Seafarms Group Limited ("Seafarms" or "the Company") announced that local contracts have been awarded to local businesses as construction starts for Project Sea Dragon. Seafarms has a framework agreement with Canstruct as the Managing Contractor for Stage 1 construction of Project Sea Dragon with the initial package of construction works enabling construction to start during this dry season. Canstruct's start of works is part of an initial $78 million contract to the Grow Out Facility at Legune Station in the Northern Territory for Stage 1a to establish the first farm, which will include 36 ten hectare ponds and 36 one hectare nursery ponds when completed. Canstruct is mobilising significant equipment to start moving, placing, and compacting approximately three million cubic metres of earth to establish the first farm. Mobilisation is supported by the completed $87 million extension of the Keep River Road from the WA/NT border to Legune, funded by the Australian and Northern Territory Governments, and the $18.3 million upgrade of Moonamang Road, funded by the Western Australian Government. While it is very early days in terms of the build, Canstruct have awarded a total of 14 construction contracts comprising of 11 contracts with local businesses. Of these, two contracts were awarded to Northern Territory businesses and nine were awarded to Kununurra-based businesses in Western Australia. These contracts will support a total of 71 jobs at this early stage of construction, of which 25% are Indigenous employees. The Project Sea Dragon management team has engaged 12 people so far to work on the project locally in Darwin with several staff members permanently relocating to the Territory to become part of the Darwin community. Once operational, year-round production from Project Sea Dragon will lead to the creation of over 150 jobs in addition to a total of around 200 to 300 construction jobs, delivering at least $63.3 million in benefits from local employment. The first 21 buildings to establish the Legune Station construction accommodation village have been transported to site with construction contractor Canstruct beginning work. Up to 180 people are anticipated to be working on site by late September/early October. Construction of the first part of Stage 1a of Project Sea Dragon - set to be one of the biggest prawn operations being developed in the world - will include: Legune Station, NT - substantial infrastructure including 24 nursery ponds, 20 grow out ponds and seawater intake earthworks and internal roads. Exmouth, WA - expanding the Exmouth Founder Stock Centre with additional facilities completed to advance the Specific Pathogen Free Domestication Breeding Program. Bynoe Harbour, NT - construct Broodstock Maturation Centre Shed 1, water systems and ancillaries completed to enable breeding of the domesticated population.