Historically, many decisions to enter the Marron industry have been lifestyle driven. Perhaps for the simple reason that no property will be 100% ideally suited to semi-intensive Marron farming across its entire acreage. Most, if not all existing Marron farms are incorporated as part of a broader family run agribusiness. If you are an existing land owner, you need to consider how much of your property will really be suited to this type of production and how it will fit in within other on- farm enterprises. If you are looking to purchase property with the view of Marron farming being an attractive lifestyle option then it is most likely that the extensive model will be the option you are after. The hard truth is that semi-intensive pond production of Marron is an increasingly expensive venture to set up, is just as risky & possibly as physically demanding if not more so than any other form of agriculture. To this effect, if you are serious about semi-intensive production of Marron, a good place to start is to volunteer your services for a day during the busy drain- down season to get a clear understanding of the type of work involved. You can contact the Association for help in finding a place. If your motivation for Marron farming is exclusively commercial, then we suggest that you should have a proper business plan,and technical feasability study for the whole operation. It is recommended that the feasibility study be carried out first, as those organisations who prepare professional business plans often lack the technical know-how of Marron farming and their financial figures are based on certain Marron production assumptions. These production projections and schedules are site specific and need a good understanding of Marron biology, site characteristics and knowledge of aquaculture in general. You will find more detailed information and planning tips in the Manual for Growers

Legal Requirements - Licensing

An aquaculture licence is required to legally sell Marron cultured in any production system. Currently the WA industry operates under a two tiered system administered by the Department of Fisheries WA. Commercial marron farming requires a licence and there are two types: • Marron-limited (commonly referred to as a ‘trapper’s licence’ or ‘restricted licence’). A person with this type of licence may sell marron over 76 mm in carapace length commercially to holders of a marron licence and holders of a fish processing licence that authorises them to process marron. • Marron-unlimited (commonly referred to as an ‘unrestricted marron licence’). A person with this type of licence may sell any size marron to any person. For example, they may make retail sales to their own customers or restaurants and food establishments as well as selling commercially to a licensed wholesale processor of marron. Please note: Anyone growing marron must source them from the holder of an aquaculture licence endorsed for marron or from the Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre. Due consideration must be given to licensing and approval process, as the time taken to complete this step is often the first stumbling block of new Marron producers. New farms must be contructed within a narrow window during late spring to late autumn when climatic conditions permit earthworks to begin, and final jonbs such as bird netting to be finished, before ponds can be filled and stocked. Given that timing is critical, its advisable to have all approvals in place before starting any earthworks or construction. More information on an Aquaculture Licence is available on ABLIS

Business Resources

The best place to start is to contact the Marron Growers Association, you can also find lots of information and links on our Resources Page. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development - Fisheries website contains a number of useful links to various sources and helpful documents. Visit: http://www.fish.wa.gov.au