Monsoon Aquatics have been recognised for their sustainability practices in what is a unique industry at the Chief Ministers Export and Industry Awards last night.

Exporting hand-picked coral, marine fish and invertebrates to the aquarium hobby market and public aquaria all around the world, Monsoon Aquatic staff are regularly faced some of Australia’s deadliest animals their day-to-day activities.

The efforts Monsoon Aquatics undertake to focus on sustainable wild caught collection practices and developing aquaculture program earned them this award. 

Exporting product to North America, Asia, Europe and Africa, has seen Monsoon Aquatic international sales continue to grow, accounting for over 85% of revenue in 2018-19, up almost 250% from 2017-18. 

In the Agribusiness Food and Beverage Award category, South East Asian Livestock Services (SEALS) were recognised for their rapid growth, focus on finding niche and new markets to expand into and their best practice animal welfare standards.

The Darwin based company who export from across North Australia have gone from exporting 55,000 buffalo and cattle to 98,000 this past year. 

Family owned and operated Australian Blue Cypress were recognised for their manufacturing and export of high-grade essential oils with the Manufacturing Award.

The essential oil, which is harvested from native Cypress Pine trees purpose grown then processed near Darwin ultimately ends up in Utah to be sold by one of the largest essential oil companies in the world.

Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Paul Kirby: 

“18 quality organisations have been recognised for their contribution to our export industry last night at the awards, showcasing the depth of our export market here in the Northern Territory.

“It’s great to see such a range of award winners from Monsoon Aquatics, and the International College of Advanced Education, through to the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation who took out the Indigenous Business Award. 

“Off the back of posting an exceptionally pleasing $8.1 billion international trade balance for the year just gone, these awards recognise the importance of the export industry in the Territory and the local jobs it supports.” 

Full List of Winners:

Export Award Categories

• Seven Darwin NT Exporter of the Year – Australian Ilmenite Resources

• Territory FM Small Business Award – International College of Advanced Education

• StudyNT Education and Training Award – Charles Darwin University

• Pacific Labour Facility Agribusiness Food and Beverage Award – South East Asian Livestock Services 
  

• Darwin Port Minerals, Energy and Related Services Award – Australian Ilmenite Resources
  

• Austrade Emerging Exporter Award – Alana Kaye College
  

• Chamber NT Technology and Innovation Award – Plant Sensors
  

• International Business Council Professional Services Award – Pressure Dynamics
  

• NT Business Council Sustainability Award – Monsoon Aquatics
  

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Regional Exporter Award – Tourism Central Australia 
  

• Manufacturers Council Manufacturing Award – Australian Blue Cypress

Local Categories

• Department of Trade Business and Innovation Industry Innovation Award – Rise PC

• Department of Trade Business and Innovation Resource Supply and Service Award – Wilkinson Engineering

• ICN NT Manufacturing Industry Award – Steeline GRP

• Ichthys LNG Project Indigenous Business Award – Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

• Chamber NT Local Content Award – Sunbuild

Student Categories

• StudyNT International Student Winner – Jurse Joseph Salandanan 
  

• International Business Council Business Student Winner – Erika Mae Lu
  

Media contact – Hannah West 0436 641 108.