Mussel boom for the Bellarine

VICTORIAN mussel production is set to hit record levels as Port Phillip growers expand their operations thanks to newly unlocked aquaculture sites.

Enabled by a $1.25 million investment from the state government, previously unused water in Port Phillip’s Aquaculture Fisheries Reserves is now being put to use for mussel farming.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant met with Sea Bounty’s Lance Wiffen, who farms mussels at a number of sites in the bay and runs the popular Portarlington Mussel Tours, last week to mark the milestone, which will see 18 new sites covering 290 hectares added to mussel farms across the bay.

The allocation, much of which sits within the Pinnace Channel reserve near Mud Island, is expected to boost mussel production by 700 tonnes and support more jobs across the supply chain.

 

 

“We’re proud to back local mussel farmers with the support they need to grow their operations, create more jobs and deliver top-quality seafood to more tables across Victoria and beyond,” Ms Marchant said.

“This is a great example of how local investment, clean waterways and passionate producers are driving growth in our aquaculture industry right here in Bellarine.”

In 2023-24, the Victorian mussel industry produced 1,700 tonnes of blue mussels valued at $6 million, as part of the state’s broader aquaculture industry, worth more than $58 million.

Last week, Sea Bounty was also successful in securing funding through the state’s Regional Worker Accommodation Fund.

 

 

With record migration to the regions, the fund aims to increase the supply of affordable housing and accommodation of workers in key regional industries — such as health, agriculture and hospitality — and their families.

Sea Bounty will use the funding to construction of a 10-bedroom, two-bathroom worker housing facility in St Leonards to provide accommodation to its mussel and oyster aquaculture workforce.

Ms Marchant said affordable, reliable housing was essential to attracting and keeping skilled workers in the Bellarine.

“This project is a practical step toward supporting the industries that keep our region strong.”