Seafood CRC: Increasing Seedstock Production Of Domesticated Giant Tiger Prawns (Penaeus Monodon) Through Improved Male Fertility
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$78,100.00
Summary
Improving domestication of P. monodon is listed as the top R&D target within the APFA five-year plan (2007-2012). Improving fertility is listed as a key strategy for improving domestication.
If domesticated P. monodon broodstock can be produced economically at a commercial scale, Australian prawn farmers will be in a position to significantly improve farm yields and profitability through selective breeding. To date, P. monodon breeding programs have used both green-water pond systems an ....Improving domestication of P. monodon is listed as the top R&D target within the APFA five-year plan (2007-2012). Improving fertility is listed as a key strategy for improving domestication.
If domesticated P. monodon broodstock can be produced economically at a commercial scale, Australian prawn farmers will be in a position to significantly improve farm yields and profitability through selective breeding. To date, P. monodon breeding programs have used both green-water pond systems and clear water systems for rearing domesticated broodstock; with the different systems having certain advantages and disadvantages. Developing protocols enabling a pond-rearing phase within the broodstock production cycle has potential to greatly reduce costs of broodstock production, allowing more companies to maintain domesticated lines and increase production of domesticated-selected seedstock throughout the industry.
In 2002, an APFA-lead research consortium carried out a series of FRDC-funded projects to establish a traditional family-based selection program largely using pond-rearing. However, throughout 2006 and 2007, problems with reproductive tract development and fertility of the pond-reared males significantly compromised the domesticated stocks within the program. In two successive generations across two different pond environments, the gonadal development and fertility of the pond-reared males was found compromised. This project aims to determine ‘if’ and ‘how’ a pond-rearing phase can play a role in producing commercially-viable numbers of P. monodon broodstock.
Seedstock production of broodstock reared in clear water systems has also consistently been constrained by low egg fertilisation. However, the effect that male fertility is having on egg fertilisation rates in clear water systems is not known. The proposed project aims to develop reliable means to evaluate male fertility, and practical measure/s of male fertility which can be used by industry. Such objective measures of male fertility will enable male constraints to seedstock production to be identified and overcome.
Objectives: 1. Determine whether assessments of spermatophore development and sperm count must be standardised to the moulting cycle to allow accurate evaluation of male fertility. 2. Determine whether male fertility at the time of mating can be predicted by earlier fertility assessments (i.e. months prior to mating). 3. Determine whether sperm count and/or morphology are objective measures (estimators) of male fertility. 4. Develop practical and predictive means to evaluate male fertility that can be used by industry (using outcomes of objectives 1, 2, 3). 5. Determine whether the reproductive development and health of tank-reared males differs significantly when males are fed a ‘typical’ pond diet with or without being exposed to a short term low temperature stress compared to males fed a ‘typical’ broodstock diet with or without being exposed to a short term low temperature stress. 6. Determine whether the reproductive development and health of males differs significantly when males are reared in outdoor ponds at different densities; transferred from ponds to tanks at different ages, and; in tanks maintained under ideal broodstock-rearing conditions from juvenile to adult. Read moreRead less
SCRC: Seafood CRC Participant Sponsorship To 2010 National Seafood Industry Leadership Program Ben Cameron
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The CRC is all about capacity building within the CRC participants and the FRDC Seafood Leadership Program enables the opportunity to invest in people who are keen to show their leadership potential. Investing in Leadership, and the associated networks and cross stakeholder understanding is seen as vitally important for all sectors to be able to contribute to debate, drive change and address challenges in order to enable the Seafood CRC and the industry to reach its potential.
SCRC: Seafood CRC Participant Sponsorship To 2010 National Seafood Industry Leadership Program Matthew West
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The CRC is all about capacity building within the CRC participants and the FRDC Seafood Leadership Program enables the opportunity to invest in people who are keen to show their leadership potential. Investing in Leadership, and the associated networks and cross stakeholder understanding is seen as vitally important for all sectors to be able to contribute to debate, drive change and address challenges in order to enable the Seafood CRC and the industry to reach its potential.
Seafood CRC: Clean Seas Tuna - Product Quality Issues (maturation And Harvest Stress)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$13,826.24
Summary
Ultimately, the need is to improve the quality of the product at this time of year when mature males occur and when sea temperatures reach their peak. If mature males are shown to contribute significantly to product quality issues at this time, then remedial measures can be investigated which are proportional to the scale of the problem.
Information on the extent of the impacts of maturation and/or harvest stress on product quality of YTK will help all involved in growing, buying and s ....Ultimately, the need is to improve the quality of the product at this time of year when mature males occur and when sea temperatures reach their peak. If mature males are shown to contribute significantly to product quality issues at this time, then remedial measures can be investigated which are proportional to the scale of the problem.
Information on the extent of the impacts of maturation and/or harvest stress on product quality of YTK will help all involved in growing, buying and selling YTK in domestic and overseas markets.
Objectives: 1. Identify, characterise and quantify the effects of sexual maturity on defined product quality attributes of farmed YTK 2. Determine the extent and nature of the impact of "dead haul" harvest processes and practices on product quality attributes of farmed YTK Read moreRead less
Shark Depredation In Australian Fisheries: Understanding The Scope Of The Issue And Identify Potential Mitigation Options
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$25,510.00
Summary
Shark depredation of catches have been nationally acknowledged as an issue for all stakeholders – however, much of the information is anecdotal and there is a lack of clarity on where efforts need to be prioritised to find possible solutions. In response, the FRDC will facilitate up to two national workshops to understand the scope of depredation and approaches to mitigate and manage this source of mortality.
Objectives: 1. Define key dimensions of the shark depredation ....Shark depredation of catches have been nationally acknowledged as an issue for all stakeholders – however, much of the information is anecdotal and there is a lack of clarity on where efforts need to be prioritised to find possible solutions. In response, the FRDC will facilitate up to two national workshops to understand the scope of depredation and approaches to mitigate and manage this source of mortality.
Objectives: 1. Define key dimensions of the shark depredation issue in Australian fisheries (across all relevant sectors) in terms of (i) relevant characteristics of the shark species and populations involved, (ii) relevant traits of the fisheries involved, (iii) potential impacts of shark depredation, from economic, ecological, stock assessment, and social perspectives 2. Clearly identify and discuss potential mitigation options 3. Facilitate a national approach to collaborate cross-jurisdictional knowledge and efforts to define the scope of shark depredation in Australia and potential next steps Read moreRead less
Dissemination Of FRDC Marine Turtle Research At The 2009 International Sea Turtle Biology And Conservation Symposium Through Hosting Of A Sponsor Stand
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$14,000.00
Summary
There have been various marine turtle mitigation research projects conducted in Australia that deserve to be disseminated to the rest of the world. These projects have included TED research in prawn trawl fisheries, handling/gear modification research in longline fisheries, and turtle friendly crab pots. FRDC has been instrumental in most of these projects. Additionally Australian fisheries and researchers have at times been seen as world leaders in cooperative research projects and also in nove ....There have been various marine turtle mitigation research projects conducted in Australia that deserve to be disseminated to the rest of the world. These projects have included TED research in prawn trawl fisheries, handling/gear modification research in longline fisheries, and turtle friendly crab pots. FRDC has been instrumental in most of these projects. Additionally Australian fisheries and researchers have at times been seen as world leaders in cooperative research projects and also in novel ways in working together to make a difference. The 29th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation is the perfect avenue to display our successes and show the world how the right amount of research dollars, fishers who want to be involved and also scientists with a passion can make a difference in the area of marine turtle mitigation. Objectives: 1. Disseminate Australian research results focusing on sea turtle interactions by commercial fishing at the 29th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, Brisbane February 2009. Read moreRead less
Update Of AQUAVETPLAN Disease Strategy Manual, White Spot Disease
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$20,125.00
Summary
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is seeking expressions of interest for the revision of the following AQUAVETPLAN Disease strategy manual: 1. White Spot Disease
The Australian Aquatic Veterinary Emergency Plan (AQUAVETPLAN) is a series of manuals that outline Australia’s approach to national disease preparedness and propose the technical response and control strategies to be activated in a national aquatic animal disease emergency. To assist potential applicants ....The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is seeking expressions of interest for the revision of the following AQUAVETPLAN Disease strategy manual: 1. White Spot Disease
The Australian Aquatic Veterinary Emergency Plan (AQUAVETPLAN) is a series of manuals that outline Australia’s approach to national disease preparedness and propose the technical response and control strategies to be activated in a national aquatic animal disease emergency. To assist potential applicants in preparing their expression of interest: • Current AQUAVETPLAN manuals, including the current version of the AQUAVETPLAN manuals for White spot disease, is available on the Department’s website at AQUAVETPLAN. • Author guidelines, including the latest template for AQUAVETPLAN manuals, can be provided electronically on request from the Aquatic Pest and Health Policy section (contact details below). Terms of Reference The White spot disease manual was first published in 2005, and the second version was published in 2013. This manual requires revision to reflect new scientific knowledge, and to ensure that strategies used for White Spot disease control purposes reflect current ‘best-practice’ approaches.
Objectives: 1. Revision of the AQUAVETPLAN Disease Strategy Manual: White Spot Disease Read moreRead less
Monitoring Abalone Juvenile Abundance Following Removal Of Centrostephanus And Translocation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$67,916.04
Summary
Blacklip abalone remain cryptic for the first 5 to 7 years of life. This life history characteristic of abalone precludes accurate monitoring of the abundance cryptic size classes (juveniles and sub-adults), creating a significant gap in our understanding of abalone population health. This also creates challenges for determining effects on recruitment related to fishing pressure, environmental change, or catastrophic events such as storms, heat waves, or disease. It also creates a significant de ....Blacklip abalone remain cryptic for the first 5 to 7 years of life. This life history characteristic of abalone precludes accurate monitoring of the abundance cryptic size classes (juveniles and sub-adults), creating a significant gap in our understanding of abalone population health. This also creates challenges for determining effects on recruitment related to fishing pressure, environmental change, or catastrophic events such as storms, heat waves, or disease. It also creates a significant delay in documenting the effects of remedial actions such as TACC reductions, reseeding, or translocation. Currently determining the effect of a particular management outcome can only be determined 5 to 7 years after an event or management action, at which point attribution of the patterns observed to the event of interest can be difficult if other events have had an effect in that period.
Developing and implementing a repeatable method of determining the abundance of cryptic abalone year classes (2+ to 4+) to enable more timely determination of management actions or acute/chronic external events is a high priority for all Australian abalone fisheries. For the Victorian Eastern Zone Abalone Fishery, there is an urgent need to assess the efficacy of the translocation activities conducted as part of FRDC project 2014-224. Objectives: 1. Test Tasmanian designed juvenile abalone collectors on Victorian Eastern Zone reef systems 2. Use juvenile collector methods to assess effect of translocation on population recovery 3. Consider broader application of juvenile collectors as a recruitment monitoring tool Read moreRead less
Pre-management Investigations Into The Barramundi Lates Calcarifer In Northeast Queensland Waters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Study the growth, distribution, migrations, genetic composition, spawning, feeding and maturation of barramundi in selected river systems. 2. Initiate experimental management procedures in the Northern Territory.