Abalone farming project expanded in WA

An abalone aquaculture project will be expanded in Western Australia and could produce up to 100 tonnes of the seafood delicacy each year.

Premier Colin Barnett said Ocean Grown Abalone had been granted expansion approval after it developed an innovative production system off Augusta.

He said having more seabed structures in the bay would create abalone farming on a commercial scale.

"The network of structures designed and trialled by the company provides a habitat for the abalone, making it different from most other ocean farms around the world, which use suspended enclosures and require special feeding," Mr Barnett said.

The premier said a more natural open ocean environment was less stressful on the abalone because they could feed naturally on drifting seaweed, which reduced the biosecurity risks of ocean farming.

The WA government says the greenlip abalone will be ideal for the lucrative South East Asia export market.