A NEW world-class fish health centre in Launceston will be a "game changer" for the salmon industry, according to the state's peak salmon body.
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Construction has begun on the $1 million research facility at Mount Pleasant laboratories, and will help grow the value of Tasmania's salmon industry to $1 billion annually by 2030.
Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association chief executive Adam Main said salmon growers had collaborated and formed a partnership with the state government to invest in the Fish Health Centre of Excellence.
The facility will be able to conduct high quality research into vaccines and diseases the fish may contract.
"It's the first of its kind in the salmon industry," Dr Main said.
"Competing companies working together to reach a goal just isn't seen in other aquaculture spaces around the world."
Dr Main said biosecurity would be the number one priority for research.
"If we got a disease from Chile or Norway into our salmon industry, it would wipe us out," he said.
"There are some pretty nasty things out there."
Dr Main said the centre would attract international experts and be able to offer local university graduates opportunities.