Environmental and behavioural approaches for parasite resistant aquaculture. In modern fish aquaculture, parasite infections threaten efficient production. Ecological problems also arise when fish farms amplify parasite populations and cause outbreaks in surrounding wild fish populations. Present control methods rarely integrate the behaviour of the host fish. This project aims to assess the behaviours of hosts and the mechanisms that lead to parasite outbreaks. It will develop behavioural appro ....Environmental and behavioural approaches for parasite resistant aquaculture. In modern fish aquaculture, parasite infections threaten efficient production. Ecological problems also arise when fish farms amplify parasite populations and cause outbreaks in surrounding wild fish populations. Present control methods rarely integrate the behaviour of the host fish. This project aims to assess the behaviours of hosts and the mechanisms that lead to parasite outbreaks. It will develop behavioural approaches that separate host and parasite, reduce infection, and altering host behaviour to improve the effectiveness of treatments and minimise their environmental impacts. This project aims to create novel methods to control parasites in ways that limit their ability to evolve resistance.Read moreRead less
Development of an amoebic gill disease vaccine to protect Atlantic salmon. This project aims to identify candidate vaccine antigens and produce an experimental vaccine against amoebic gill disease (AGD) that will benefit the Tasmanian and international Atlantic salmon aquaculture industries. AGD is the most significant health problem affecting Atlantic salmon aquaculture in Tasmania. In the last decade, AGD has become a legitimate health threat to the multibillion dollar global Atlantic salmon i ....Development of an amoebic gill disease vaccine to protect Atlantic salmon. This project aims to identify candidate vaccine antigens and produce an experimental vaccine against amoebic gill disease (AGD) that will benefit the Tasmanian and international Atlantic salmon aquaculture industries. AGD is the most significant health problem affecting Atlantic salmon aquaculture in Tasmania. In the last decade, AGD has become a legitimate health threat to the multibillion dollar global Atlantic salmon industry. A solution is needed before AGD fully establishes itself in the largest Atlantic salmon producing nations. The expected outcome of this project is the development of a commercial vaccine that should significantly benefit the Australian and international aquaculture industries. Read moreRead less
Understanding climate and harvest induced changes in fish life histories. This project aims to quantify the cumulative impacts of harvest and climate change across marine fishes and ecosystems. The project expects to generate new knowledge in this area by coupling the rich biological information archived in fish ear bones, with targeted multi-generation experiments and predictive modelling. Expected outcomes include fundamental insights into how human-induced environmental change affects fish gr ....Understanding climate and harvest induced changes in fish life histories. This project aims to quantify the cumulative impacts of harvest and climate change across marine fishes and ecosystems. The project expects to generate new knowledge in this area by coupling the rich biological information archived in fish ear bones, with targeted multi-generation experiments and predictive modelling. Expected outcomes include fundamental insights into how human-induced environmental change affects fish growth and maturation, and a subsequent critical evaluation of the sensitivity of fisheries models to trends in these life-history traits. This should provide significant benefits to fisheries and ecosystem management, ensuring they remain productive and resilient in a time of rapid environmental change.Read moreRead less