To offer a truly sustainable solution, Fremantle Seaweed is committed to ensuring the organisation offers a holistic solution that both positively impacts people and the planet. Along with the benefits to the environment, seaweed farms have been proven to deliver extensive social outcomes for communities including employment, income, skills development, community connection as well as mental and physical wellness. However, extensive research has also identified that to realise these benefits to the community, strategies need to account for the local contextual factors. For our aquaculture lease in Derbal Nara (Cockburn Sound), this will involve understanding the needs and values of the general community, as well as of specific groups including local commercial fisherman, recreational maritime users and First Nations groups.
Fremantle Seaweed is a member of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and participates as a committee member on the Marine and Engineering committee. Our participation on the committee gives us the opportunity to actively shape the future of Fremantle by providing comments on key developments in the Marine and Engineering sector.
To provide a pathway into the aquaculture industry, Fremantle Seaweed is working with South Metro Tafe by offering space on the 32ha aquaculture lease in Derbal Nara for students to complete practical research for their educational development. Additionally, Fremantle Seaweed is participating in the Knodes Network program, a collaboration between UWA, Blue Gravity and Industry to provide start-ups with access to specialised knowledge & experts to help accelerate new ideas, while providing academics with unique industry experience in the international, sustainable start-up sector.
Fremantle Seaweed has engaged with South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council and looks forward to meeting with the Cultural Advice Committee to discuss the project in greater detail. We acknowledge the Whadjuk peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the waters that Fremantle Seaweed’s aquaculture operations are situated upon. We acknowledge the wisdom of Aboriginal Elders past and present, and pay respect to Aboriginal communities of today. We recognise the rich and diverse culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the valuable contribution this diversity brings to our aquaculture operations.
