National Seafood Emergency Plan - Western Australia Trial Workshop
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$5,000.00
Summary
Failure to deal quickly and effectively with a real or perceived food safety incident may result in costly trade disruption and threaten the commercial viability of seafood suppliers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and food service providers.
SSA has developed the national SEP as part of it's strategic plan for the national seafood industry.
This workshop is another step in the developmental phase of the SEP. Objectives: 1. Test the draft manual plan in a des ....Failure to deal quickly and effectively with a real or perceived food safety incident may result in costly trade disruption and threaten the commercial viability of seafood suppliers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and food service providers.
SSA has developed the national SEP as part of it's strategic plan for the national seafood industry.
This workshop is another step in the developmental phase of the SEP. Objectives: 1. Test the draft manual plan in a desk top exercise. 2. Introduce all the nominated team members and alternates to the plan and train them in the use of the plan 3. Use learned experience to develop the manual further in W.A. and nationally Read moreRead less
Pathogenic Vibrio Parahaemolyticus In Australian Oysters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$13,995.00
Summary
In 1999, Seafood Services Australia (SSA) initiated a risk-based approach to assessing and managing hazards. Regarding oysters, two risk assessments were undertaken, one on viruses and one on vibrios. Focusing on the latter hazards, the risks associated with the three main species: V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. cholerae were assessed. It was noted that V. parahaemolyticus (Vp) has recently caused major outbreaks in USA from consumption of oysters due to a “new” pathogenic type O3:K6. ....In 1999, Seafood Services Australia (SSA) initiated a risk-based approach to assessing and managing hazards. Regarding oysters, two risk assessments were undertaken, one on viruses and one on vibrios. Focusing on the latter hazards, the risks associated with the three main species: V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. cholerae were assessed. It was noted that V. parahaemolyticus (Vp) has recently caused major outbreaks in USA from consumption of oysters due to a “new” pathogenic type O3:K6. For Australia, no work on pathogenic Vp in oysters could be found, which introduced a great deal of uncertainty to the assessment. The RA noted that there had been two Vp poisonings in NSW from prawns imported from Indonesia, the clear inference being that pathogenic Vp exists in neighbouring waters.
In March, 2002 the FAO/WHO team will develop a global risk assessment of Vp in oysters. The RA will utilise the US risk model and insert data from the oyster industries of Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan. If no Australian data are available on levels of Vp the modellers will make assumptions which may well be disadvantageous to the Australian industry. This could happen if the north American mitigation strategy (rapid icing) to control of Vp is adopted as a prerequisite for export.
Failure to input Australian data into a Codex global risk assessment could have serious consequences for the industry. At best it would lead to protracted negotiation between Australia and Codex. These negotiations would need to be science-based and a research program would need to be funded. It is probable that the scale of this investigation would be at least a log scale larger than the present application.
Among the strategies to mitigate V. parahaemolyticus risk is chilling oysters as early as possible after harvest. In the case of the Canadian industry in British Columbia, the strategy has been used successfully in the summers of 2000 and 2001. This strategy is directly opposed to current summer handling practices by the NSW industry which allows product to remain as warm as 25°C for up to three days.
This project is designed to provide evidence of the occurrence and prevalence of pathogenic and non-pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in Australian oysters. This knowledge will be invaluable to the NSW industry in particular - in case the FAO/WHO assessment recommends chilling of oysters as a pre-requisite for market access.
Effect of not doing the proposed study
If the work is not done and Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) recommend a mitigation strategy of rapid icing, the local industry has a number of choices:
1. Ignore the CCFH recommendation on the grounds that we don’t export large volumes of oysters. The problem with this approach is that Codex has just as much application and force for domestic production as it does in the export arena.
2. Undertake a study to try to show that there is no problem with V. parahaemolyticus from Australian product. This would probably be a larger study than the present one and would be mounted to attempt to gain exemption for Australia. It’s always difficult to unwind global hygiene edicts.
The present project, for a relatively modest investment, effectively places Australian data into a global risk assessment. As such the data will have great force in the modelling phase. xbad Objectives: 1. Obtain total Vibrio spp. and total V. parahaemolyticus counts from oysters from NSW, SA and Tasmania. 2. Determine prevalence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus amongst these isolates. 3. Compile and analyse data for potential inclusion in the FAO-WHO global risk assessment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters. Read moreRead less
Revision Of The AQUAVETPLAN Operational Procedures Manuals For Disposal And Decontamination
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$31,500.00
Summary
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is seeking expressions of interest for the revision of the following AQUAVETPLAN Operational Procedures manuals: 1. Decontamination 2. Disposal 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.
The Decont ....The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is seeking expressions of interest for the revision of the following AQUAVETPLAN Operational Procedures manuals: 1. Decontamination 2. Disposal 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.
The Decontamination manual was first published in 2008, and the second version of the Disposal manual was published in 2009. Both manuals require revision to reflect new scientific knowledge, and to ensure that decontamination and disposal procedures used for disease control purposes reflect current ‘best-practice’ approaches. Objectives: 1. Review and deliver updated AQUAVETPLAN Operatinal Procedures Manuals for decontamination and disposal. Read moreRead less
Incorporating MAC Competencies Into The Seafood Industry Training Package
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$82,830.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Identify the skills, knowledge and attitudes required by industry members to participate as effective members of a MAC. 2. Confirm the need for a MAC or series of MAC training programs. 3. Identify suggested unit titles and outline descriptions for the units. 4. Gather the views of members consulted on the preferred option(s) for delivery of MAC training programs.
The Pearl Oyster (Pinctada Maxima): A Histological Atlas Of Normal And Diseased Tissues
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$45,000.00
Summary
Pearl production accounts for more than half the value of the combined Australia aquaculture industries, yet little was understood of their health status prior to project no 94/79.
There is no text available which describes, the anatomy and histopathologically of the pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima , or the histopathological changes that occur with disease. This lack of published data is compounded by the fact that there are currently only 4 pathologists in Australia with significant expe ....Pearl production accounts for more than half the value of the combined Australia aquaculture industries, yet little was understood of their health status prior to project no 94/79.
There is no text available which describes, the anatomy and histopathologically of the pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima , or the histopathological changes that occur with disease. This lack of published data is compounded by the fact that there are currently only 4 pathologists in Australia with significant experience and knowledge to interpret histology sections from pearl oysters.
The publication of the histopathology photographs collected during project no 94/79 plus other reference material collected by previous researchers will help to overcome this problem.
The ability to be able to recognise what is normal or abnormal is critical in the interpretation of histology sections and hence will affect the quality of diagnostic services that can be provided to the pearling industry.
The publication of this material will also act as a reference book for a range of other investigations into pearl oysters, such as, nutritional, husbandry and biology studies. It will ensure that the material gathered during project no 94/79 will be preserved for the future benefit of the pearling industry. Objectives: 1. Develop a comprehensive histological photographic database of the normal and diseased tissue of the pearl oyster Pinctada maxima . 2. Compile a computerised atlas showing the basic anatomy of Pinctada maxima with explanatory text and labelled photographs of normal and diseased tissue. 3. Publish this data in a book and/or compact disk format. Read moreRead less
Coastal Floodplain Management In Eastern Australia: Barriers To Fish And Invertebrate Recruitment In Acid Sulphate Soil Catchments
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$601,379.00
Summary
Fish habitat in coastal floodplains will continue to degrade unless practical guidelines for improvement of water quality and management of floodgates and other tidal barriers to allow passage of fish and invertebrates are developed. This is being increasingly recognised by many decision making agencies. However, landholders will not change current management practises unless as a minimum, there will be no adverse effects to their productivity. Guidelines for change must be developed in an integ ....Fish habitat in coastal floodplains will continue to degrade unless practical guidelines for improvement of water quality and management of floodgates and other tidal barriers to allow passage of fish and invertebrates are developed. This is being increasingly recognised by many decision making agencies. However, landholders will not change current management practises unless as a minimum, there will be no adverse effects to their productivity. Guidelines for change must be developed in an integrated manner with a focus on land, water, agriculture and fisheries if all industry groups are to accept the changes.
Recent studies by NSW Fisheries (some funded by FRDC) show that a change in coastal floodplain and wetland habitats from freshwater to estuarine and recruitment of fish and invertebrates to these modified habitats can be achieved by increasing the degree of “leakiness” in the floodgate barriers (Gibbs et al. 1997). However, no data are available on the relationship between fish and invertebrate recruitment and the opening size or the frequency and timing of the opening of these floodgate barriers.
A second issue is the long term impact of chronic acid drainage, which does not cause major fish kills but which may have less obvious effects on the recruitment of migratory and catadromous fish such as Australian bass, striped mullet, freshwater herring, eels and school prawns. The life history, behaviour and demography of the catadromous Australian bass shows it is susceptible to such an impact (Harris 1983,1989). The Basscatch program (Harris 1989) has expanded in recent years and the population collapse through recruitment failure of Australian bass in NSW rivers such as the Hastings and Manning is partially attributed to acid drainage (Harris pers comm).
The management of floodgates and floodplains to allow passage of fish and invertebrates and the development of stable faunal communities in previously alienated habitat above the structures significantly enhances fish and invertebrate stocks. The consequent protection of fish habitats and fish and invertebrate species supports biodiversity conservation and the habitat restoration can assist in the development of management plans under the relevant Threatened Species Legislation.
Gibbs, P., McVea, T. and Louden, B. (1997). Utilisation of restored wetlands by fish and invertebrates. FRDC Project 95/150 Final Report (In Preparation).
Harris, J. H. (1983). The Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata. Ph. D. Thesis UNSW.
Harris, J. H. (1988). Demography of Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata (Perciformes, Percichthyidae), in the Sydney basin. Aust. J. Mar. Freshwater Res. 39: 355-369.
Harris, J. H. (1989). Basscatch - A co-operative fisheries project. Modern Fishing 80-83. Objectives: 1. To develop guidelines for floodgate / tidal barrier specifications and management based on: (a) The relationship between recruitment of migratory and non-migratory fish and invertebrate species and the opening size of, and the frequency and timing of the opening of tidal barriers. (b) The impacts of changed hydrological conditions on watertable and water flows in associated agricultural land. 2. To assess the behaviour of catadromous fish to the tidal flows through openings in barriers and the behavioural response of recruiting juveniles to low level (chronic) concentrations of acid sulphate soil drainage water. 3. To develop and implement an extension program on the outcomes of the project, and to communicate the above guidelines to agricultural industry groups, local government and other agencies with interests in management of land and water resources in coastal floodplains using demonstration study areas and supporting literature. Read moreRead less
National Seafood Emergency Plan - Queensland Trial Workshop
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$5,000.00
Summary
Failure to deal quickly and effectively with a food safety incident may result in costly trade disruption and threaten the commercial viability of seafood suppliers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and food service providers.
The Seafood Emergency Plan was developed through Seafood Services Australia to provide a proactive and simple step-by-step response and recovery guide, should an emergency occur.
Queensland has participated in the initial stages of the SSA national plan ....Failure to deal quickly and effectively with a food safety incident may result in costly trade disruption and threaten the commercial viability of seafood suppliers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and food service providers.
The Seafood Emergency Plan was developed through Seafood Services Australia to provide a proactive and simple step-by-step response and recovery guide, should an emergency occur.
Queensland has participated in the initial stages of the SSA national plan and is keen to ensure the framework is established in this state. Objectives: 1. Test the draft manual plan in a desktop exercise. 2. Introduce the nominated team members and alternates to the plan and train them in the use of the plan 3. Use learned experience to tailor the manual further in Queensland Read moreRead less
Research Into Strategies Of Approach To Sand-bar Crossing For Fishing Vessels
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Research the factors that cause sandbar navigation to be hazardous for vessels 2. Examine what remedial action skippers in difficulty on a bar can take, the objective being to reduce the risk of crossings
BCA: Development Of Generic Contingency Plans For Disease Emergencies Of Aquatic Animals
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Development of contingency plans for significant aquatic animal diseases is a critical first step in the management of disease outbreaks. In this respect, aquatic animal health policy development is lagging behind terrestrial animal health policy by approximately 20 years.
At the Melbourne workshops, all sectors of the fishing industry strongly supported the need for a national approach to aquatic animal disease control issues and identified the writing of contingency plans for disease ....Development of contingency plans for significant aquatic animal diseases is a critical first step in the management of disease outbreaks. In this respect, aquatic animal health policy development is lagging behind terrestrial animal health policy by approximately 20 years.
At the Melbourne workshops, all sectors of the fishing industry strongly supported the need for a national approach to aquatic animal disease control issues and identified the writing of contingency plans for disease incursions to be an important task. Also they noted there was a need to build on the unanimous support for this contingency planning process and there was an expectation that some generic, sectoral plans could be developed very rapidly. Objectives: 1. Write four generic (enclosed water; open freshwater; net/open culture marine; open marine) contingency planning manuals for the occurence of significant diseases in aquatic animals to draft form. 2. Following consultation with industry, State government and Commonwealth government representatives, produce four final generic contingency planning manuals. Read moreRead less
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Development Of A DNA Microarray To Identify Markers Of Disease In Pearl Oysters (Pinctada Maxima) And To Assess Overall Oyster Health
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$157,480.00
Summary
In October 2006, unexplained high mortalities of Pinctada maxima oysters were reported. The disease associated with these mortalities has been termed Oyster Oedema Disease (OOD). It is likely that OOD is caused by an infectious agent and it is possible to cross-infect oysters with infected tissue. The disease spread rapidly and there are no known control measures, no knowledge of a causative agent, no understanding of how widespread the disease was, and no way to test for it. This proposal seeks ....In October 2006, unexplained high mortalities of Pinctada maxima oysters were reported. The disease associated with these mortalities has been termed Oyster Oedema Disease (OOD). It is likely that OOD is caused by an infectious agent and it is possible to cross-infect oysters with infected tissue. The disease spread rapidly and there are no known control measures, no knowledge of a causative agent, no understanding of how widespread the disease was, and no way to test for it. This proposal seeks to develop DNA microarray technology to detect abnormal levels of stress response genes in pearl oysters. These genes will be used as markers in new, rapid diagnostic tests for diseased pearl oysters. The requirement for such rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of OOD is well acknowledged. The spread of the disease could have been limited had there been a test available to differentiate sick animals from healthy ones. Such assays also have applications in routine translocation testing and the assessment of general oyster health. Translocation samples are treated as high priority and current methods report results after several days. With rapid tests derived from DNA microarray analysis it may be possible to report results within 24 hours. The attraction of molecular stress-response markers is that their expression levels change dramatically during times of stress. This can act as an indicator of disease susceptibility. A DNA microarray to target such stress markers in P. maxima could also be used to investigate disease in other shellfish and it will be able to detect effects of other pathogens in addition to those involved in OOD. Our main goal is to use the P. maxima microarray to identify key stress-response genes that can be used to develop a new generation of rapid, inexpensive tests of environmental stress, infection and overall oyster health.
Objectives: 1. To construct a cDNA library using healthy, stressed and OOD-affected oysters. We will use oysters exposed to a range of environmental conditions to make sure that a broad array of stress-response genes are represented in the cDNA library. Cloned cDNAs will be analyzed by PCR to confirm that a broad range of different sized cDNA is also included in the library. 2. To design and print DNA microarray slides for the analysis of diseased states in pearl oysters (P. maxima). cDNA clones to print will be based on sequence analysis. cDNA's will be printed onto the slides in duplicate or triplicate to increase the statistical robustness of subsequent analyses. 3. To use the DNA microarray to identify molecular markers that differentiate pearl oysters that are diseased (including OOD-affected oysters) from those that appear to be healthy. 4. To use the DNA microarray to test for markers of adverse health in pearl oysters that appear to be affected by environmental stressors other than OOD. This will be done using archived samples and oysters that do not fit the case definition for OOD. Read moreRead less