Australis Aquaculture
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aquaculture |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Josh Goldman |
| Headquarters | Greenfield, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | North America, Vietnam |
Key people | Josh Goldman (Co-founder and CEO) |
| Products | Ocean-farmed barramundi, The Better Fish, Clean Harvest |
Australis Aquaculture, LLC is a company specializing in the production and distribution of ocean-farmed barramundi, with its headquarters located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The firm is dedicated solely to offshore aquaculture and manages its own barramundi farming operations in Vietnam. Australis is recognized for introducing barramundi to consumers across North America.
History
Josh Goldman, co-founder and CEO, began working with closed-containment aquaculture systems during his time as a student at Hampshire College in the 1980s. After establishing one of the pioneering commercial aquaponics ventures, he devoted 15 years to advancing closed containment farming technologies. In the early 2000s, Goldman evaluated various fish species for aquaculture suitability and chose barramundi due to its minimal environmental footprint, dependable captive breeding, favorable taste, and nutritional benefits.
Australis was established in 2004 in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, initially utilizing recirculating aquaculture system technology to cultivate barramundi. One significant hurdle was introducing this relatively unknown fish to the U.S. market. Goldman concentrated on fostering partnerships with chefs, nutrition experts, and environmental advocates to emphasize sustainability and promote healthy dietary choices.
In 2007, the company expanded its production facilities to Van Phong Bay, located in central Vietnam. By September 2018, Australis divested one of its U.S.-based farms to Great Falls Aquaculture.
Activities
At its Turner Falls facility in Massachusetts, Australis applies Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology for land-based barramundi farming. Its Vietnamese operations integrate onshore closed containment tanks with offshore ocean pen systems.
The company processes and markets fish under its proprietary brands The Better Fish and Clean Harvest, along with private label products. The Vietnamese site specializes in producing flash-frozen fillets and portions that are distributed to foodservice companies and prominent retailers such as French Laundry, Whole Foods Market, and HelloFresh.
Environmental impact
Barramundi's sustainability advantages include its capacity to be raised on a diet predominantly composed of plant-based proteins while still preserving omega-3 fatty acid levels. Unlike salmon—which require up to three pounds of fish-derived feed per pound of harvested meat—Australis’ barramundi consume only about half a pound of feed per pound of fish, primarily sourced from byproducts of herring processing.
Additionally, founder Josh Goldman launched Greener Grazing, an initiative focused on cultivating Asparagopsis algae to mitigate methane emissions from livestock. Australis Aquaculture also maintains a long-term collaboration with Ocean Wise, a program dedicated to seafood sustainability.