Tassal Group has completed its acquisition of MPA Fish Farms Pty Ltd and MPA Marketing Pty Ltd (MPA), which operate Australia’s only ocean-based barramundi farm at Cone Bay, Western Australia.

Tassal, part of Cooke, is Australia’s largest vertically integrated seafood grower, processor, marketer and seller with nearly 2,000 people employed across Australia. Tassal managing director and CEO, Mark Ryan, said he looks forward to adding Australian ocean-farmed barramundi to the business. “Tassal has turned around both the salmon and prawn industries in Australia before and has the skills and capabilities to apply the same learnings and intellectual capital to do this for the MPA companies and the wider barramundi industry in Australia. We are excited to bring world-class engineering, technology, innovative equipment, and 36 years’ experience in aquaculture to operating this barramundi farm,” said Mr Ryan.

Tassal will have a head-start by leveraging excellent existing relationships with retailers across Australia to reinforce the reputation of West Australian barramundi as a premium product. MPA currently produces around 1,600 tonnes of barramundi annually in Australia.

“Once operations are consolidated, we will look at growth opportunities. This is a huge win for Northern WA, and a win for local jobs and investment. At Tassal we work in regional areas across the country and are committed to working closely with traditional owners and the local community,” he said.

Tassal branded barramundi is due to hit the market in November 2023 just in time for an Australian summer.