Monsoon Aquatics’ sustainable approach to exporting

From the Territory to the world! Monsoon Aquatics is a world-leading supplier of sustainably sourced coral and marine life. This Australian Export Awards finalist goes to great depths for its customers and the reef.

An industry leader in the worldwide aquarium trade, Monsoon Aquatics has innovated since its humble beginnings in 2008. Monsoon Director Daniel Kimberley reflects on success, science and sustainability.

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. 

‘Monsoon Aquatics is a fantastic example of the resilience and innovation in our export sector,’ Minister Tehan says. 

Bringing the wonder of Australian reefs to the world 

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.’ 

A sustainable, scientific approach 

Sustainability has always been top priority for Monsoon Aquatics. It pioneered the collection of live coral and fish from some of the Northern Territory’s most remote locations. 

‘We don’t own the reef,’ says Kimberley. ‘It’s a shared resource for all Australians, so it’s our obligation to harvest sustainably.’ 

Monsoon Aquatics regularly contributes to scientific research. It works alongside organisations like the Australian Institute of Marine Science, James Cook University and Darwin Aquaculture Centre. 

‘We’ve discovered multiple new species of fish,’ says Kimberley. ‘We’ve worked with the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory to have these named, described and published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 

‘We’ve also discovered a new type of coral unique to the region. We named it the Croc Island Scoly, a name synonymous with the Northern Territory.’ 

Monsoon Aquatics’ long-term goal is to be a pioneer in reef restoration efforts. 

‘We’ve got the skills, the boats, the techniques, the aquaculture permits and the facilities,’ says Kimberley. ‘We really want to work in that space and replenish damaged parts of the reef.’