What is the modification?
The original approval was for two leases located off Callala Beach and one lease over a former mussel farm off Vincentia. Aquaculture leases AL15/001 and AL15/002 were located 1.4km and 1.9km southeast of Callala Beach and AL15/003 was 650m from the Vincentia waterfront. Blue Mussels and oysters are currently grown on Callala Beach leases.
The modification involved:
- moving the two Callala Beach leases slightly north-west and moving the Vincentia lease to be in-between the Callala Beach leases.
- increasing the total lease area from 50 to 70 hectares. This increase will allow for ongoing production during the lease realignment process and support enhanced production economies in the longer term.
Why was the modification needed?
- To improve community amenity by relocating the inshore Vincentia lease to the offshore location of the Callala Beach leases
- To correct an error in Callala Beach lease coordinates made when maps were digitised in 2013
- To allow for the realignment of mussel longlines for operational efficiencies
- To increase the lease area to allow for the re-alignment of longlines and maintain production during the modifications, while enhancing the economics of the business going forward
- To adopt new anchor and buoy technology to reduce the already low risks to marine fauna and the environment.
What were the key reasons for approving the modification?
The modification:
- will consolidate farm operations to a single location off Callala Beach, improving navigational safety and community amenity, particularly in relation to visual impacts
- adopts a screw anchor system for the longlines, which is recognised as industry best practice
- responds to the current state of knowledge regarding the species of Blue Mussel found on the NSW east coast by including the species Mytilus.planulatus on the list of approved species to be farmed and committing to further research into the species and distribution of Blue Mussels in Jervis Bay
- will benefit the local and NSW economy by generating five construction jobs and 15 additional operational jobs, as well as increasing the production and sale of mussels locally and interstate
- will improve operational efficiencies through the realignment and expansion of the longline infrastructure and corrects the coordinates for the lease areas
- supports the growth and expansion of the marine aquaculture industry in NSW, consistent with the NSW Marine Waters Aquaculture Strategy.
What were the key points raised from the public consultation?
Species selection
| Issue | Consideration |
|---|---|
Species being farmed is "non- native" and may impact on ecological integrity of the Jervis Bay Marine Park | Natural endemic populations of Blue Mussel have now been confirmed to consist of hybrids of M. galloprovincialis and M. planulatus. SCM only collect Blue Mussels found in the wild and have not attempted to change the species mix naturally present. Benthic and water quality monitoring have demonstrated the mussel farm is not having any adverse impacts on the ecological integrity of the JBMP. Monitoring will continue as part of the expanded farm operations. DPIRD has committed to carrying out genetic testing of Blue Mussels found in and around Jervis Bay to expand the knowledge of this species and its distribution. This testing has already commenced. |
Biosecurity
| Issue | Consideration |
|---|---|
Biosecurity risks associated with farming of an "invasive" species and taking spat from Twofold Bay which has international boat traffic | The translocation of spat is managed in accordance with the NSW Blue Mussel Spat Translocation Protocol (Twofold Bay to Jervis Bay) (DPI, 2022) (the Protocol). The Protocol sets out biosecurity requirements SCM must implement to move Blue Mussel spat from Twofold Bay to Jervis Bay for commercial aquaculture grow-out. SCM will update the existing Disease, Parasite and Pest Management Plan (DPPMP) to address potential new pest species and increased boat traffic in Twofold Bay which will ensure the DPPMP is contemporary and will continue to provide an appropriate framework to manage biosecurity risks for the expanded farm. The requirement for audits to be carried out will be maintained to ensure there continues to be independent oversight across farm operations. |
Spatfall distribution
| Issue | Consideration |
|---|---|
Spat distribution and biofouling on boats having adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem and causing a financial burden | DPIRD will carry out a Spatfall and Genetics Monitoring Program to better understand natural spatfall distribution patterns in Jervis Bay over time. This will help to understand any annual trends associated with ‘boom and bust’ cycles and/or if the SCM mussel farm is increasing spatfall around Jervis Bay and causing biofouling in Currambene Creek. Recommended conditions/response: DPIRD will commence the program within six months of the approval of the modification and report annually on the findings of the study to the Planning Secretary thereafter. This information will be publicly available. |
Visual impacts
| Issue | Consideration |
|---|---|
Visual impacts from leases being larger and closer to shore | The relocated leases proposed under this modification will result in the lease areas being approximately 1,250 m, 1,710 m and 1,560 m from Callala Beach shore for leases AL15/001, AL15/002 and AL15/003, respectively. DPHI is satisfied the relocated leases are therefore unlikely to increase the visual impacts of the leases as viewed from Callala Beach. |
Community benefits
| Issue | Consideration |
|---|---|
Lack of benefit to the community | It is understood that SCM employs 35 full-time and 17 part-time jobs and contributes to the local and State economy. The expansion of the farm will increase employment by up to 15 additional full-time jobs during operation and five construction workers. Deployment of the water quality monitoring buoy also provides real time publicly available water quality data for Jervis Bay. The Proponent has also reported the leases are used regularly by divers and fisherman. DPHI notes the leases are non-exclusive areas, meaning that other water users are free to access and use the lease area, as long as they do not interfere with any infrastructure or operations. |
Navigational conflicts
| Issue | Consideration |
|---|---|
Navigational conflicts with other waterway users and the Jervis Bay Cruising Yacht Club racing courses | DPHI is satisfied the existing conditions regarding navigation safety will continue to ensure the safety of other waterway users following relocation of the leases noting they will be located to the satisfaction of Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and must comply with international standards. DPHI concurs with the views of TfNSW that the consolidated location for the three leases within Jervis Bay represents a better safety, environmental, access and amenity outcome when compared to the separate Vincentia and Callala Beach locations. The proposed lease locations have had regard to other waterway users such as the local yachting community. |
References
DPIRD Blue Mussel Genetics and Spatfall Monitoring Program
Update March 2026
As part of the approval to modify the location and size of the mussel farming leases in Jervis Bay the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has commenced a genetics and mussel spatfall monitoring program.
It is a condition of approval that the program is undertaken for a minimum of 3 years with results reported to the Department of Planning and Housing Infrastructure.
DPIRD will communicate updates and results of the program directly to the key community stakeholders and publish information on the DPIRD website.
Genetic assessment work
In February 2025, mussels were collected from both the mussel farm and wild mussel populations in Jervis Bay Marine Park, along with wild mussels from Bermagui, Shoalhaven, Sussex Inlet, and Shellharbour. Mussels were sampled from rocky reefs and artificial structures such as seawalls and jetties.
These mussels are being genetically tested by the University of Queensland with results expected shortly.
Image of mussels being collected off Huskisson Wharf, Jervis Bay
Spatfall monitoring work
Mussel spat catching ropes have been placed in the water in various locations in bays and estuaries across south NSW, including in four areas within the Jervis Bay Marine Park. The ropes were placed in the water in August 2025. This timing aligns with Blue Mussel settlement time, when the larvae have been swimming in the water column for around 4 weeks after spawning.
Upon collection, the number of mussel spat collected on each rope are counted, and samples are preserved for future testing (e.g. genetic analysis) if required.
Some of the locations chosen for spatfall monitoring in Jervis Bay match the locations used in previous work and areas where mussels were collected for genetic testing. Mussel spat catching ropes were also deployed in Twofold Bay which has active mussel farming operations.
Other areas such as Batemans Marine Park and the Shoalhaven/Crookhaven, were chosen to deploy spat catching ropes to provide information on spatfall in places where mussels are not commercially cultivated.
Mussels spatfall monitoring ropes deployed along the South coast.
What is the purpose of the program
The purpose of the mussel spatfall monitoring program is to investigate trends of mussel recruitment within Jervis Bay and more broadly along the southern coast of NSW. Results from this program will be used to inform sustainable management of aquaculture activities within NSW marine protected areas.
The program will be repeated annually and then reviewed after three years.
The spatfall results will be paired with the genetics work to:
- Compare the genetics of farmed and wild caught stock to determine if they could be of common origin
- Create a record of spatfall trends over time, between different locations, and determine at what level the increase in spatfall is to be considered an impact.
All results will be reported to the Department of Planning and Housing Infrastructure who will consider future management responses.
When can we expect the first results
DPIRD collected spat ropes in December 2025 and are currently counting the mussel catch. Data will be made available on the DPIRD website when counts are complete.
Where can we find the results
DPIRD will publish updates on this webpage.
Further information contact DPIRD Aquaculture Management aquaculture.management@dpird.nsw.gov.au or https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/fishing/aquaculture
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/marine-parks/jervis-bay-marine-park
Further information
For more information on the modification application, assessment and decision, please refer to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure planning portal.
For enquiries regarding aquaculture in Jervis Bay, please contact Aquaculture Management at aquaculture.management@dprid.nsw.gov.au
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