About us

Our story

MainStream Aquaculture was founded in 2001 by two mates inspired to feed the world with delicious, sustainably produced fish.

One a doctor, the other a plumber, they put the last of their combined savings into finding the perfect water source and after a several years they found what they hoped would be the ideal location. Since they first opened the tap, crystal clean, warm spring water has continued to flow allowing the Barramundi to thrive. They have since formed a fantastic team around them who continually push the boundaries of traditional farming, growing fish in geothermally heated, pristine spring water drawn from the ancient aquifer. Located just outside of Melbourne and boasting the world’s largest warm water aquaculture farm of its type, they now are also the largest fingerling supplier in both Australia and the world.

Merging with MainStream Aquaculture in 2018, Pejo Enterprises (now trading as MainStream Aquaculture Queensland) was founded in 2002 by Marty and Linda Phillips. Raising superb Barramundi at their farm nestled between rainforest and reef in one of Australia’s most beautiful and pristine environments, Marty and Linda combine the best that nature provides and a deep understanding of Barramundi to strike the perfect balance between science and nature with a commitment to conservation and sustainability.

In 2022, Mainstream entered the U.S.A market through domestic production of Barramundi in the Arizona desert. With the purchase of the Arizona site, Mainstream is raising fine eating Barramundi in close proximity to major U.S.A markets – resulting in a short supply chain and low food miles. Mainstream is proud to be bringing its fish husbandry experience to the U.S.A and sharing the unique skills and technology with the local aquaculture industry. The resulting food product has a succulent, buttery finish and excellent natural fat content.

6 Barramundi farms

Distributing to 31 countries

World-leading breeding program

Mission statement

To feed the world with premium, sustainably produced, and nutritious fish

Our R&D

We are constantly evolving our practices to ensure we stay at the cutting edge of the aquaculture industry, focusing our Research and Development efforts on three main areas: Engineering, Operational Management, and Breeding Activity.

Engineering

Our engineering objective is to develop recirculating aquaculture technology and pond farming infrastructure that can maintain the environmental conditions required for fish to grow at their full biological potential.

RAS plant design

To establish and evaluate the unit processes required for maintaining environmental parameters that permit optimal biological productivity.

Live Fish Handling

To develop technology that permits frequent high-throughput low impact handling of live Barramundi.

Bio-remediation

To develop processes and systems to reduce environmental impact.

Fish jumping out of water

Operational management

Our operational management aim is to develop process technologies that enable fish to realise their inherent biological potential.

Feeding

To establish the feed and nutritional requirements that drive biological productivity.

Stocking

To develop stocking strategies that permit optimal biological productivity.

Fish health

To develop health management strategies that optimise productivity and mitigate performance constraints and disease.

End-product processing

To optimize best practices for purging, harvesting and sale of chilled Barramundi

Mainstream Aquaculture facility

Breeding

MainStream’s breeding objectives aim to maximise the biological potential of our fingerlings.

Brood Stock Management

To gain full control over the breeding cycle of Barramundi.

Selective Breeding

To improve commercial attributes through stock improvement.

Golden Barramundi

To develop a unique strain of Golden Barramundi.

Did you know?

The name Barramundi was derived from the indigenous Australian language and means ‘large scaled river fish’, its scientific name is Lates Calcarifer. The fish is of large commercial importance; it is fished internationally and raised in aquaculture across Australia, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Israel, Thailand, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Vietnam and many more. Its wild distribution range extends from the Persian Gulf to Southern China and across to Northern Australia.

Our people

Working at MainStream Aquaculture

MainStream’s people are selected to work with us not only for the right skills. Most importantly, we want people with a passion for aquaculture, the capacity to evolve and the drive to deliver outcomes as we continue to face new and exciting challenges.

Throughout your career with MainStream, we will encourage and empower you to take an active role in managing your development. Together, we believe we can enjoy professional and personal success and make a positive contribution to our community.

If you are interested in a career with MainStream, please email your resume to enquiries@mainaqua.com.au

Board of Directors

Michael Harrison CEO
Michael Harrison
B.Bus (Acc), CFP, Dip FP • Chairman

Michael has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry. His career began with an opportunity to build a financial planning business, which became one of Australia’s leading independently owned advice businesses. In 2008, he successfully navigated this business through a 14 way merger creating Shadforth Financial Group, now part of one of Australia’s largest listed financial services businesses, IOOF. In 2012, Michael co-founded Peloton Partners, a business that uses his practical experience to advise other businesses on growth strategies. Michael has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2001 and Chairman since 2012.

Boris Musa
Boris Musa
B.Com (Acc & Fin-DS), MAppFin (CF & IM), Dip NR, MAICD • Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer

As the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of Mainstream Aquaculture Group (Mainstream), Boris is responsible for strategic management of a large scale vertically integrated producer and supplier of Barramundi. Mainstream is one of the largest suppliers of Barramundi table fish products in Australia and is the global market leader in the provision of juvenile fish (seed stock) to the Barramundi aquaculture industry, exporting to 27 countries across five continents. Mainstream operates a multi-site business which includes the world’s largest aquaculture production facility of its type in Melbourne, Australia, three pond farming operations in far north Queensland, a pond farming operation in Arizona, USA, along with three hatcheries, including the world’s largest. Boris has been MD and CEO since 2012 and under his stewardship, company value, revenue and profitability have all increased by more than a factor of fifty.

Boris’ background is in financial services. He commenced his career in funds management business, Boutique Development and Marketing Direct and more recently, spent five years at Macquarie Group, the last two as a Director of Macquarie Global Investments. He performed multiple roles across agricultural asset management, private equity, investment banking and traditional funds management, with his final position Global Head of Sales for Macquarie’s Alternative Investments division. During his tenure, he was appointed to the Macquarie Global Investments leadership team and held a position on Macquarie’s Global Deal Assessment Committee.

Boris is a Director of the Wyndham City Refuse Disposal Facility, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association. Boris demonstrates historical experience in governance across a range of sectors and organisational types. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University and is a Deans Scholar in Finance (top 1% of graduates). He also holds a Diploma in Natural Resource Management and a Masters of Applied Finance with majors in Corporate Finance and Investment Management.

Professor Rocky de Nys
PhD, GDip Mgt (TechMgt), MRACI, C.Chem • Non-Executive Director

Rocky is Emeritus Professor of Aquaculture at James Cook University and Chief Scientist at Sea Forest, an Australian environmental technology company delivering world-leading production methods and products from native seaweed to materially reduce methane emissions in ruminant livestock and decarbonise the agriculture sector. He has broad research experience in aquaculture and marine and environmental biotechnology,  and algal biomass and bio-products, with a focus on commercialisation and direct and foreseeable outcomes for industry. Rocky has extensive engagement across the aquaculture industry and is actively involved in Mainstream’s program of commercially focused research and development.

Peter Wilson
B.Ec, Dip Chem • Non-Executive Director

Peter is a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Spotless Group Limited, a large services company with turnover of in excess of $A3 billion. He has had extensive Australian and International experience in all aspects of management of industrial based businesses. Peter is now the principal of PAGA Consulting and an advisor to numerous private companies. PAGA Consulting, in addition to a broad range of business consulting and support activities, has specialised in the development of markets for products and services. The focus being on technologically advanced solutions at the leading edge of environmental impact. Peter also demonstrates a tenure of over 20 years as a Director and Vice-Chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is a presiding member of the foundations Finance & Audit Committee.
Peter has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2012.

Anthony Podesta
Anthony Podesta
B Ed (Bus), MTMA, FTIA, MAICD • Non-Executive Director

Anthony founded ASX listed company McMillian Shakespeare in 1988. Having commercialised the novated lease concept for employees to salary package a motor vehicle, Anthony was instrumental in the development of the outsourced salary packaging administration in Australia. Anthony was named the 2012 Ernst & Young Australian Entrepreneur of the year. Anthony is a fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. During Anthony’s time at McMillan Shakespeare (up until February 2014) the company grew from Anthony, as the sole employee, to an ASX 200 listed company with a market capitalisation of in excess of $1bn.
Anthony has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2015.

Stewart Baron
B.Juris, LLB • Non-Executive Director

Stewart Baron is the owner and Managing Director of Baron Corporation.
He is on the board of Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and is Chairman of its Finance Committee He is a board member of Peter Scanlon’s private family group, Taverner, and a board member of Kaplan Equity Limited which has a particular focus on water agricultural assets Stewart belongs to the Young President’s Organisation, Melbourne Chapter as well as CEO He is also a board member of Mount Scopus Memorial College Foundation.
Stewart is married with four children.

Mark Kirkby
CA, B.Acc • Non-Executive Director

Mark is a Chartered Accountant and currently works for PGA Management, a private family investment company, as its Commercial Director. In this role, Mark manages PGA’s corporate office, its share portfolio and provides support as an independent director to the group’s various operating businesses. Mark is also a member of PGA’s Investment, Property and Commerce Committees. Prior to joining PGA, Mark has held various senior financial executive roles in a variety of industry sectors in both listed and unlisted companies.
Mark has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2015.

Paul McCluskey
CA, B Bus, Grad Dip Bus Admin, Grad Dip App Fin • Non-Executive Director

Paul is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience as a business advisor and also as CFO and Company Secretary of ASX listed company, McMillan Shakespeare. Paul is currently CEO of eCapital Australia, which provides support and invests in businesses at various stages of their life cycle. Paul’s chartered accounting experience included holding the position of Partner in a leading accounting firm where he provided advice on mergers and acquisitions, taking companies to IPO, company secretarial services, statutory reporting, corporate governance practices, taxation planning and strategic planning. During Paul’s time at McMillan Shakespeare Limited the company grew from a market capitalisation of less than $50m to over $1bn.
Paul has been a director of Mainstream Aquaculture since 2015.

Leadership Team

Paul Harrison
Dr Paul Harrison
PhD, BSc (Hons.) • Chief Scientist

Paul co-founded Mainstream Aquaculture in 2001 with a vision to create an environmentally sustainable “business for the future” based on best practice aquaculture technology. Paul has worked in Australia and abroad, he holds a PhD in aquatic biology and is uniquely qualified with a strong track record in fish production across multiple species, fish hatchery operations, and research and development both in aquaculture and more broadly in marine biology. Paul has designed and commissioned numerous recirculating aquaculture systems, has an excellent understanding of the biological requirements for aquaculture, and a demonstrated capacity to merge these skills into successful commercial ventures.

Boris Musa
Boris Musa
B.Com (Acc & Fin-DS), MAppFin (CF & IM), Dip NR, MAICD • Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer

As the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of Mainstream Aquaculture Group (Mainstream), Boris is responsible for strategic management of a large scale vertically integrated producer and supplier of Barramundi. Mainstream is one of the largest suppliers of Barramundi table fish products in Australia and is the global market leader in the provision of juvenile fish (seed stock) to the Barramundi aquaculture industry, exporting to 27 countries across five continents. Mainstream operates a multi-site business which includes the world’s largest aquaculture production facility of its type in Melbourne, Australia, three pond farming operations in far north Queensland, a pond farming operation in Arizona, USA, along with three hatcheries, including the world’s largest. Boris has been MD and CEO since 2012 and under his stewardship, company value, revenue and profitability have all increased by more than a factor of fifty.

Boris’ background is in financial services. He commenced his career in funds management business, Boutique Development and Marketing Direct and more recently, spent five years at Macquarie Group, the last two as a Director of Macquarie Global Investments. He performed multiple roles across agricultural asset management, private equity, investment banking and traditional funds management, with his final position Global Head of Sales for Macquarie’s Alternative Investments division. During his tenure, he was appointed to the Macquarie Global Investments leadership team and held a position on Macquarie’s Global Deal Assessment Committee.

Boris is a Director of the Wyndham City Refuse Disposal Facility, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association. Boris demonstrates historical experience in governance across a range of sectors and organisational types. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University and is a Deans Scholar in Finance (top 1% of graduates). He also holds a Diploma in Natural Resource Management and a Masters of Applied Finance with majors in Corporate Finance and Investment Management.

Matthew Mangan
Matthew Mangan
Mainstream USA President

Matthew co-founded Mainstream Aquaculture in 2001 with a vision to become a world leader within the aquaculture industry. Matt has been integrally involved in Mainstream’s operations having project managed the construction and commissioning of Mainstreams current plants and continues to play a key role in the future direction of operations. Matt also has extensive sales experience managing all sales and customer relations for Mainstream Aquaculture between 2003 – 2015.

Marty Phillips
Marty Phillips
B. App. Sci (Agriculture), Ass. Dip App. Sci. (Agronomy) • Head of Business Queensland

Marty Phillips joined Mainstream in October 2018 when Mainstream merged with PEJO Enterprises, which he built with his wife Linda, over the last 20 years. Marty has a background in agriculture: having gained an associate diploma and degree in applied science, he worked in the sugar industry as an extension officer. He also grew sugarcane, bananas and papaya on the family farm near Innisfail in North Queensland.
Two cyclones in three years prompted the diversification into aquaculture. This quickly become the main focus of the business, operated over two sites. One was developed from a ‘green field’ site 20 years ago. The other site was a rundown prawn farm purchased in 2013 and has recently completed the first stage of expansion. Marty has continually refined the way he produces Barramundi. This has resulted in numerous awards, including champion, for the quality of their fish at the prestigious Sydney Fine Food show in recent years.

Marty has been an active member of the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association (ABFA), as an executive for over 10 years, including president for 7 years. In 2010, Marty was awarded a Nuffield scholarship. In 2012 he attended the Worshipful Company of Farmers Challenge of Rural Leadership Course in the United Kingdom. Marty is looking forward to working with Mainstream through his continued compassion for growing Barramundi.

Rick Romanin
Rick Romanin
BEc, FCPA • Chief Financial Officer

Rick joined Mainstream Aquaculture Group in early 2016 as its first CFO, his arrival timed to coincide with the construction of the landmark Wyndham RAS facility.

Rick started his career in his native Melbourne, where his first professional role was as an Industrial Engineer working for Kraft Foods in Port Melbourne, however it wasn’t long before he found his way into Finance where he worked variously over several years as a Management Accountant, Property Manager and eventually as an Internal Auditor. He then left his FMCG roots behind and went on to cut his teeth in a more structured finance role as the Corporate Accountant at the then large conglomerate Amcor Ltd, consolidating over 200 subsidiaries and taking care of complex group treasury functions. Needing new challenges Rick then packed his bag and set sail for Europe where he spent the next ten years working as a Forensic Accountant, Group Controller, head of M&A and eventually as a Finance Director. During that time he has variously based in London, Paris and Brussels with extended stints elsewhere in Western Europe and eventually the States. Initially working in logistics, the largest assignment was with the world’s largest drinks company Diageo, where he was working as head of Group FP&A at the moment that Diageo was formed through the merger of Grand Metropolitan and Guinness PLC. He then moved back to Melbourne and served as Mayne Health’s Finance Director for its sixty hospital network, was Head of FP&A for Coles Myer’s $23Billion Food, Liquor and Fuel Group, Finance Director for Linfox’s $1.2Billion ANZ Operation and CFO and then acting CEO for the Korda Mentha owned Greyhound bus lines based in Queensland.

Never one to follow a conventional path Rick has always committed himself to his passions, family being the highest of these, he took an extended sabbatical over several years to care full time for his young family. Community is also important and this has led to roles as Treasurer for the local school, Secretary for the local football club, coach for the local cricket club and Vice President, umpire, coach and chairman of selectors at the local baseball club, all of which his two children Jack and Lauren participate in.

Jess Tale
Jess Tale
B.Sci / B.Com • Head of Sales and Marketing

Jess joined Mainstream in 2018, bringing hands on experience building industry leading brands and sales and marketing teams from the ground up, and selling high value products in complex, fast paced entrepreneurial environments. Jess’s work history includes building a pharmaceutical patent intelligence company from 2 to 35 people, and stints in product development, management and marketing consulting. Working for Mainstream represents the ideal juncture of his skills and passion for sustainability, aquaculture and all things fishy.