Energy is currently a major issue for the Fishing Industry and an area in which the FRDC has focused in the past five years. FRDC has developed a good international network to share research outcomes the issue of energy, fuel and improving boat efficiency.
On 20 May 2010, the first major international conference on energy and fishing will be held in Spain. E-Fishing 2010 is the first of a series of biannual conferences devoted to the study of energy efficiency in the fishing world. Thi ....Energy is currently a major issue for the Fishing Industry and an area in which the FRDC has focused in the past five years. FRDC has developed a good international network to share research outcomes the issue of energy, fuel and improving boat efficiency.
On 20 May 2010, the first major international conference on energy and fishing will be held in Spain. E-Fishing 2010 is the first of a series of biannual conferences devoted to the study of energy efficiency in the fishing world. This symposium aims to be a forum where experts will present the latest advances in research and development aimed at improving the energy efficiency of fishing vessels and systems.
It is important that the informaiton form this conference is extended and made available for the fishing industry in Australia. Objectives: 1. Extension of research presented at the E-fishing conference on "energy" related issues relevant to the fishing industry Read moreRead less
Energy is currently a major issue for the Fishing Industry and an area in which the FRDC has focused in the past five years. FRDC has developed a good international network to share research outcomes the issue of energy, fuel and improving boat efficiency.
On 20 May 2010, the first major international conference on energy and fishing will be held in Spain. E-Fishing 2010 is the first of a series of biannual conferences devoted to the study of energy efficiency in the fishing world. Thi ....Energy is currently a major issue for the Fishing Industry and an area in which the FRDC has focused in the past five years. FRDC has developed a good international network to share research outcomes the issue of energy, fuel and improving boat efficiency.
On 20 May 2010, the first major international conference on energy and fishing will be held in Spain. E-Fishing 2010 is the first of a series of biannual conferences devoted to the study of energy efficiency in the fishing world. This symposium aims to be a forum where experts will present the latest advances in research and development aimed at improving the energy efficiency of fishing vessels and systems.
It is important that the informaiton form this conference is extended and made available for the fishing industry in Australia. Objectives: 1. Extension of research presented at the E-fishing conference on "energy" related issues relevant to the fishing industry Read moreRead less
SESSF Industry Development Subprogram: Alternative Fuels For Fishing Vessels
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$137,291.91
Summary
With most of Australia's fish stocks at fully fished or overfished status, there is reduced opportunity for increasing economic returns from larger catches or unexploited resources. As a result, the fishing industry is looking for opportunities to increase its profit margins by reducing the cost of fishing. Generally, fuel is the one single highest operating cost to fishing vessels, accounting for up to 50% of the operating costs of a fishing vessel in Australia.
The Australian (and Ne ....With most of Australia's fish stocks at fully fished or overfished status, there is reduced opportunity for increasing economic returns from larger catches or unexploited resources. As a result, the fishing industry is looking for opportunities to increase its profit margins by reducing the cost of fishing. Generally, fuel is the one single highest operating cost to fishing vessels, accounting for up to 50% of the operating costs of a fishing vessel in Australia.
The Australian (and New Zealand) Fishing Industry requires assistance in becoming a more efficient user of energy. Some forms of fishing, such as trawling, expend more fuel per kg of fish landed compared to passive methods such as longlining and trap fishing. In all cases however, rising fuel prices impinge on the profitability of the operations, and ultimately put their viability in jeopardy; this has reach a critical situation for many operators in Australia.
The R&D plans and strategies of all advisory bodies to the FRDC contain high priority goals to achieve FRDC’s Industry Development goal (planned outcome):, The commercial sector of the Australian fishing industry is profitable, internationally competitive and socially resilient. This investigation into alternative fuels for the fishing industry, some of which also achieve lower greenhouse gas emissions, has the intention of improving the economic viability of fishing enterprises and shifting the industry towards a more secure position with respect to future fuel needs.
Objectives: 1. Demonstrate the feasibility of Marine Gas Oil (or other lower cost distillates) in fishing vessel engines, as a cheaper form of petroleum based diesel fuel. 2. Investigate the technical feasibility of fishoil as a biofuel source related directly to the activities of the industry. 3. Evaluate LPG as a relatively user friendly option with established supply chain, and detail the required technology in the context of fishing vessels. 4. Evaluate natural gas (LNG, CNG) as a prospect for significant fuel cost savings, and detail the required technology in the context of fishing vessels. Read moreRead less
International Travel Bursary - Elspeth Macdonald's (Scottish Fishermen's Federation) Experience With Spatial Management And The Renewable Energy Sector
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$29,700.00
Summary
Elspeth Macdonald, the CEO of Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), is a key advocate for the fishing industry and has critical knowledge and experience with the spatial squeeze and the emerging offshore renewable energy sector. As such, WAFIC and the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s’ Association recognises an opportunity for the fishing industry and government representatives to share and learn from Scotland’s experiences. Through this exchange of knowledge, we hope to g ....Elspeth Macdonald, the CEO of Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), is a key advocate for the fishing industry and has critical knowledge and experience with the spatial squeeze and the emerging offshore renewable energy sector. As such, WAFIC and the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s’ Association recognises an opportunity for the fishing industry and government representatives to share and learn from Scotland’s experiences. Through this exchange of knowledge, we hope to guide the development of Australian policy frameworks that encourage co-existence with commercial fisheries.
Tentatively, we are planning for Mrs Macdonald to arrive in Perth to attend high-level State Ministerial and State and Commonwealth Government meetings, before travelling to Adelaide to be a keynote speaker at the Rock Lobster Trans-Tasman Conference arranged by the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s’ Association and then attend a National Coordination Ocean Access Committee meeting coordinated by Seafood Industry Australia. Other potential opportunities may also be identified and discussed in the months leading up to Mrs Macdonald’s arrival. Read moreRead less
Futures Of Seafood. Wild. Aquaculture. Recreational. Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$3,043,500.00
Summary
“Futures of Seafood” is an 18th month multi-disciplinary study co-designed with industry and government. It will draw from existing data, complementary work underway or concluded, and importantly will involve a suite our outputs that can be used by a variety of stakeholders in formats that are fit for purpose.
The study will provide a contemporary description on the state of play of Australia’s seafood system, the supply chain, markets and its reach into communities. It will identify a ....“Futures of Seafood” is an 18th month multi-disciplinary study co-designed with industry and government. It will draw from existing data, complementary work underway or concluded, and importantly will involve a suite our outputs that can be used by a variety of stakeholders in formats that are fit for purpose.
The study will provide a contemporary description on the state of play of Australia’s seafood system, the supply chain, markets and its reach into communities. It will identify and report on trends, insights, forecasts and cumulative impacts that are impacting (positive and negative) the industry. It will include the first in-depth spatial and descriptive profile of the seafood industry by sector and jurisdiction through spatial mapping and productivity reporting since Marine Matters in 2003. Beyond seafood, it will also identify, describe and map other ocean uses (new, emerging and transitioning), including assumptions about current growth plans / policies / rights completed / taken up, looking towards 2040.
Drawing from information collated, the study will include scenario modelling to model and scrutinise the cumulative impacts of these trends and produce associated impact reporting against productivity and sustainability (social, economic, environmental and governance) metrics for a series of ten scenarios.
It will synthesise the study findings, as well as curate across other studies underway or completed, to develop a series of industry-specific assets (reports, tools, frameworks and systems) that aim to improve knowledge and support ongoing participation in the ocean estate policy conversation. This includes supporting priority contemporary frameworks to support transitions to future states and de-risking industry/sectors.
‘Futures of Seafood’ will support a shared understanding of the potential pathways and opportunities that lie ahead for Australia’s seafood stakeholders during this time of rapid change and transformation. It will furthermore provide a foundation for industry, Government and policy makers to make better decisions, navigate changes, and ensure industry and stakeholders are well-equipped to adapt and hopefully flourish in a dynamic environment.
This study and its intended outputs are consistent with and seeks to promote action against local, national, and global strategic initiatives, including those of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the Biodiversity Framework within the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Paris Declaration, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and associated Forward Faster Initiative.
WORK PACKAGE SUMMARY
In short, this is a novel study that describes, maps and models the spatial, economic and social impacts of Government targets and decisions, provides evidence-based insights and charts a course for Australia’s futures of seafood alongside other ocean uses for the coming 10-15 years.
It will be delivered through a series of four work packages. These are founded on an enduring data collation platform, undertaken by a series of expert commissions and overseen and supported by a strong and inclusive governance framework.
Work Package 1: State of Play • Identify data system to support mapping and describing the current state of the industries/sectors – i.e. locations, GVP, employment, production, jurisdiction input/output. • Identify social and economic values i.e. contribution to regional communities, nutrition + value of supply chain. • Deliver a contemporary description on the building blocks and state of play of Australia's ocean food system, its supply chain and markets alongside the other uses of the ocean estate. • Investigate and report the trends, forecasts and cumulative impacts (positive and negative) on Australia's seafood industry. i.e. Nutritional security; spatial squeeze; working in a changing climate i.e. resilience, adaptation, emergency response; Industry transitions i.e. decarbonisation; Jurisdiction i.e. policy/strategy, production v consumption; Workforce + training; Nature based solutions & investment, sustainable food systems i.e. ESG and sustainability
Work Package 2: Future Estate • Map and overlay impacts of new and emerging transitioning industries in the ocean estate. • Identify and describe the trends, forecasts and cumulative impacts affecting the seafood industry. • Map/measure/describe the implications of trends, forecasts and cumulative impacts of these industries and impacts (positive and negative) on Australia's seafood industry. • Describe other uses of the ocean estate.
Work Package 3: Scenario Modelling • Design and develop tool to test future state scenarios for commercial, recreational and indigenous fishing. • Undertake a series of impact scenario examples: i.e. spatial squeeze/crowded ocean, a changing climate, a regulatory reset, sector case studies and cumulative pressures. • Use the scenarios to deliver impact reporting on productivity, nutrition and sustainability metrics to include: spatial mapping, heat maps, regulatory options, socio-economic attributes, community sentiment, nutrition, consumer and market impacts and opportunities.
Work Package 4: Synthesis • Synthesis of research from WPs into a complete report and communications assets. • Develop a Futures of Seafood Roadmap to navigate the likely impacts of the futures scenarios.
Governance Framework • This collaboration will bring together leaders from industry sectors and government portfolios of agriculture, energy and environment. • A strong and inclusive governance model is proposed to capture the breadth of stakeholders and ensure oversight of the study, strategic relevance and timely input from data and information contributors. • Oversight Committee • Industry + Community Advisory Committee • Government Advisory Committee • WP Technical Teams + Data Management & Communications Teams • Terms of Reference for each committee with be established.
Project Management • This will be supported by a mature project administration system, drawing from the Blue Economy project management system, a governance model and also an independent project evaluator to undertake assurance and integrity of program logic and models.
Objectives: 1. Provide a contemporary description on the state of play of Australia’s seafood system, the supply chain, markets and its reach into communities. 2. Identify the trends, insights, forecasts and cumulative impacts that are impacting (positive and negative) Australia's seafood industry. 3. Provide an in-depth spatial and descriptive profile of the seafood industry by sector and jurisdiction through spatial mapping and productivity reporting. 4. Identify, describe and map other ocean uses (new, emerging and transitioning), including assumptions about current growth plans / policies / rights completed / taken up, looking towards 2040. 5. Develop scenario modelling tools to model these trends and produce associated impact reporting against productivity and sustainability (social, economic, environmental and governance) metrics. 6. Synthesise the research and available to develop industry-specific assets (tools, frameworks and systems) that improve knowledge and support ongoing participation in the ocean estate policy conversation. 7. Progress priority contemporary frameworks to support transitions to future states and de-risking industry/sectors. Read moreRead less
Optimising A Novel Prawn Trawl Design For Minimum Drag And Maximum Eco-efficiency
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$194,021.00
Summary
Energy efficiency is a vital issue for Australian Fisheries with the prawn trawling industry being marginally profitable given present fuel prices. Further increases in fuel prices will cause many prawn trawling operators to become commercially unviable. For prawn trawling operations, 60% of the fuel consumed is whilst trawling (FRDC 2006/229), and the netting of the trawls is responsible for 60-80% of the towing drag (FRDC 2005/239). The results of previous and on-going projects show that prawn ....Energy efficiency is a vital issue for Australian Fisheries with the prawn trawling industry being marginally profitable given present fuel prices. Further increases in fuel prices will cause many prawn trawling operators to become commercially unviable. For prawn trawling operations, 60% of the fuel consumed is whilst trawling (FRDC 2006/229), and the netting of the trawls is responsible for 60-80% of the towing drag (FRDC 2005/239). The results of previous and on-going projects show that prawn gear modification possesses significant potential for drag reduction.
Equally, it is important that prawn trawls produce “clean” catches with as little by-catch and benthic impact as possible. Devices to reduce by-catch and adverse benthic impact can however result in increased drag. Innovative design changes can therefore have conflicting outcomes. Resolution of this conflict, to establish trawl design principles that produce high performance with respect to flying shape and environmental impact is crucial to the future of the prawn trawling industry and is the challenge of the proposed project. The fundamental knowledge and methodologies established for prawn-trawling nets will also directly assist the process of optimising net drag for fish trawls to a significant extent.
Objectives: 1. Systematically breakdown and understand the technical issues connected with the generation of drag by prawn trawls, and the competing needs of industry, to establish practical trawl improvements based on existing and new trawl design principles. 2. To optimise the shape and netting characteristics of a novel trawl design for prawn trawling with respect to lower drag and minimum environmental impact. 3. To predict the drag of prawn trawls based on net plan parameters and towing speed, accounting for twine orientation and the operational shape of the trawl. Read moreRead less
Real Time Monitoring Of Water Quality And Mechanisation Of Pond Management To Boost Productivity And Increase Profit
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$17,960.00
Summary
Aquaculture is conducted largely on experience often driven by “gut-feel” in response to biological demands and environmental constraints of production systems. Aquaculture is often described as a “black-box”, as data and analytics to make informed decisions are often absent, not routinely collected or in a form that is readily analysed.
Due to a low appetite for risk and inaccurate or sparse environmental data, overcompensation of energy and nutritional resources often occur, raising ....Aquaculture is conducted largely on experience often driven by “gut-feel” in response to biological demands and environmental constraints of production systems. Aquaculture is often described as a “black-box”, as data and analytics to make informed decisions are often absent, not routinely collected or in a form that is readily analysed.
Due to a low appetite for risk and inaccurate or sparse environmental data, overcompensation of energy and nutritional resources often occur, raising the cost of production. The implementation of real-time monitoring and sensor network systems can drive increased efficiencies, boost yields, minimise waste and help aquaculture ecosystems fulfil their potential. Similarly, the novel application of existing energy saving technologies to the aquaculture sector may provide early opportunities for reduced production costs and improved animal growth and survival.
The Australian Barramundi farming industry needs to increase efficiency to reduce costs to assist when competing against low cost imported fish coming into the market. Automation is one of the disruptive technologies the ABFA will be looking into.
This project concept was identified as a priority area of R&D by the ABFA at its latest R&D Meeting (Darwin 2017).
Objectives: 1. To confirm whether automated aerataion control and real-time water quality measurements is suitable to the Australian Barramundi industries requirements 2. Provide metrics to assess the impacts that automated aeration has on power and labour costs and fish growth. Read moreRead less
Most Australian commercial fishers are faced with a very challenging period ahead. With the prospect of further price rises in petroleum-based fuel, combined with a domestic oil deficit predicted to emerge past 2015, and a global need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Australian fishing industry is seeking ways to improve the energy efficiency of its operations and to find viable alternative energy sources.
Whilst the development and trial of alternative energy technologies is wel ....Most Australian commercial fishers are faced with a very challenging period ahead. With the prospect of further price rises in petroleum-based fuel, combined with a domestic oil deficit predicted to emerge past 2015, and a global need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Australian fishing industry is seeking ways to improve the energy efficiency of its operations and to find viable alternative energy sources.
Whilst the development and trial of alternative energy technologies is well advanced in the road transport sector, the maritime sector has received less attention, particularly in Australia.
There is a need to bring together alternative energy providers, fishing vessel and gear designers, fishing operators, industry representatives, researchers and funding providers to discuss the potential for alternative energy technologies and energy-efficient design for commercial fishing operations in Australia. Following this it is highly desirable to scope methods of reducing energy usage through, for example, improved gear efficiencies and vessel design including propulsion systems, and to develop an R&D agenda for advancing alternative energy use and energy efficiency in Australia’s fishing fleet.
A beneficial spin-off of the work would be to develop a guide that can inform the industry on existing and new developments in this area, and where the greatest potential for fuel efficiencies lies. Objectives: 1. Examine the degree to which rising fuel costs have impacted on different fisheries 2. Examine new and existing technologies developed both within and outside of Australia in the field of increased fishing efficiency through reduced energy usage and innovation 3. Examine opportunities for applying innovative solutions and developments which are most likely to produce the best return for the Australian fishing industry 4. Develop a publication that scopes potential innovations, whether they be existing or have the potential for development, that reduce energy usage 5. Provide advice on potential R&D that could assist industry in reducing energy usage. Read moreRead less
Development Of An In Vitro Assay For The Assessment Of Alternative Protein Sources For Use In Artificial Diets For Farmed Southern Bluefin Tuna
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$209,028.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To enhance the development of artificial diets for caged SBFT by using in vitro analysis of feed ingredients to determine protein, amino acid and energy digestibility. This will allow formulation of artificial diets of maximum nutritive value using the most cost-effective ingredients. It will also allow accurate matching of the diet specifications to the nutrient requirements of the SBFT. To accomplish the development of an in vitro assay, this project has the following spe ....Objectives: 1. To enhance the development of artificial diets for caged SBFT by using in vitro analysis of feed ingredients to determine protein, amino acid and energy digestibility. This will allow formulation of artificial diets of maximum nutritive value using the most cost-effective ingredients. It will also allow accurate matching of the diet specifications to the nutrient requirements of the SBFT. To accomplish the development of an in vitro assay, this project has the following specific objectives. 2. To determine the ultrastructure of the SBFT small intestine to a) identify the presence of macromolecule transport apparatus and b) to establish the existence of bacteria associated with the intestinal epithelium. 3. To evaluate the enzyme profile of the small intestine and the epithelial associated bacteria and identify bacteria associated with biofilms. 4. To estimate the intestinal capacity to transport the major group of amino acids and peptides. Read moreRead less