Maximising Economic Returns In The NT Spanish Mackerel Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$26,307.36
Summary
Objectives: 1. To assess the impact of bleeding , gutting and deheading on the quality of spanish mackerel 2. To determine the impact of spiking and icing on the onset of rigor in spanish mackerel 3. To evaluate the effect of storage on ice on the shelf life and sensory properties of spanish mackerel 4. To assist in the preparation of a Code of Practice for the capture, handling and packaging of chilled spanish mackerel
Investigation Of Key Factors In The Maintenance Of Quality From Catching To Consumer
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. To maintain high quality by correct freezing procedures, 2. To understand the characteristic properties of the trawl fish of South-east Australia and of the North-west Shelf
Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram: Characterisation Of EST03G12 And Elucidation Of Its Role In Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) Severity
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$135,629.00
Summary
Preliminary studies of salmon EST03G12 undertaken within FRDC Project #2004/218 did not determine whether it encodes a functional protein and therefore it's biological role in AGD pathology remains largely unknown. However, some evidence was obtained that it might function as either a negative regulator of the innate immune response or a transcriptional factor driving the hyperproliferation of gill cells observed at sites of AGD lesions. Thus it might play a significant role in the development ....Preliminary studies of salmon EST03G12 undertaken within FRDC Project #2004/218 did not determine whether it encodes a functional protein and therefore it's biological role in AGD pathology remains largely unknown. However, some evidence was obtained that it might function as either a negative regulator of the innate immune response or a transcriptional factor driving the hyperproliferation of gill cells observed at sites of AGD lesions. Thus it might play a significant role in the development of AGD pathology and in progress the disease. Indeed, if EST03G12 expression impacts negatively on the innate immune response against AGD, it is an obvious target for intervention strategies. However, in order to devise such strategies there is a need to better characterise the EST to examine whether it encodes a functional protein, it's role during the progress of AGD and whether allelic differences in the gene sequence and/or its promoter amongst salmon correlate with differences in their resistance/susceptibility to AGD. Objectives: 1. Determine whether EST03G12 encodes a functional protein 2. Characterise the role of EST03G12 in AGD pathogenesis 3. Identify polymorphisms and allele frequencies of EST03G12 in Tasmanian farmed salmon 4. Determine whether different EST03G12 alleles confer resistance/susceptibility to AGD Read moreRead less
SCRC: PhD 5.03 The Role Of Inbound Chinese Tourists In Promoting Australian Seafood Products In China (student Jasha Bowe)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
This PhD proposal focuses on CRC's Program 1 goals. The key focus is on increased demand for Australian seafood in China, but our research has implications for marketing to any country that has substantial tourism in Australia: i.e., US, UK, mainland Europe, southern Asia. The project aims to reduce the costs and increasing the efficiency of promotion to higher income consumers, which should result in increased profitability throughout the value chain. The long term outcome should be additional ....This PhD proposal focuses on CRC's Program 1 goals. The key focus is on increased demand for Australian seafood in China, but our research has implications for marketing to any country that has substantial tourism in Australia: i.e., US, UK, mainland Europe, southern Asia. The project aims to reduce the costs and increasing the efficiency of promotion to higher income consumers, which should result in increased profitability throughout the value chain. The long term outcome should be additional profit margins through improved market access.Read moreRead less
Enhancing plant photosynthesis by engineering the carbon dioxide (CO2)-fixing enzyme Rubisco. Improving the ability of crops to use water, sunlight and fertiliser more efficiently would have economic benefits for Australia and ease the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices. Photosynthesis research has confirmed that such improvements are theoretically possible by enhancing the efficiency of the protein, Rubisco, which initiates the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbon ....Enhancing plant photosynthesis by engineering the carbon dioxide (CO2)-fixing enzyme Rubisco. Improving the ability of crops to use water, sunlight and fertiliser more efficiently would have economic benefits for Australia and ease the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices. Photosynthesis research has confirmed that such improvements are theoretically possible by enhancing the efficiency of the protein, Rubisco, which initiates the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbon compounds required for growth. The biotechnological research proposed here uses unique capabilities to improve our understanding of structural features in Rubisco that influence its assembly and functional efficiency in plants. This knowledge will pave the way for transplanting more efficient Rubisco into crops to improve their growth.Read moreRead less
Resolution Of Taxonomic Problems And Preparation Of A User-friendly Identification Guide To Whole Fish And Fillets For South East Fishery "quota Species"
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$236,561.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine the true species composition of SEF "quota species" based on AFMA's requirements and industry's requests for clarification as to which species constitute quota species 2. To prepare a definitive identification guide to the SEF quota species and their close relatives 3. To include within this guide a means of identifying fillets of these species based on their protien fingerprints
Exploring The Occurrence And Potential Associated Risk Factors For Pilchard Orthomyxovirus (POMV) In Tasmanian Farmed Atlantic Salmon
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$209,295.62
Summary
Following basic epidemiology principles, no infectious disease occurs ‘randomly’ and its occurrence follow logical and predictable patterns. The presence of an infectious agent is unlikely sufficient to explain these patterns and most aquatic diseases result from the complex interaction between the agent, the host and its environment. Therefore, the targeted outcome for a POMV control plan is threefold: 1. Decrease transmission between infected and susceptible fish groups – this requires ide ....Following basic epidemiology principles, no infectious disease occurs ‘randomly’ and its occurrence follow logical and predictable patterns. The presence of an infectious agent is unlikely sufficient to explain these patterns and most aquatic diseases result from the complex interaction between the agent, the host and its environment. Therefore, the targeted outcome for a POMV control plan is threefold: 1. Decrease transmission between infected and susceptible fish groups – this requires identifying risk factors associated with the introduction, spread, and maintenance of the pathogen within the industry; 2. Decrease the number of susceptible fish – this mainly requires identifying risk factors associated with the susceptibility of the host (e.g. husbandry-related stress) and the development of a safe and effective prophylaxis; 3. Decrease the amount of virus in the environment - this requires detecting infected fish cage(s) early to implement timely control strategies. Diagnostic capacity to confirmed POMV outbreak has been developed and is currently used in routine by the industry. A vaccine against POMV is currently under development at the Tasmanian Aquatic Animal Health and Vaccines Centre of Excellence and will be available in the future. However, little is known about risk factors specific to POMV and about its full economic impact. We define as a ‘risk factor’ any attribute of the agent, the host or its environment that increases the risk and intensity of a disease outbreak. Most of the environmental risk factors (including farming practices) facilitate the introduction, transmission, or maintenance of the pathogen; while the host risk factors affect the susceptibility of the host and its capacity to become diseased. Like the closely related ISAv, the magnitude and occurrence of POMV outbreaks appeared to be highly variable. This supports the existence of additional factors other than the POMV infection that contribute to the intensity of an outbreak. It is anticipated that by identifying and intervening on some of the manageable risk factors, the frequency and the severity of POMV outbreaks can be reduced. Objectives: 1. Describe the occurrence of POMV outbreaks in the Tasmanian salmon industry 2. Quantify the direct financial impact of POMV mortality to the Tasmanian salmon industry 3. Identify potential management, environmental and stock risk factors directly or indirectly increasing the risk and intensity of a POMV outbreaks Read moreRead less
Development of microwave tomography techniques and inverse methods for biomedical imaging applications. Microwave tomography is a rapidly emerging imaging technology with highly significant applications in industry and medicine. In particular, given its sensitivity to differences between normal and malignant breast tissue, non-invasive microwave imaging has been the subject of intense research interest in the last ten years. In collaboration with workers at Chalmers University in Sweden, we wi ....Development of microwave tomography techniques and inverse methods for biomedical imaging applications. Microwave tomography is a rapidly emerging imaging technology with highly significant applications in industry and medicine. In particular, given its sensitivity to differences between normal and malignant breast tissue, non-invasive microwave imaging has been the subject of intense research interest in the last ten years. In collaboration with workers at Chalmers University in Sweden, we will develop and evaluate a scanning microwave imaging tomographic system with a number of potential industrial and biomedical applications. This appears to be a new Australian initiative.Read moreRead less
Electrochemically-sensitized luminescence: A new bio-detection paradigm. This project aims to create new science which will enable the development of a superior new class of bio-detection technique, suitable for medical diagnostics and other sensing applications. A multi-disciplinary approach will be taken, combining expertise in a number of fields to explore the use of electrical rather than traditional optical means to control energy transfer and luminescence in novel molecular and nanoparticl ....Electrochemically-sensitized luminescence: A new bio-detection paradigm. This project aims to create new science which will enable the development of a superior new class of bio-detection technique, suitable for medical diagnostics and other sensing applications. A multi-disciplinary approach will be taken, combining expertise in a number of fields to explore the use of electrical rather than traditional optical means to control energy transfer and luminescence in novel molecular and nanoparticle-based systems. It is expected that these advances will transform bio-analytical science by giving rise to innovative detection techniques which are low-cost, rapid and highly sensitive.Read moreRead less
Viral Endemiology Of Selected Australian Commercial Fish Species And Their Susceptibility To Viral Diseases
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Expand the Australian viral endemiology testing facility to include certified continuous cell lines derived from commercially important Australian fish species, 2. enabling the viral endemiology and susceptibility of these fish to be studied