reporting has been restructured to better meet commercial operations; its focus has been widened to consider joint ventures and leasing or subletting the facility to other aquaculture businesses.

“The plans present a viable and positive future for us“ said KAAC Chairperson Charla Clements,” and we hope that the community, aquaculture industry, government and visitors to the Kimberley can support this important initiative.”

The business and market analysis process for this typified the thoroughness of the Rural Solutions SA team and its partners from DosAqua and Edge Tourism which interviewed ornamental fish importers, retailers and freight forwarders while assembling sales statistics, management plans and financial projections.

Recommendations for change and growth were supported with all the required analysis, legal, educational, social and cultural considerations – plus practical action plans of resourcing and scheduling.

“We really appreciated the detail and ‘hands-on’ approach which produced the plan,” said Charla. “The consultancy team became part of our team to understand our issues but could also speak with some independence from us of what needed to change.”

Our market analysis and business development expertise has been applied in a number of industries.

Contact: Daniel Casement