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Media
Release
New
farming opportunities for
Arnhem Land sea country
November 25, 2003
Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers are conducting a
major expedition to the coastal communities of Arnhem Land, to canvas
the potential for cultivating sea sponges.
If commercial sponge species are identified, pilot farms could be
set up within a few months, and a cottage industry within a year.
|
Testing the waters of Arnhem Land will be AIMS scientist Carsten
Wolff. He said if marketable sponges are present, they will be
processed on board the AIMS research vessel the RV Cape Ferguson,
where locals will be invited to watch, work and learn.
Once seabed surveys are completed and analysed, research plots
could be established at or near the homelands of Bawaka, Mata Mata and
Barrkira, and the communities of Maningrida and Wurruwi, where local
residents have eagerly invited the research and development of this
industry.
There is potentially an ocean of wealth in sea sponges with worldwide
demand for common bath sponges outstripping the current supply. But
that demand isn’t new. |
 Divers
farming sponges
|
"The people of ancient Rome and Greece believed in the
therapeutic properties of bath sponges. Interior decorators and
painters prefer the texture of natural sponges over synthetic ones and
they’re popular for cosmetics application too," Mr Wolff said.
|
Carsten Wolff has pioneered commercial sponge farming techniques and
has found they grow from cuttings, don’t need feeding, have low
mortality rates, and over two years have a growth rate of up to 2000
percent.
AIMS is already facilitating one sponge farm trial off Palm Island
in North Queensland. |
Researcher
sorting sponges
|
"It’s an ideal proposition for these remote communities
because they’re low maintenance, once they’re attached to ropes on
which they grow, they feed on naturally occurring food in the sea,
there are no feed-pollution issues, and farms utilise simple and
relatively inexpensive technology," Mr Wolff said.
"They’re quite easy
to grow, easy to transport, and they’re one of the few marine
invertebrates, other than coral, that have market recognition."
The project is a huge collaborative effort involving AIMS, State
and Federal Governments, Indigenous representative bodies, Lo-Tech
Aquaculture and coastal Aboriginal groups.
Media
contact
Carsten
Wolff, AIMS scientist
Mob: 0418 716 691
email: c.wolff@aims.gov.au
Wendy Ellery, AIMS Media
Liaison
Ph (07) 4753 4409
email: w.ellery@aims.gov.au
Subscribe to AIMS media releases at:
http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/about/communications/mc-mailing-list.html
AIMS home page
web@aims.gov.au
Last updated - November 25, 2003
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URL http://www.aims.gov.au
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