Value Adding To Fish Processing Waste Through Aquafeed Development
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$40,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To undertake an audit of seafood, fisheries and other aquatic "waste" biomass within relevant Victorian industry to characterise the availability and condition of such resources with potential for utilisation within relatively low-cost, semi-refined compound aquafeed development. 2. To undertake an analysis of nutritional, toxicant and pathogenic condition of selected waste resources with potential for utilisation in such aquafeeds. 3. To describe the physical, mec ....Objectives: 1. To undertake an audit of seafood, fisheries and other aquatic "waste" biomass within relevant Victorian industry to characterise the availability and condition of such resources with potential for utilisation within relatively low-cost, semi-refined compound aquafeed development. 2. To undertake an analysis of nutritional, toxicant and pathogenic condition of selected waste resources with potential for utilisation in such aquafeeds. 3. To describe the physical, mechanical and production process requirements of such waste resources and identify associated economic parameters relevant to the development of viable "waste" aquafeed production capability within Australia. Read moreRead less
Feasibility Study For Establishment Of A Victorian Commercial Jellyfish Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$15,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. The development of optimal harvest and on board storage techniques to achieve least cost outcomes. 2. The trialing of jellyfish procesisng will be carries out under the auspices of the Feasability study at the VFRI where processing space and seawater flows will be made available. 3. Market testing will be carrie out by exporting processed stock (tonnage to be determined) to China for comparison against locally produced products. 4. In line with Victoria's int ....Objectives: 1. The development of optimal harvest and on board storage techniques to achieve least cost outcomes. 2. The trialing of jellyfish procesisng will be carries out under the auspices of the Feasability study at the VFRI where processing space and seawater flows will be made available. 3. Market testing will be carrie out by exporting processed stock (tonnage to be determined) to China for comparison against locally produced products. 4. In line with Victoria's intention to be recognised as a first class supplier of pure and fresh seafood products, it is desirable that an alternative to alum (used in the processing stages) be investigated. Further value adding techniques, such as packaging and "total meal" additives will be investigated to ensure that the Victorian product is clearly distinguished on the market. This is seen as a distinct advantage in establishing firm market niches. Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Ascertain if the vast quantities of jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) available in the Clarence River, adjacent estuaries and ocean waters are suitable for Japanese :kragi" and sun-dried or pickling for Chinese and Asian trade
Aquaculture Nutrition Subprogram: Further Development Towards Commercialisation Of Marine Fish Larvae Feeds - Artemia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$436,463.00
Summary
A major problem for the culture of marine fish and crustaceans is rearing the early life stages of numerous species.. Live food is considered obligatory for success but is expensive (up to A$400-500 / kg). In recent years global harvests of Artemia cysts, particularly from Great Sale Lake USA, have decreased sharply leading to a worldwide shortage, especially for good quality cysts in terms of hatchability and nutritional content. Compounding the problem of poor supply are new AQIS regulations ....A major problem for the culture of marine fish and crustaceans is rearing the early life stages of numerous species.. Live food is considered obligatory for success but is expensive (up to A$400-500 / kg). In recent years global harvests of Artemia cysts, particularly from Great Sale Lake USA, have decreased sharply leading to a worldwide shortage, especially for good quality cysts in terms of hatchability and nutritional content. Compounding the problem of poor supply are new AQIS regulations and biosecurity issues, which may limit future importation. The reliance of Australian hatcheries on imported Artemia is a major constraint to the sustainable development and expansion of this industry. Low cyst quality caused Artemia - related diseases throughout the world. In Australia, an additional concern is the risk of importing unknown, non-endemic pathogens into finfish and prawn hatcheries.
The need to find solutions is even greater now than 3 years ago due to the rapid development of the marine fish industry in Australia e.g. yellowtail kingfish from almost zero production to 2000 mt, and barramundi with predicted production of 4000 mt in 2003-04.
Hut Lagoon (Port Gregory, WA) where Cognis Pty Ltd is currently growing and harvesting microalgae (Dunaliella salina) for beta-carotene (supplying around 80% of global natural beta-carotene), is unique in the world in its capacity to grow high quality algae and Artemia, and for its pristine environment. The company is offering to invest significantly and estimated that the Hut Lagoon have the capacity to supply ALL the Australian needs in terms of both Artemia cysts (currently, around 5-7 mt dry cysts) and live adult Artemia and become a major export commodity capturing part of the world demand for cysts (much more than current production of 7 000 tons p.a.). An estimate of potential annual revenue for cyst production from Hut Lagoon is in the order of $ millions. Moreover, initial results shows that the waste from the algae extraction process can be used as food source for the Artemia, saving the company hundred of thousands of dollars in waste disposal fees. There is a need to properly and independently evaluate the commercial viability of Artemia production at Cognis.
Microdiets can reduce the need for live feed (and therefore costs, labour, diseases, risks) consumption in finfish hatcheries. However, with fish the poor development of digestive enzyme output is a major limitation. The prototype microdiet, developed in the current project, proved to be better than the best commercial available diet. Fish larvae microdiet prices, range between $150 and $250/kg. Commercializing the prototype microdiet together with an international feed company such as Skretting Australia (part of Nutreco – the biggest fish feed manufacture in the world) should bring in significant IP and ease pressure on Artemia supplies. Objectives: 1. To develop, with industry, intensive and extensive production methods of Artemia cysts and biomass. 2. To optimize formulated marine fish larvae diets and to foster commercialisation. 3. To serve as service centre for any larvae problems and product development. Read moreRead less
Airfreight Of Live Seafood: An Improved Packaging System For Live Western Rock Lobster
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Survey the packaging systems used with Western Rock Lobster 2. Determine the range of some physiological parameters which may occur to western rock lobsters during transport, in particular, temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ammonia levels. 3. Research which packaging system best copes with the above physiological parameters. 4. Communicate the results to the fishing industry.
Harvesting And Value Adding Wild Pacific Oysters For Australian And Export Markets
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$32,500.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To estimate the total biomass of wild pacific oysters 2. To estimate the fishable biomass 3. To investigate the quality of oysters with regard to meat condition, shell appearance and compliance with the Tasmanian Shelfish Sanitation Program
Seafood CRC: Benefit-cost Analysis Of Marker Assisted Selection In Australian Aquaculture Species
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$11,135.82
Summary
The development and application of marker assisted selection (MAS), genomic breeding values (GEBVs) and selection using gene expression profiling (GEPS) is a rapidly developing area, and significant technological and methodological advances have been made in recent years. There is potential that these techniques could greatly speed the genetic progress in selective breeding programs and provide faster access and more benefit than conventional selective breeding techniques. However, before embark ....The development and application of marker assisted selection (MAS), genomic breeding values (GEBVs) and selection using gene expression profiling (GEPS) is a rapidly developing area, and significant technological and methodological advances have been made in recent years. There is potential that these techniques could greatly speed the genetic progress in selective breeding programs and provide faster access and more benefit than conventional selective breeding techniques. However, before embarking on research in this area, aquaculture industries need answers to a number of questions. What basic resources are available or needed for each species before research to find markers or to apply MAS, GEBVs or GEPS can be carried out? Which traits would be best targeted for MAS, GEBVs or GEPS? and what is the economic value of these traits? What are the likely cost-benefits for MAS, GEBV or GEPS? When should research be undertaken or what developments might trigger research in this area for each species? What has been the measured impact of the application of these technologies on other industries? This project relates to the research strategies developed by the CRC from projects that have scoped selective breeding for abalone, Yellowtail Kingfish and Barramundi. It also relates to the R&D strategies developed by many of the aquaculture sectors in the CRC (eg. abalone, oyster, Atlantic Salmon, Prawns etc.) which have included in the past, or currently include, projects to develop markers or apply marker assisted selection. Objectives: 1. To provide a concise report that focuses on the relevance and benefit cost analysis of marker assisted selection for the abalone, Barramundi, Prawn, tuna, Yellowtail Kingfish, Mulloway, oyster and Atlantic Salmon aquaculture industries Read moreRead less
Assessing The Benefits Of Sea Urchin Processing Waste As An Agricultural Fertiliser And Soil Ameliorant
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$199,996.00
Summary
The primary need of this project is to facilitate a profitable Longspined Sea Urchin fishery to move the industry away from subsidies. A large-scale sustainable fishery is seen as the most feasible and sustainable way to apply downward pressure on the rapidly expanding Sea Urchin population in Tasmania. Longspined Sea Urchin populations have grown to some 20 million (5,500 tonnes) and have resulted in 15% of the Tasmania East Coast reefs becoming unproductive urchin barren, up from 3% 15 years ....The primary need of this project is to facilitate a profitable Longspined Sea Urchin fishery to move the industry away from subsidies. A large-scale sustainable fishery is seen as the most feasible and sustainable way to apply downward pressure on the rapidly expanding Sea Urchin population in Tasmania. Longspined Sea Urchin populations have grown to some 20 million (5,500 tonnes) and have resulted in 15% of the Tasmania East Coast reefs becoming unproductive urchin barren, up from 3% 15 years ago.
Subsides for the Longspined Sea Urchin harvest commenced in 2016 and in the last 3 years some $500,000 has been spent. This initiated significant investment in the industry to facilitate export market establishment and resulted the 2019 harvest reaching an excess of 550 tonnes, now Tasmania’s 3rd largest wild fishery by weight. However, the industry needs to move away from subsides and waste utilisation is seen a viable option to turn a current financial cost (estimated at $80,000 in 2019 to dump 400 tonnes of waste generated) into an income stream.
FRDC 2016-208 highlighted the significant potential of sea urchin waste utilisation in the agricultural industry and called for commercial upscaling of trials. This project is designed to meet that need. Based on this, the Abalone Industry Reinvestment Fund (AIRF) has committed to providing $538,686 in kind to initiate the project. This whole of project application is to allow multi-season agricultural trials of waste products to obtain scientifically and industry meaningful results, allow testing on perennial crops (such as cherries) and to employ a dedicated post-doctoral researcher on the project.
In the push for sustainably produced food, agricultural industries are demanding alternative nutritional sources to synthetic fertilisers. Urchin waste is comprised of two major parts: gut waste - a nitrogenous rich liquid which can be converted in a stable drench or spray and; shell waste – a calcium and boron rich solid which can be dried and powdered for use as a soil ameliorant. As such this fisheries enhancement project will additionally for fill this agricultural need.
Objectives: 1. To develop commercial scale processing equipment of sea urchin waste. 2. Determine the nutrient composition and plant bioavailability of nutrients from two high throughput waste streams: liquid gut waste and dried powdered shell waste 3. Evaluate the agronomic benefits of liquid gut waste as a frost retardant in perennial tree cropping (cherries) 4. Evaluate the agronomic benefits of powdered shell waste as a soil ameliorant in a wide range of annual and perennial cropping systems 5. Undertake a cost benefit analysis comparing fertiliser products (foliar sprays and/or soil conditioners) from this work to other products on the market to assess if the products are commercially viable Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. To define causes and extent of natural fluctuations in population numbers of scallops in Port Phillip Bay; 2. determine effects of scallop dredging on aquatic biota of PP Bay; explore ways to optimise scallop yields from PP Bay
Through existing farming practices it is apparent that there are several factors which may be limiting production and ultimately revenue.
Firstly, there is a need to identify an “ideal production strategy” to achieve forecast production levels. As temperature significantly affects YTK growth, feed conversion ratios and health, it is essential that the relationship between growth and temperature is investigated in fish of various sizes. This information will enable CST to make informed ....Through existing farming practices it is apparent that there are several factors which may be limiting production and ultimately revenue.
Firstly, there is a need to identify an “ideal production strategy” to achieve forecast production levels. As temperature significantly affects YTK growth, feed conversion ratios and health, it is essential that the relationship between growth and temperature is investigated in fish of various sizes. This information will enable CST to make informed decisions on size and time of stocking YTK into sea cages. It is anticipated that this will improve production through shortening the production cycle and will reduce the standing biomass in the water, ultimately increasing farm profitability.
Secondly, maturation may be a constraining factor in YTK production, reducing somatic growth. There are also flesh quality concerns which threaten sales of YTK harvested in November-December, a period when males exhibit maturation. However preliminary analysis of work carried out in Seafood CRC project 2008/901 suggests that male maturity did not have a significant deleterious effect on the flesh quality at that time. Though there are numerous strategies to manage maturation it is initially necessary to characterise the occurrence of maturation and the factors controlling it. With this information, appropriate mitigation strategies can be introduced resulting in economic benefits to the YTK industry.
Lastly, as production is poised to increase, it is imperative that substantial markets are developed for YTK product. One way of increasing sales is to ensure product sold is consistently of the highest possible quality. By attaining knowledge on the quality attributes, shelf-life and nutritional content of the product, producers will be able to tailor a product to specific market requirements. Likewise, as processing techniques and cold chain supply routes are diverse, it is imperative that information is attained on how these influence the quality of the product.Read moreRead less