Seafood CRC: Improving Trade And Market Access To The People's Republic Of China For Australian Rocklobster And Abalone Industries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$31,238.64
Summary
The Australian lobster industry has reported that the ongoing interruptions to trade between Hong Kong and mainland China have impacted on them through: • Financial loss from seized products and lost payments • Impact on fishers with lower beach prices • Shipments on hold causing product losses • Emergence (and disappearance) of transient buyers • Requests to send shipments via Vietnam and Thailand. Such disruptions are unpredictable and are not likely to cease. Consequen ....The Australian lobster industry has reported that the ongoing interruptions to trade between Hong Kong and mainland China have impacted on them through: • Financial loss from seized products and lost payments • Impact on fishers with lower beach prices • Shipments on hold causing product losses • Emergence (and disappearance) of transient buyers • Requests to send shipments via Vietnam and Thailand. Such disruptions are unpredictable and are not likely to cease. Consequently the risk to Australian exporters is likely to become untenable and the trade might cease or be significantly reduced, leading to enormous loss of capital value in the industries.
In the case of Australian Wild Abalone it is reported that all trade between Hong Kong and Shenzhen has ceased since the initial border disruption in November 2010. A delegation comprising Abalone exporters, CRC and ACA representatives visited China in November 2011 and were asked by their importers to help improve the trade and market access for Abalone directly into mainland China.
There needs to be improved understanding of the constraints to trade and the mechanisms available to remove them. This includes ensuring that Australia's government trade negotiation positions are robust and strategic, based on sound industry knowledge. Identification of the mechanisms to improve trade and market access and the supporting information needed to capitalise on them will be critical.
Objectives: 1. To produce a report for SRL and WRL on how to pursue the development of direct trade routes for Australian rock lobster exports to mainland China Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Collate data on contaminants in crustaceans for use in a submission to the National Food Authority to review the maximum permitted concentration of cadmium in crustaceans 2. Provide early warning and background information to industry and relevant government agencies on potential contaminant problems in crustaceans 3. Investigate seasonal variation in concentrations of cadmium as basis for possible catch-time management of some species of prawn
Rock Lobster Enhancement And Aquaculture Subprogram: Propagation Of Rock Lobster - Development Of A Collaborative National Project With International Partners
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$26,797.29
Summary
Expansion of output from the rock lobster fishery cannot be achieved using traditional fishing methods as most wild stocks are already fully exploited. It is therefore highly desirable to develop an aquaculture technique that can increase the long term production of rock lobster, in a sustainable manner.
It is presently not possible to produce puerulus from eggs on a large scale although it has been achieved in the laboratory in both New Zealand and Japan and there is extensive researc ....Expansion of output from the rock lobster fishery cannot be achieved using traditional fishing methods as most wild stocks are already fully exploited. It is therefore highly desirable to develop an aquaculture technique that can increase the long term production of rock lobster, in a sustainable manner.
It is presently not possible to produce puerulus from eggs on a large scale although it has been achieved in the laboratory in both New Zealand and Japan and there is extensive research being conducted in the USA. Very little information on puerulus production exists in the literature. If the problem of large scale consistent producton of puerulus is to be solved, then it needs a collaborative approach. If Australia is to benefit from the potential market for cultured rock lobster, then it must be in a position to design and import culture technology quickly.
At present there is very limited activity in Australia, the only research being conducted on rock lobster propagation is in Tasmania. However, there are: a: opportunities for tapping overseas experience; and b: nodes of expertise in Australia which require better co-ordination
The full collaborative project required to achieve the goal will be highly complex with a number of components and organisations. These organisations control major resources that could be co-ordinated and brought to bear on the problem of rock lobster propagation.
This proposal is seen as a fundamental first step in bringing together the groups and developing the project. FRDC funding is required for this task in order to provide a national focus and better cohesion between groups. Objectives: 1. Identify potential international and national, research & industry partners who are interested in collaborative research into culture of rock lobster from eggs 2. Identify barriers to the development of commercial culture of rock lobster in Australia and determine the R&D required to overcome these barriers 3. Identify what resources (expertise, facilities, funds) are required to conduct the necessary R&D 4. Develop a research plan mapping out R&D projects, the collaborative partners, timelines and resources. 5. Develop a collaborative, multi-institutional project proposal for FRDC Read moreRead less
People Development Program: 2013 Visiting Expert Bursary - Dr Raouf Kalida
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$7,940.00
Summary
Crustacean fisheries (such as those targeting rock losters, crabs and prawns) contribute more than a billion dollars to the Australian economy annually. Population models for stocks that support these fisheries often rely on indirect measures of age (e.g. size-modal analysis) which can confound estimates of other life history parameters and introduce errors into the modelling process.
A method to directly age commercially exploited crustaceans (by counting growth bands in calcified reg ....Crustacean fisheries (such as those targeting rock losters, crabs and prawns) contribute more than a billion dollars to the Australian economy annually. Population models for stocks that support these fisheries often rely on indirect measures of age (e.g. size-modal analysis) which can confound estimates of other life history parameters and introduce errors into the modelling process.
A method to directly age commercially exploited crustaceans (by counting growth bands in calcified regions of the eyestalk and/or the gastric mill) has been developed by Dr Raouf Kalida at the University of New Brunswick, Canada and published last year. His technique has the potential to substantially improve the precision of stock assessments on crustacean fisheries around the world.
There is a need to transfer this technology to fisheries research agencies in Australia so that we can better understand growth patterns in crustaceans, reduce uncertainty in crustacean population models and provide better advice to fishery managers. This in turn should lead to improved management practices and greater stability in the national crustacean harvest, noting that production by several crustacean fisheries is also strongly linked to environmental factors.
The most effective means to address this need is to host Dr Kalida in Australia for a period of time to share his knowledge of crustacean ageing and provide guidance to domestic fisheries scientists working in the field. The proposed project aligns with a number of FRDC Strategic Priority Areas including: Theme 4 (Ecologically Sustainable Development), Theme 13 (Innovation Skills) and Theme 14 (Extension and Adoption). Objectives: 1. Transfer knowledge regarding crustacean ageing techniques to Australian fisheries scientists 2. Provide this group with practical experience in crustacean ageing techniques 3. Facilitate the exchange of ideas between fisheries scientists Read moreRead less
2007 Mud Crab Workshop: Revision Of The National Strategy For Mud Crab Research
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$57,600.00
Summary
Mud crabs (Scylla serrata) are a highly prized natural resource, with the volume and value of the 2004 (national) commercial harvest exceeded 1500 tonnes and $20 million, respectively. The recreational and indigenous take of this species is also significant, with estimates for the 12 month period starting May 2000 in the order of one million crabs.
There have been widespread fluctuations in mud crab landings in recent years. For example, the commercial harvest in the NT increased from ~ ....Mud crabs (Scylla serrata) are a highly prized natural resource, with the volume and value of the 2004 (national) commercial harvest exceeded 1500 tonnes and $20 million, respectively. The recreational and indigenous take of this species is also significant, with estimates for the 12 month period starting May 2000 in the order of one million crabs.
There have been widespread fluctuations in mud crab landings in recent years. For example, the commercial harvest in the NT increased from ~600 tonnes in 1997 to 1100 tonnes in 2001, then dropped to 300 tonnes in 2005. This variability is probably due to a combination of fishing activity and the environment, but the extent to which each factor influences the mud crab catch is unknown. Identification of the drivers of recruitment and stock abundance would enable resource managers to implement harvest strategies based on predicted yields.
The ability to predict mud crab yield depends on the collection of appropriate biological and environmental data, one of which being the magnitude of recruitment. This requirement corresponds to Phase 3 of the National Strategy for Research on Mud Crabs, which recommends the 'development of a fishery independent index of stock abundance based on a juvenile pre-recruit index'. It also ranks as a high priority for the Northern Territory Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research and Development 2007-2011.
To ensure that future mud crab recruitment models are widely accepted and robust, it is essential that research and management agencies across northern Australia first agree on the best approach to implement Phase 3 of the National Strategy. This will be achieved through a national mud crab research network and workshop.
Objectives: 1. Establish a national forum for exchange of information between mud crab industry members, fishery managers and researchers. 2. Collate baseline information essential to a pre-recruit based index of stock abundance. 3. Identify the most efficient means of completing Phase 3 of the National Strategy for Mud Crab Research. 4. Revise the National Strategy for Mud Crab Research by documenting current research needs and future directions. Read moreRead less
Exploring New Resources For The West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Managed Fishery In Western Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$278,047.00
Summary
This project will address the strategic challenge of identifying additional resources for the WCDSCMF. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, export markets in China closed, rendering the highly valued crystal crab fishery uneconomical. When the markets again opened within China and demand grew, the logistics of moving live crab to China became the next hurdle for the fishery due to a lack of air space and the related high cost of transport. Logistics remained difficult for all o ....This project will address the strategic challenge of identifying additional resources for the WCDSCMF. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, export markets in China closed, rendering the highly valued crystal crab fishery uneconomical. When the markets again opened within China and demand grew, the logistics of moving live crab to China became the next hurdle for the fishery due to a lack of air space and the related high cost of transport. Logistics remained difficult for all of 2020 and into 2021. Although fishers are now again able to sell their catch within this premium market, they have started to experience a cost squeeze, with rising costs associated with bait, salaries and their main input, diesel fuel. This fishery necessitates steaming large distances from port to the fishing grounds over expansive areas that they do not fish. If additional fishing gear could be deployed when traversing these distances, the fishery has the opportunity to expand its revenue with little increases in costs. Using several different pots that have been successful around Australia and the world, this study will deploy these across a minimum of four latitudes along the west coast (additional latitudes added based on vessel behaviour) encompassed by the WCDSCMF. Across these latitudes, we will target 9 depth categories, starting at 150M to 1000M. Additionally, cameras and Conductivity Temperature and Depth (CTDs) loggers will be attached to the pots to analyse the species present, habitat and water chemistry, which allows better prediction of species associations. In doing this, this project will explore and identify possible viable commercial species that the WCDSCMF can include in their landings.
Objectives: 1. Identification of potential new marine crustacean resources located within the water of the WCDSCMF. 2. Document associations between all marine crustacean species and their habitat within the grounds of the WCDSCMF to identify potential un-fished marine resources. 3. Trial modified traps designed to catch potential new crustacean stocks. Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Consider the potential, economics, techniques and engineering aspects of aquaculture of freshwater fish & crustaceans. 2. Prospects for aquaculture industry. Inform participants of latest techniques and developments, identify research requirements
SSA Core Membership Of The Australian Food Safety Centre Of Excellence
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
The rapidly changing global trading environment is placing increasing demands on Australia's seafood industry to demonstrate that their product is safe and that it will not cause illness now or in the future. Meeting these demand means that seafood businesses need to understand and manage the food safety risks associated with their products and processes. Changes to the natural environment, including through increased pollution of the marine environment has resulted in new an ....The rapidly changing global trading environment is placing increasing demands on Australia's seafood industry to demonstrate that their product is safe and that it will not cause illness now or in the future. Meeting these demand means that seafood businesses need to understand and manage the food safety risks associated with their products and processes. Changes to the natural environment, including through increased pollution of the marine environment has resulted in new and emerging food safety issues that need to be better understood to enable them to be managed. Development of new products and processes designed to increase shelf life and improve convenience to the consumers also pose food safety management challenges Meeting these needs individually would require significant investment. Tapping into a global network of experts and undertaking research as part of a national food industry dvelopment effort will leverage investment into these areas. Objectives: 1. As a Core Member of the Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence, help build the Australian seafood industry's capacity to produce safe and high quality foods that meets market requirements, underpin standards development and risk communication, and innovate in food safety management practices 2. As a Core Member of the Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence, influence the direction of food safety research and development that benefits the seafood industry 3. As a Core Member of the Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence gain fast access to information and advice about emerging food safety issues and options for management Read moreRead less
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Development Of Stable Positive Control Material And Development Of Internal Controls For Molecular Tests For Detection Of Important Endemic And Exotic Pathogens
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$172,185.00
Summary
Quality assured positive control material is critical to demonstrate an assay has performed as expected. Similarly, testing for internal control material ensures extraction procedures produced template of acceptable quality, free of test inhibitors. Both types of controls are particularly important where the samples are being tested to demonstrate freedom from disease (i.e. are negative).
One internal control target is the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. However, assays targeting 18S need to b ....Quality assured positive control material is critical to demonstrate an assay has performed as expected. Similarly, testing for internal control material ensures extraction procedures produced template of acceptable quality, free of test inhibitors. Both types of controls are particularly important where the samples are being tested to demonstrate freedom from disease (i.e. are negative).
One internal control target is the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. However, assays targeting 18S need to be optimised if multiplexed, 18S is ubiquitous (negative control reactions can test positive) and 18S is not applicable for crustacean samples. Other targets include genes of the host organism, which are often limited to a single species, and are an option that will be investigated for priority species. Plant viruses enable development of one internal control assay for RNA and one for DNA. Optimisation of each assay would still be required if multiplexed, one internal control and one set of primers/probe for any assay reduces costs, eliminates 18S contamination issues and is applicable for all hosts (i.e. finfish, mollusc, crustacean).
Synthetic RNA and plasmid DNA positive controls enable accurate quantification of targets, control over the level of positive template (i.e. added at levels approaching the limits of detection of the assay), are consistent and greatly aid troubleshooting when contamination occurs. They also eliminate the need to source infected animals for positive control material. AFDL implements OIE, EU and/or ANZSDPs for diagnostic assays, reducing the risk of test changes requiring redevelopment of positive controls, which are limitations of synthetic and plasmid controls.
Objectives: 1. Produce quantified synthetic RNA positive control material for conventional and real-time RT-PCR assays, available on request. 2. Produce quantified plasmid DNA positive control material for conventional and real-time PCR assays, available on request. 3. Optimised universal internal control based on plant viral RNA and DNA and/or species-specific genes for use in molecular assays developed and implemented 4. Technology transferred and adopted by participating laboratories. Read moreRead less
Research To Provide Data To Support Application For A Minor Use Permits For Chemicals Including Trichlorfon, Chlorine, Copper Sulfate, Hydrogen Peroxide, Benzylkonium Chloride For Control Of Disease Including White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) In Australian Prawn Farms.
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$81,800.00
Summary
The need for approved ag-vet chemicals was demonstrated during the response to the outbreak of the exotic pathogen white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in 2016. WSSV is one of a number of exotic pathogens that have caused severe economic impacts for prawn aquaculture internationally. Review of the response to WSSV highlighted the need to access a number of ag-vet chemicals for use in disease prevention and control programs that have been developed by Biosecurity Queensland and industry, in conjunct ....The need for approved ag-vet chemicals was demonstrated during the response to the outbreak of the exotic pathogen white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in 2016. WSSV is one of a number of exotic pathogens that have caused severe economic impacts for prawn aquaculture internationally. Review of the response to WSSV highlighted the need to access a number of ag-vet chemicals for use in disease prevention and control programs that have been developed by Biosecurity Queensland and industry, in conjunction with overseas experts. This application has been prepared to provide funds to commence generating the data required to support applications to the APVMA, seeking approval for minor-use of the highest priority ag-vet chemicals trichlorfon, sodium/calcium hypochlorite; hydrogen peroxide, copper sulfate and benzylkonium chloride that is needed to control crustacean disease vectors in water and on equipment.
There is limited published data on trichlorfon efficacy to kill Tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon), despite a range of data on efficacy in other species. The APFA completed Pre-application Assistance (PAA) from the APVMA for the use of trichlorfon to rapidly kill prawns and other crustacea in 2017. APVMA intially indicated that data to meet module 7.3 environmental fate and behaviour assessment and a module 8.1 efficacy assessment is required prior to lodgement of an application for the proposed trichlorfon use. Subsequently APVMA requested an application to be lodged with a complete public realm data set to consider. This data needs to be sourced and assembled. APVMA may request further data to be generated in response to the lodgement of the application which is proposed to be gathered under this project for trichlorfon, and potentially some of the other candidate chemicals.
Objectives: 1. Compile public domain data ready for submission to APVMA for trichlorfon MUP 2. Compile public domain data ready for submission to APVMA for hydrogen peroxide MUP 3. Compile data for copper sulfate, sodium and calcium hypochlorite and benzylkonium chloride to progress towards application-ready status 4. Collect field data to support trichlorfon use as advised by APVMA Read moreRead less