Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101470
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Improving poultry health and performance through microbiota manipulations. The project aims to develop methods to modulate microbiota to improve poultry health and productivity and reduce the need for antibiotics. Probiotic administration is currently the only way in agriculture to restore imbalanced intestinal microbiota. Recent research shows that intestinal microbiota resist all new-coming bacteria and remove them from the intestinal environment. The initial inoculum at the time of birth shap ....Improving poultry health and performance through microbiota manipulations. The project aims to develop methods to modulate microbiota to improve poultry health and productivity and reduce the need for antibiotics. Probiotic administration is currently the only way in agriculture to restore imbalanced intestinal microbiota. Recent research shows that intestinal microbiota resist all new-coming bacteria and remove them from the intestinal environment. The initial inoculum at the time of birth shapes the gut microbiota for life and has the strongest influence on development of the immune system. Accordingly, at-hatch administration of proven beneficial strains to poultry is likely to ensure permanent colonisation with beneficial bacteria. This process would improve both the productivity and health of poultry and other agricultural animals.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101132
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
How social relationships improve sheep productivity. This project aims to determine how the social network structure of a flock and different individuals’ experience and leadership abilities improve a population’s well-being and productivity (wool clip and lambing rates). This project will use social network theory and collective behaviour in animals to manage sheep in Australia’s arid rangelands, which are important for the pastoral industry, but where ecological challenges reduce livestock pro ....How social relationships improve sheep productivity. This project aims to determine how the social network structure of a flock and different individuals’ experience and leadership abilities improve a population’s well-being and productivity (wool clip and lambing rates). This project will use social network theory and collective behaviour in animals to manage sheep in Australia’s arid rangelands, which are important for the pastoral industry, but where ecological challenges reduce livestock productivity. An expected outcome is management guidelines for the sheep industry to improve wool and meat production.Read moreRead less
Stock Structure Of Northern And Western Australian Spanish Mackerel
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$349,436.69
Summary
The proposed work is fundamental for assessment and sustainable, optimal harvest of Australia’s Spanish mackerel resources. This goal requires accurate information on which management decisions can be based. This project therefore seeks to describe the stock structure of a national shared resource, with a view to the development of complementary management approaches.
The NT, WA, Qld, Torres Strait and NSW have separate management regimes for the mackerel fisheries in their waters. ....The proposed work is fundamental for assessment and sustainable, optimal harvest of Australia’s Spanish mackerel resources. This goal requires accurate information on which management decisions can be based. This project therefore seeks to describe the stock structure of a national shared resource, with a view to the development of complementary management approaches.
The NT, WA, Qld, Torres Strait and NSW have separate management regimes for the mackerel fisheries in their waters. However, our lack of information on stock structure means that the appropriate scale of management units is just not known. It is unlikely that it will coincide with current administrative boundaries. Basic questions such as whether management actions in one state will impinge on the fisheries of others cannot yet be answered. With such uncertainty, for example, would declines in one area reflect interception during migration, or over-fishing of spawners in another area? Different responses to such questions may require fundamentally different management approaches. Hence the Northern Australia Fisheries Management meeting of May 1997 recognized that stock definition was required for effective assessment and management of this species.
Most fishery assessments assume a randomly mixed unit stock; an alternative is to explicitly include spatial dynamics. Possibly with the exception of the east coast, there is no real basis for defining Spanish mackerel unit stocks. In none of the Australian fisheries are spatial relationships sufficiently understood to be addressed in assessments. The proposed research is requisite for basic stock assessment, and the first step in developing spatially structured models and management.
Spanish mackerel are also taken across our northern boundaries, in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Pacific Island states. The proposed research is the basic work necessary to develop the methodology and information base for future research into these shared stocks, and for future studies into fine-scale spatial dynamics.
Recently available information suggests the Spanish mackerel fishery is growing rapidly in both commercial and recreational sectors. This underlines the need for this work as a basis for rational management. Commercial catches in WA and NT have increased substantially in recent years, and prices continue to rise. A recent recreational survey in NT revealed that recreational Spanish mackerel catches are of similar order to commercial catches. The species is a favoured target in the rapidly-growing and lucrative fishing tour sector.
The need for good for stock assessment is thus growing. Each state has responded with FRDC- or internally-funded programs. The results of this project could substantially change the directions of these projects, by establishing whether the assessment and management should be on a joint basis across states, or whether they should be on a more regional basis. Objectives: 1. Establish the degree of stock structure in the northern Australian Scomberomorus commerson stock, over a wide geographic range; 2. Having demonstrated structural differences within the northern stock on the large scale, describe finer scale spatial structure; and, 3. Provide advice to the fishery administrations on the appropriate geographic scale of assessment and management actions. 4. To include the analysis of otolith and genetic material collected from Kupang (Indonesia). 5. To collect and analyse parasite samples from Spanish Mackerel. Read moreRead less
Selective Breeding For Disease Resistance And Fast Growth In Sydney Rock Oysters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$332,308.00
Summary
The NSW oyster industry has suffered from QX disease and winter mortality for a very long time. It has responded to these disease challenges by vacating affected leases seasonally or in the case of Georges River by abondoning the infested part of the estuary. The history of inter-estuary transfer of oysters for on-growing has not allowed the development of resistant strains in NSW. However, if resistant strains of oysters are not developed, the industry will have no better management tool av ....The NSW oyster industry has suffered from QX disease and winter mortality for a very long time. It has responded to these disease challenges by vacating affected leases seasonally or in the case of Georges River by abondoning the infested part of the estuary. The history of inter-estuary transfer of oysters for on-growing has not allowed the development of resistant strains in NSW. However, if resistant strains of oysters are not developed, the industry will have no better management tool available in future than that used in the past, ie moving or selling oysters before a disease outbreak is expected or abondoning oyster leases.
If the opportunity for breeding QX disease resistance in Sydney rock oysters is not taken up, a unique opportunity will be lost, to use breeding lines previously selected for fast growth in the selection for disease resistance. It is important that breeding for QX resistance begins now, before another estuary is infested with this parasite. In Georges River, the industry responded to the QX outbreak by abandoning affected leases.
Growth rates in Sydney rock oysters have been improved by an average of 4% for the first generation of selection in Port Stephens. Now the initial progress has been made and four breeding lines are established, it is important that the momentum is maintained and selective breeding for fast growth is continued. The growth rate of the Port Stephens selection lines can be increased by 4% for each successive generation.
Growth rates in Sydney rock oysters can be improved by both selective breeding (an average of 4% faster growth for the first generation of selection) and triploidy (30-40% faster growth). However, triploids have not previously been produced from improved breeding lines. It is important to determine if improvements in growth rates by these two methods are additive. For example with triploids produced from improved breeding lines, a 30% increase in growth rate with triploidy plus another 8% for two generations of selective breeding may increase growth rates of oysters by 38%. Objectives: 1. Evaluation of the resistance of fourth selected generation Georges River oysters to QX disease and winter mortality against controls 2. Evaluation of the growth rate of fourth selected generation Port Stephens selection line diploids and triploids against non-selected diploid and triploid controls Read moreRead less
National Workshop On Research And Development Priorities Of Stock Enhancement, Fish Stocking And Stock Recovery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$28,690.24
Summary
The need for this workshop was identified by the FRDC Board.
Stock enhancement decisions are the responsibility of State Fisheries agencies and most of these have developed, or are developing, policies on stocking that include such issues as translocation, genetics and disease mitigation. However in a number of cases these polices have been developed in isolation of recreational fishers, commercial fishers or community groups interested in stoocking.
A considerable difference ....The need for this workshop was identified by the FRDC Board.
Stock enhancement decisions are the responsibility of State Fisheries agencies and most of these have developed, or are developing, policies on stocking that include such issues as translocation, genetics and disease mitigation. However in a number of cases these polices have been developed in isolation of recreational fishers, commercial fishers or community groups interested in stoocking.
A considerable difference in knowledge exists between government, industry and community on the appropriateness and risks of stock enhancement as a management tool. This has lead to (particularly) recreational fishers seeking political intervention and decisions being made based on political lobbying rather than on sound scientific assessment of the circumstances.
There is a need for government and industry to agree on the current key research, development and extension (RDE) priorities in the use of stock enhancement as a management tool. Objectives: 1. Identify the key research, development and extension associated with finfish stock enhancement, fish stocking and stock recovery. 2. Publish the proceedings and a strategic paper on the research priorities identified at the workshop. Read moreRead less
Development Of Sector-specific Biosecurity Plan Templates And Guidance Documents For The Australian Farmed Barramundi Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Enhanced biosecurity has been identified as a priority area in the ABFA 2015 – 2020 Strategic Plan.
Although the farmed barramundi industry and relevant jurisdictions have implemented a range of measures to mitigate the risks of major diseases of concern (i.e. individual on farm biosecurity procedures and engagement and sponsorship of a number of specific projects), this industry sector does not have a nationally consistent, agreed approach to biosecurity.
The development of ....Enhanced biosecurity has been identified as a priority area in the ABFA 2015 – 2020 Strategic Plan.
Although the farmed barramundi industry and relevant jurisdictions have implemented a range of measures to mitigate the risks of major diseases of concern (i.e. individual on farm biosecurity procedures and engagement and sponsorship of a number of specific projects), this industry sector does not have a nationally consistent, agreed approach to biosecurity.
The development of a sector-specific national biosecurity plan for the farmed barramundi industry would ensure a common level of biosecurity risk management to support specific enterprise and whole-of industry productivity.
Furthermore, work is underway to develop industry-government emergency aquatic animal disease response arrangements. These arrangements should be underpinned by amongst other measures an industry biosecurity plan.
The industry feel that they are at a high risk to diseases introduction through the importation of fish that require processing from high risk regions that have very potent diseases such as pot belly and scale drop syndrome. As such enhanced Industry biosecurity measures are considered critical to the growth of barramundi farming in Australia.
Objectives: 1. To develop an industry-endorsed, sector-specific biosecurity plan and relevant guidance documents for the Australian farmed barramundi industry Read moreRead less
The E-boat: Implementation Of An On-board Electronic Data Collection And Transmission System. A Working Model From The South East Trawl Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
The fishing vessel can provide a wealth of information for fishers, researcher, managers and others interested in the marine environment. At the moment, however, the process of collecting and transmitting this information is extremely inefficient. Regardless of who uses the informaiton, it is usually written down on paper (often duplicated), posted off to the appropriate agency, deciphered, key-punched and validated. AFMA needs to be sent logbooks, skippers keep their own private fishing logb ....The fishing vessel can provide a wealth of information for fishers, researcher, managers and others interested in the marine environment. At the moment, however, the process of collecting and transmitting this information is extremely inefficient. Regardless of who uses the informaiton, it is usually written down on paper (often duplicated), posted off to the appropriate agency, deciphered, key-punched and validated. AFMA needs to be sent logbooks, skippers keep their own private fishing logbooks, biologists need to come on board to collect and key-punch simple information on catch composition and length frequencies, the process of transporting, marketing and selling the catch involves even more double-handling and more paperwork.
Many SETF fishing vessels have VMS, computers and a range of other electronic hardware (GPS, net monitors etc) which provide the electronic capacity necessary to revolutionise the way they collect, store and transmit this data. By integrating this hardware with the appropriate software, the full capacity of the onboard electronics can be realised. Date, time position, depth and water temperature can be automatically recorded at the start and end of each shot. Total catch composition (retained and discarded) can be entered directly by the skipper and e-mailed directly off to AFMA thereby meeting the SEF1 logbook requirements. Length frequency data can be recorded by one of the deckhands, entered into the computer and emailed off to the ISMP, thus providing realtime data on the fishery. The skipper can place the catch on an electronic marketing site where markets, wholesalers and retailers can purchase the fish, knowing exactly when they were caught and where and when they will be landed.
SETFIA has already reviewed the available software and decided that the OLRAC software has the greatest potential for their industry at this stage. Preliminary work has already been done to start applying this software to the SETF requirements. By installing and trialing the OLRAC software, which has been particularly designed to meet the needs of fishers, managers, researchers, retailers, SETFIA intends to set up one of their trawlers as an example of the potential for industry development in the age of electronic communication. As the "guinea pig", there will be a need for significant consultation between the vessel owners, software provider, and end users such as the vessel company, AFMA, research agencies, and electronic marketing companies. Funding to implement software and hardware to receive electronic logbook data is being provided by AFMA. Onboard computing and VMS hardware is being provided by SETFIA. This project seeks funding to implement and trial the onboard software chosen by SETFIA. Objectives: 1. Tailor the OLRAC software for use in the South East Trawl Fishery 2. Develop and implement protocols for data transfer to AFMA, fishing company, ISMP and e-commerce sites 3. Trial a working model which utilises all of the electronic capabilities for on-board data collection, recording and transmission 4. Extend this technology to other fishing vessels both within and outside the SETF through a range of Industry meetings and a user manual. Read moreRead less
A Study Of Fishery-induced Mortality Of Under-sized Rock Lobsters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Collect & analyse data on fishing practice in handling under-sized western rock lobsters; , & 2. study behaviour, survival rate & subsequent growth rates after return to sea 3. effect of fishing practice on survey & subsequent growth of eff-bearing ("berried") rock lobsters