In some exciting news, we received confirmation our project is one of the six finalist to be accepted into the Hatch: Taronga Accelerator Program - www.taronga.org.au/hatch/accelerator-program This is a huge step forward for Bruny Island Seafarms and will help enormously in turning the vision into reality.

Put it in your diary to come to either of the community meetings at

• South Bruny on 6^th December (Alonnah) or
• North Bruny on 17^th January (Dennes Point)

The purpose of the meetings is to explain the Bruny Island Seafarm project to the wider community and gain further support. There are so many positive aspects to this project and time will be taken to explain why this is a vital initiative for the Bruny community.

The format will start with a 15-minute video to help explain why regenerative aquaculture is so important now and for future generations. Next will be an explanation of the Bruny Island Seafarm concept and project with an update on progress to date.

Finally, there will be an open forum to ask questions and have a general discussion. We are actively seeking more people to become involved and keep this initiative moving forward.

This is an entirely community-based project that will be coordinated by a non-profit charity, established here on Bruny.

It’s a project with no negatives, only positive outcomes for jobs, the community and the environment. One that all Islanders and Tasmanians can benefit from and support.

Jobs and employment opportunities are always an issue in any rural community. On Bruny, hospitality and tourism are the biggest employers. I would like to start some community discussion about creating a new source of sustainable employment on Bruny that has the potential to be a major employer.

It's called Ocean Farming, a form of aquaculture that is an environmentally friendly and sustainable method of growing food. A method that is very well established with a global footprint, has a 10 year track record of success, is relatively simple to establish and doesn't require massive amounts of capital to setup. Its ideally suited to the Channel waters off Bruny. If all that sounds a bit too good to be true, please read on.....

The Tasmanian government has identified the huge growth potential for seaweed production and supports the industry, forecast to grow to $1.5 billion by 2024. Reprinted here is a report produced by UTAS and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies that looks at the current seaweed production in Tasmania and the forecasts for the future. It's a bit dense but a very interesting read.

It's becoming more obvious, land based agriculture is not keeping pace with global demand. The amount of ariable available is not keep pace and our forests are being detroyed to make way for even more and more room to grow crops and livestock.

The ocean is a lrgely untapped resource, apart from over-fishing, that can indeed feed the planet.