Skills and Responsibilities:

Management of accounting procedures,
Design and Construction Team, Operating procedures, design and implementation, Public Relations
Operational and Heavy Equipment (HR Qld. transport licence)

Rob is the vice president of the AAQ. His newly established grow-out farm is the most innovative silver perch farm in Australia. With a target production of between 400-800 tons this farm will lead the way to a potentially large export market.

Rob Bartley is a farmer who has been employed by the family business for 12 years. Rob has been involved in aquaculture since 1997 and is a member of the World Aquaculture Society, Aquacultural Engineers Society and the Aquaculture Association of Queensland Inc.

Initial involvement by way of a joint venture has allowed Rob to view the industry from the ground floor while providing time to fully research the methods and techniques that were to be employed in the development of their current operation Condabilla Fish Farm.

Last season Rob received a delivery of Golden Perch fingerlings. These fingerlings were from the Lake Eyre variety of Golden Perch. Until now this strain were not available from commercial hatcheries. It was suspected that the Lake Eyre strain may have desirable qualities for aquaculture. Rob has not been disappointed. The fingerlings dramatically out perform Silver Perch. Rob has described them as the "Barramundi of the inland."

In Rob's talk find out how well they grow, and what problems have been experienced and how Rob delt with these problems.

All this through the eyes of a qualified accountant with practical engineering and farming experience. A rare combination.