Congratulations to PIAA member, Monsoon Aquatics…

Monsoon Aquatics began with an Aussie backyard, a tinny and a dream. 

‘At first it was just me going out to the reef and snorkelling, reef walking and collecting,’ says Daniel Kimberley, Monsoon Aquatics Director. 

Today the Northern Territory-based company is a world-leading exporter of sustainably sourced Aussie coral and marine life. With state-of-the-art facilities in Darwin, Cairns and Bundaberg, Monsoon Aquatics supplies retailers, wholesalers and public aquaria around the world. 

It’s a success story that sees Monsoon Aquatics awarded the Australian Exporter of the Year at the 59th Australian Export Awards. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan congratulated the exporter for its contribution to the economy. He also commended its sustainable exporting model. 

What makes Kimberley most proud is Monsoon Aquatics’ vision. 

‘We believe in bringing the wonder and beauty of the coral reef to the world, so it can be enjoyed, understood, valued and protected,’ he says. 

Monsoon Aquatics exports to Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. It leads the market in supplying the largest range of marine life in a single export shipment. 

Monsoon Aquatics was the first company to export Territory coral to an international market in 2011. Exports now make up around 80% of its business. 

‘That's all new money coming back into the Territory and into Australia,’ says Kimberley. ‘We’re really proud of that.’ 

Monsoon Aquatics’ livestock is collected under strict, government-regulated licences. The company works with animals listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This comes with a unique set of challenges. 

‘The challenges have not been so much finding the customers,’ says Kimberley. ‘It’s getting the product to them legally. Each region has different requirements. There’s a lot of paperwork. It's quite complicated.’ 

More recently, Monsoon Aquatics branched into aquaculture. It is working to spawn and grow its own corals. This arm of the business is a future focus, says Kimberley.

Congratulations to everyone at Monsoon Aquatics