Kangaroo Island Community Education

KI Aquaculture Skills Centre

KI Community Education, Parndana Campus

Barramundi is rated as one of Australia’s best eating fish – and cafes and restaurants on Kangaroo Island are tapping into an unlikely source for this highly valued product.

School students at the Parndana campus of KI Community Education have helped establish a groundbreaking aquaculture project, KI Aquaculture Skills Centre, producing fresh and smoked barramundi.

Local eateries are queuing up for the top quality product and a new aquaponics initiative developed by the students has even captured the interest of commercial fish farmers. Waste water from the fish farm is being recycled and used to grow herbs and vegetables, creating a second revenue stream in a development that could benefit industry. Plants naturally filter the waste water, which is high in nutrients, allowing it to be returned to the fish farm.

It’s an exciting initiative which started two years ago when the skills centre won a $10,000 Environmentally Sustainable Development Grant from the Department of Education and Children’s Services to further its water conservation measures. This has been followed with recent support from the Federal Government’s Community Water Grant program which will result in the water being used three times – first for the fish, then aquaponics and finally to flush the school’s toilets.

Managed by aquaculture professional Jon Lark, the skills centre has been integrated into all areas of the school’s curriculum from reception to year 12. Students are given an insight into the many aspects of running a fledgling primary production facility, with the project used as a teaching tool in areas such as maths, science, biology, chemistry, technical studies, marketing and home economics.
Visitors to Kangaroo Island are able to taste the results of their efforts at various local restaurants.

Visitors to Kangaroo Island are able to taste the results of their efforts at various local restaurants.

Good Food Kangaroo Island is an industry group formed to encourage and support value adding producers and protect the integrity of the Island’s produce. Regional food groups have been established throughout South Australia and are actively working with producers to establish regional branding and long term relationships with major retailers seeking access to high quality, branded products.

Contact us for more information about produce, transport, reservations and tourist attractions.