ABLP is developing commercial scale production facilities to produce, process, market and distribute fresh chilled/frozen soft-shell Bay Lobster (a Slipper Lobster better known in Australia as Moreton Bay Bugs) of high quality and standardised sizes to domestic and international markets. Unlike open water aquaculture, the project will have stable production because manufacturing will be free of weather and climate influences. The Company will produce continuously, year round at its production facilities, which will be an indoor, climate controlled factory and seafood processing plant located at Cudgen in the Tweed Shire, New South Wales and will be based on proven and patented biotechnology.

ABLP's intellectual property, which includes "Crustacean Larva Raising Method and Apparatus", is protected by a patent application number PCT/AU00/00881 dated 21 July 2000. Intellectual property will continue to be developed by company staff, including Dr Satoshi Mikami (the scientist who has developed this intellectual property) and Dr David Hewitt (the scientist who has developed risk mitigation procedures and system design) and other staff at site.

Managing Director, Michael Dalton founded Australian Fresh Corporation Pty Ltd ("AFC") in July 1986 and began exporting horticultural products principally to Eastern Asia. AFC was an integrated Australian agribusiness that for 24 years, was involved in the export of both horticultural and seafood products to most continents of the world.

AFC played a leading role in the development of Australian industry based export companies of mangoes and persimmons, together with a range of other fruits and vegetables exports. AFC was also recognised as a quality processor and exporter of live and fresh seafood, having operated its own fishing vessels as well as contracting supply from a large number of privately owned commercial operators. Seafood products have included live and fresh chilled crab, lobster, tuna and other finfish species with annual seafood processing and exports in excess of 1,000 tonne of live crustaceans and 600 tonne of fresh chilled fish to major customers in Taiwan, Japan, the USA, Hong Kong and China.

After identifying opportunities in seafood and recognising the inherent difficulties of continuously supplying standardised wild caught product, AFC became interested in seafood production and subsequently began the search for a high value product with strong market potential suitable for aquaculture. In 1994, AFC approached Mr Satoshi Mikami, a Japanese citizen who was completing a PhD in Marine Biology (research focused on rearing larva and growing out Bay Lobster) at the University of Queensland. Dr Mikami completed his PhD in 1995.

In May 1995, AFC incorporated a wholly owned specialist research entity named Australian Fresh Research and Development Corporation Pty Ltd ("AFRDC") to fund continued research by Dr Mikami into Bay Lobster at the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre. After many years of research, continual improvement and expenditure, AFRDC was granted patent protection on 21 July 2000 for its intellectual property, which includes "Crustacean Larva Raising Method and Apparatus".

The patented process proved for the first time anywhere in the world that a lobster species had been cultivated in a controlled environment on a commercial scale. The technology behind this patented process has already produced significant product volumes at the research facilities during the research period to 2004. The patented process also offers a unique new world first product, being a soft‐shell Lobster. It is the first time anywhere in the world that a lobster species will be commercially sold as a soft-shell product.

The factory at Chinderah is designed to produce up to 900kg of "soft-shell" per day with approvals in place for significant expansion. The initial pilot plant will produce conservatively up to 200kg per day within a purpose built building. To bring the product to commercialisation the shareholders decided in 2012 to begin the construction of the existing facility which has produced its first small volumes of product in Nov/Dec 2015 and began selling commercially in small quantities in March 2016. The Company expects full production by September 2016. ABLP is a wholly owned, operated and controlled Australian Company with Australian investors comprising successful business people, and sophisticated investors. On completion of this phase of the project approximately $37million of shareholder funds have been invested.

Mr Peter Carroll  B Com, B Law, FCA, FTIA  (Independent Non Exec Chairman)
Prior to gaining extensive experience in professional consulting, Peter was with the Australian Taxation Office where he spent seven years in the International Division of the Departments National Office in Canberra. He joined Deloitte in 1981, becoming a partner in the tax consulting services division in Brisbane in 1990. He advised a number of private and public companies in all aspects of revenue law and, in particular, provided specialist advice to non-residents investing into Australia, as well as to Australian residents investing out of Australia, principally into Asia. Peter was a member of the Taxation Advisory Committee of the Queensland Division of the Australian Society of CPAs; the representative of ASCPA on the Office of State Revenue Liaison Committee; and a member of the Legislation Review Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Peter retired as a partner of Deloitte on 30 September 2002 and consulted to the firm until 30 June 2004. He currently consults to the Brisbane office of Gadens Lawyers in a part time role.

Mr Tim Keith B Ec, B Ag Sc, GAICD
Tim was appointed to our Board on 30 October 2017 following the retirement of Mr Alan Alt. He is a highly-accomplished corporate executive with proven success in global business leadership roles. Tim has obtained leading governance capability and deep risk management experience through a 20-year financial services career combined with over 5-years board experience within the NFP sector.

His key corporate skills of benefit to the ABLP Board include corporate finance, an intimate understanding of financial institutions, project management, risk identification & mitigation, strategy development & execution, executive coaching and the ability to develop strong corporate cultures. With a range of experience in presenting to and working with boards of ASX200 companies obtained during his senior executive roles at the National Australia Bank and his roles and board skills in the Not-For-Profit which supports underprivileged children in Sydney Tim brings a passion and skill set to our Board which is second to none.

Mr Michael Dalton Cert Agriculture (Yanco)  (Managing Director)
Michael is the Managing Director of Australian Bay Lobster Producers Limited. Michael holds tertiary qualifications in agriculture and has previously been a member of a number of State and National Export Marketing Boards. Over the past 30 years Michael through his company Australian Fresh Corporation Pty Ltd (AFC), has been instrumental in developing export markets and distribution channels for a range of horticultural crops and seafood products, which include the harvesting, processing and distribution of crustaceans, tuna and other finfish. Michael has a significant interest in ABLP with his family and was a founding shareholder.

Mr John William Bryant  B Bus, FCA, FCPA, MAICD  (Executive Director - not remunerated)
John was a former Business Services Partner of the Chartered Accounting firm Kennas in Rockhampton for over 30 years. In July 2008 he retired from the role of partner and took a position as CFO of Rockys Own Transport Co (the largest transporter of high explosives in Australia) to groom and mentor a young lady to take that position which she did in November 2012. He holds a position as a Government Appointee on the Board of The Rockhampton Girls Grammar School. Over the past 40 years John has been involved in the servicing, management and consultative roles of a large number of business organisations from a commercial as well as professional prospective. He owns a large shareholding in ABLP together with his holding in the Company that owns the adjoining freehold on which ABLP operates. He has been an investor in ABLP for 15 years.

Mr Bruce McAlister (Non-Executive Director)
Bruce and his wife Glenys have run one of the largest paint and commercial flooring contracting businesses in regional Queensland for over 40 years. In addition they commenced a Paint Barn retail and commercial shop over 40 years ago and have now expanded that to be 5 "Inspiration Paint Shops" under the Dulux Licence Agreements. He has previously served on the Board of 3D (now Inspirations). He and Glenys also have a strong agricultural background with a love of horses and both of them have competed on a State and National Basis in Polocrosse. They have both been members of the Queensland teams over a number of years.His business acumen is second to none and we welcome his skill set to our Board.

Mr David Whyte
Non-Executive Director B. Com, FCA, KPMG Business School accredited

Prior to his current role as Managing Director as Asia Debt Management Hong Kong Ltd where he is responsible for sourcing, analyzing and executing deals across Australia and New Zealand geographic areas, David held the role of Manager Capital Markets Group/Audit for KPMG Chartered Accountants Hong Kong. He grew up In Tasmania and completed his tertiary qualifications at The University of Tasmania. He brings to the board global experience in debt and capital markets which provides great level of talent for future expansion as the Company commercializes.

He possesses a high level of initiative, drive and resilience, honest, professional and ethically minded, demonstrated ability to lead, develop, manage and empower high performing teams, strong commercial / business acumen, outstanding interpersonal, relationship management and negotiation skills, excellent analytical and report writing skills. His pastime focus is water sports, running/fitness, psychology and reading.

Mr Huw Griffiths Grad Dip App Science (Aquaculture), Assoc Degree Bldg Design (Design Biologist)

Huw has fifteen (15) years in aquaculture and prior to that had seven (7) years experience in the building industry. His understanding and background in design has provided invaluable experience to our team and when combined with his aquaculture background makes him very suitable to assist our Company and project with system design and management of the biological issues we may face in bringing our product to market.

Our Personnel

The Company presently employs thirty two (32) staff including qualified, semi-qualified, skilled and unskilled employees. This has grown from the initial staff of 26 at the commencement of initial construction and system trials. The Company has undertaken formal staff training with additional training being subcontracted to a TAFE Institute in Northern New South Wales.