Aquaculture
Monsoon Aquatics has emerged as a global leader in sustainable coral aquaculture, achieving significant milestones that advance both the ornamental marine trade and reef conservation efforts.
Investing in the future
Establishment of Australia's Largest Land-Based Coral Farm
Our facility in Bundaberg, Queensland, stands as Australia’s largest dedicated land-based coral farm. This site serves as a central hub for our aquaculture operations, facilitating large-scale coral propagation and research.
- 5 acre fully approved waterfront aquaculture site
- Oceanic pipeline able to supply over 20,000 litres of clean ocean water each hour
- 1500 square metres of indoor coral aquaculture space
- 250 square metres of corals frags growing out and room for more
- Dedicated coral spawning lab
- Dedicated live food production area
- Dedicated coral propagation area producing over 2500 frags per week
- 3rd generation coral frags from numerous species
You can take a tour of the farm by following this link – Australia’s Largest Coral Farm – Full Tour! – YouTube
Leading the way
Pioneering Coral Spawning Success
Monsoon Aquatics has successfully spawned and settled more than a dozen coral species in captivity, including Acropora, Micromussa lordhowensis, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi, Homophyllia australis (Scoly), and Euphyllia glabrescens (Torch). During the 2024–2025 season, we settled over 40,000 corals, marking a significant advancement in land-based coral propagation. Our plan is to scale this up further with the aim to reach 100s of thousands and beyond.
In 2021, we achieved a significant milestone in coral aquaculture by successfully spawning and settling Homophyllia australis (Scoly), one of the first documented captive breeding successes for this species globally. Following this breakthrough, we nurtured the juvenile corals in dedicated grow-out systems for over a year to ensure their health and viability, and have replicated this success in every subsequent year since. As a result, we were able to release our first batch of captive-spawned and raised Scolys to the market in June 2023 and continue to do so.
Experience and Scale
Comprehensive Coral Propagation Program
Our coral propagation program provides our customers with a large range and consistent supply of coral frags. Producing up to 2,000 frags each week, we propagate entry level frags right through to super rare high-end collectors editions. Our frags are conditioned to the aquarium environment so they are ready to go right out of the box. Check out our signature range of frags.
Integrated Approach
Multi Trophic Aquaculture
Our approach on the coral farm involves cultivating multiple species from different levels of the food chain in a shared system, creating a balanced and sustainable ecosystem. Alongside producing corals, we run a live food hatchery for rotifers, phytoplankton and copepods. We also currently produce clownfish, urchins, snails, and shrimp. We have the potential to produce much more, including clams and growing seagrass. By mimicking natural reef interactions, multi-trophic aquaculture promotes ecological resilience, diversifies farm outputs, and contributes to more sustainable marine ornamental production.
Collaboration
Partnerships to Accelerate Progress
CORDAP
The Coral Research and Development Accelerate Platform (CORDAP) is a G20 initiative for cutting edge research and development to support international coral conservation efforts that are required to secure a future for coral reefs. Monsoon Aquatics is in the industry partner on a CORDAP funded project titled ‘Super Supplement: Boosting coral resilience through nutritional supplements’. This project is led by the Future Reefs Group, within the University of Technology Sydney in partnership with international academic institutions (the University of Malaya and the Scientific Centre of Monaco), end users (CoralKu, Coral catch) and Monsoon Aquatics. The project unites 70+ years of experience and knowledge, comprising of a multi‐national, transdisciplinary team integrating coral scientists, medical biologists, analytical chemists, leading aquaculture industry specialists and local coral restoration practitioners. The team aim to develop a customised coral super supplement called “CoraBoost”, to improve coral resilience to thermal stress.
Supporting Research Scientists
We have research collaborations and MOUs with several universities, and are involved in producing peer reviewed collaborative journal articles. We have hosted cutting edge research related to coral bleaching resilience. We are also supplying space and material (high quality coral larvae) to facilitate research by universities and research institutions.
Government Recognition and Support
Monsoon Aquatics has been awarded over $500,000 in federal funding through the Australian Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation program.
Innovating
Optimising for Success
Whilst commercial coral aquaculture is currently in it’s infancy, further research and development will be required to improve its viability. Monsoon Aquatics has made several advancements in developing improved coral aquaculture systems for in-house production. These include paddle-wheel tanks, and intensive larval rearing and settlement systems. We have supplied these to Central Queensland University for their Seagrass program.
Sharing Knowledge
Commitment to Sustainability and Education
Beyond commercial operations, Monsoon Aquatics is dedicated to environmental stewardship and public education. We offer guided tours of our Bundaberg facility, providing insights into coral biology, aquaculture techniques, and the importance of reef conservation.
At Monsoon Aquatics our sustainably harvested wild-caught range and our aquacultured range complement each other to provide our customers with a consistent supply of affordable, high-quality corals and clams.
We have dedicated aquaculture programs at our Darwin and Bundaberg facilities where we produce giant clams through spawning and corals through propagation (fragging) and spawning.
Our Bundaberg facility is Australia’s largest coral farm:
- 5 acre fully approved waterfront aquaculture site
- Oceanic pipeline able to supply over 20,000 litres of clean ocean water each day
- 1500 square metres of indoor coral aquaculture space
- 250 square metres of corals frags growing out and room for more
- Dedicated coral spawning lab
- Dedicated live food production area
- Dedicated coral propagation area producing over 2500 frags per week
- 3rd generation coral frags from numerous species
You can take a tour of the farm by following this link – Australia’s Largest Coral Farm – Full Tour! – YouTube
Our coral propagation program provides our customers with consistent supply and a larger range to fill their orders with. We can supply entry level frags right through to the super rare high-end collectors editions. Our frags are conditioned to the aquarium environment so they are ready to go right out of the box.
We are also investing heavily into the research and development of new and improved coral aquaculture methods. This includes our coral spawning program which we started in 2019 that focuses on key species of importance to the Aquarium industry. We have been awarded multiple Accelerating Commercialisation grants from the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources through their Entrepreneurs’ Programme.
So far we have spawned six species, including a successful world first spawning and grow out of Homophyllia australis otherwise known as Scoly coral.
Our vision is to be able to supply the ornamental aquarium market with fully aquacultured corals, and to use the procedures and technology developed for future reef restoration efforts.
Our coral propagation program provides our customers with consistent supply and a larger range to fill their orders with. We can supply entry level frags right through to the super rare high-end collectors editions. Our frags are conditioned to the aquarium environment so they are ready to go right out of the box. Check out our signature range of frags.