In a remote part of the Northern Territory, Humpty Doo Barramundi is setting the standard for industry best practice in aquaculture. Kim Berry writes.
This year, Humpty Doo Barramundi (HDBarra) will produce 3600 tonnes of saltwater barramundi for local and international markets. The farm is built on what was once degraded rice fields halfway between Darwin and Kakadu on a bend in the Adelaide River.
Owner and MD Bob Richards started out in 1993 with little money, no land and no knowledge of what might work. His son, co-owner and MD operations Dan Richards told Food & Drink Business Bob was a pioneer in the industry and made a significant investment into R&D with trial and error farming in an untried territory.
“We are passionate about our fish, environment and people. And we’re constantly striving to learn, try new things and improve our practices. Because we are a family business, we are very long term in our thinking.
“Both Dad and I have an environmental management background, so environmental management was a passion from the beginning. We very much see ourselves as custodians on the land. We pride ourselves on our rigorous environmental management systems and have reduced our water discharge to almost nil. Our water treatment system is the first of its kind in Australia."
The farm’s environmental credentials were recognised late last year when it won the Australian Government Landcare Farming Award at the NT Landcare Awards.
It is now in the running for national recognition at the 2020 Landcare Awards.
