This proposal is a major part of initial research to be undertaken by the Aquafin CRC. This project has been jointly developed by the research agencies in close consultation with industry, Government regulators and FRDC.
Within the salmon component of the CRC Environment Program, local or on-site research needs are being addressed by an existing FRDC grant 2000/164 which is designed to determine the effects of fallowing on benthic fauna and biogeochemical processes.
The prese ....This proposal is a major part of initial research to be undertaken by the Aquafin CRC. This project has been jointly developed by the research agencies in close consultation with industry, Government regulators and FRDC.
Within the salmon component of the CRC Environment Program, local or on-site research needs are being addressed by an existing FRDC grant 2000/164 which is designed to determine the effects of fallowing on benthic fauna and biogeochemical processes.
The present proposal will examine the system-wide environmental issues facing finfish aquaculture with an initial focus on the salmonid industry. This project explicitly addresses the fact that further expansion of the salmonid industry will be limited by the industry’s contribution to nutrient loads in surrounding water bodies and possible effects on phytoplankton abundance, dissolved oxygen levels and other ecological changes. The Tasmanian State Government is proposing to limit nutrient release through the imposition of feed quotas for different regions. The quotas set are necessarily best estimates and may be overly conservative because of a lack of detailed knowledge of the effects of nutrient release on ecosystem functioning.
The modelling, laboratory and associated field work proposed here provides a mechanism to identify the minimum data needs for assessing environmental conditions, allows scenarios to be tested and key linkages in the ecology of the region to be identified. However, for these to function well we need to resolve uncertainties about the influence of waters from D’Entrecasteaux Channel on conditions in the Huon Estuary, the role of organic-rich sediments in the natural cycling of nutrients and consumption of oxygen in the estuary and the manner in which phytoplankton groups respond to elevated nutrient levels. The project will take advantage of the extensive set of environmental information, data and concepts generated by the FRDC-funded Huon Estuary Study - Environmental Research for Integrated Catchment Management and Aquaculture (Project No. 96/284; abbreviated to HES hereafter).
There is a demonstrable need for more effective monitoring of the environmental effects of finfish aquaculture. Predictive models can be used by industry and regulators to guide choices among alternative development strategies. For effective long-term management, it is also critical that effective monitoring programs are set in place, both to allow evaluation of the performance of environmental management strategies, and to assess model performance and reliability. This project will contribute to the design of long-term monitoring programs, by identifying cost-effective indicators and sampling designs which discriminate among alternative model assumptions and predictions, taking into account spatial and temporal variability. As well, the Program will seek advice and information from overseas agencies to take advantage of emerging technologies and approaches. Objectives: 1. Our overall objective is to aquire the necessary system understnding and knowldege, and apply it, in collaboration with industry and regulators, to support development of an adaptive management program which addresses system-wide impacts and production capacity for, and allows sustainable development of, salmon farms in the Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel. 2. Also, to develop and implement 3-D hydrodynamic and ecological models of the Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and use these to assess an predict the environmental impacts of salmon farm nutrient loads in relation to other nutrient sources (especially catchments and marine boundaries), and to assess the level of connectivity and exchange between Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and among subsystems within the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. 3. Determine the role of sediments in estuaries and nearby channel as a source of nutrient release and oxygen consumption as an input for the modes and for comparison and processes occurring in sediments under fish cages. 4. Identify and quantify the key processes that link nutrient cycles with phytoplankton abundance and composition and determine the fate of the nutrients produced in finfish cage farms in waters of the Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Read moreRead less
FRDC 2016-068 Vulnerability Of The Endangered Maugean Skate Population To Degraded Environmental Conditions In Macquarie Harbour- Presentation To The 6th International Conference Of Fish Telemetry 23
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$7,500.00
Summary
An abstract accepted to present the work from FRDC 2016-068 at the International fish telemetry conference later this year. Given that the final year of the project happened right in the middle of the pandemic, we have not yet had an opportunity to present the work in any international forum. Since then we have new information that has clearly shown that the Maugean skate is in a critical state and requires immediate conservation action. As such, the interest in the species is very high at the m ....An abstract accepted to present the work from FRDC 2016-068 at the International fish telemetry conference later this year. Given that the final year of the project happened right in the middle of the pandemic, we have not yet had an opportunity to present the work in any international forum. Since then we have new information that has clearly shown that the Maugean skate is in a critical state and requires immediate conservation action. As such, the interest in the species is very high at the moment, and the results from this project are even more relevant now. So we think this is a great opportunity to help communicate this novel and very important work. This would allow us to communicate our findings to a broad technical audience, increasing the outreach and impact of the project. The work that will be presented will have important benefits for the conservation of the species and inform management of industry and other users of Macquarie Harbour.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Hydrodynamic Model To Investigate Near Field And Regional Connectivity Around Okehampton Bay
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$332,469.00
Summary
Primarily this project is needed to satisfy the regulatory requirements of the Tasmanian salmon industry regulator, the EPA. Currently there is no calibrated local scale model that is suitable to provide connectivity information of the region in question. This proposal aims to develop a nested suite that may provide environmental information to assist in satisfying the salmon farming requirements in the region. Objectives: 1. A calibrated model is developed, where the model skill ....Primarily this project is needed to satisfy the regulatory requirements of the Tasmanian salmon industry regulator, the EPA. Currently there is no calibrated local scale model that is suitable to provide connectivity information of the region in question. This proposal aims to develop a nested suite that may provide environmental information to assist in satisfying the salmon farming requirements in the region. Objectives: 1. A calibrated model is developed, where the model skill is known and those connectivity characteristics can be bounded by levels of confidence. Read moreRead less
Removal Of Microalgae And Total Nitrogen In Effluent Water From Prawn Farms Using Electrocoagulation (EC) Water Treatment Technology
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$191,642.00
Summary
The reduction of total nitrogenous output remains a significant challenge in the pond culture of prawns. The majority of total nitrogen (TN) output from the Australian prawn industry is organic nitrogen, of which microalgae assimilate a large proportion. In response to the industry’s need to remove or reduce microalgae and TN from large quantities of release water, our team proposes a project that would investigate the use of electro-coagulation (EC) technology to remove microalgae and TN from s ....The reduction of total nitrogenous output remains a significant challenge in the pond culture of prawns. The majority of total nitrogen (TN) output from the Australian prawn industry is organic nitrogen, of which microalgae assimilate a large proportion. In response to the industry’s need to remove or reduce microalgae and TN from large quantities of release water, our team proposes a project that would investigate the use of electro-coagulation (EC) technology to remove microalgae and TN from settlement pond discharge. EC is a highly effective electrochemical approach to wastewater treatment, and has been successfully used to assist in the removal of both organic and inorganic contaminants from wastewater (Moussa et al., 2017). This technology works by applying an electrical current through the water, destabilizing/neutralizing the repulsive forces that keep particles suspended, causing these particles to form larger particles that settle for easier separation from water. This method of coagulation has a significant advantage over chemical coagulation/flocculation: coagulants are formed in-situ by electrolytic oxidation of an anode, and therefore additional chemicals, metal salts or polyelectrolytes do not need to be added to the system. This results in less sludge generation as a bi-product of the filtration process (Moussa et al., 2017). NaturalShrimp has spent many years developing, patenting, and commercializing the EC technology for use specifically for aquaculture that not only helps with coagulation but also removes pathogens and ammonia. The proposed project will be undertaken by Nautilus Collaboration (primary investigators: C van Rijn and C Huynh), Natural Aquatic Solutions (technology supplier – Rep: Tom Untermeyer) and Fresh By Design (installation and maintenance – Lachlan Bassett). The proprietary EC technology developed by Natural Aquatic Solutions has the capacity to treat around 20.5 m3/hr of water. The electrical current passing between the plates removes chlorine from the saltwater as it passes between the plates. The chlorine then combines with the ammonia to form chloramine which is then removed by a carbon filter downstream from the EC. The current is manually adjusted as the ammonia changes to effectively remove the ammonia in one pass through the EC. The ammonia removed by the EC prevents it from further converting to nitrite or nitrate. This controls the level of bacteria, removes ammonia, greatly reduces nitrate output and produces an anti-oxidative water chemistry beneficial to the health of the receiving ecosystem (T Untermeyer, pers. comm.).
Objectives: 1. Assess technical feasibility of electrocoagulation unit for wastewater remediation. To achieve this objective the project will collect comprehensive data on relevant water quality and other parameters (i.e., salinity, pH, organic/inorganic particle load, microalgae composition, microalgae concentration, ammonia, chloramine, TKN, total P, TSS, turbidity, free chlorine, total chlorine, bacterial colony counts, thermotolerant coliforms, vibrio sp.) in prawn farm discharge water before and after EC treatment over the production cycle encompassed by this project. 2. Assess the economic feasibility of electrocoagulation for wastewater treatment. To achieve this the project will collect data to determine costs of the EC system including capital and installation costs, daily volume of water treated, daily power consumption, and ongoing maintenance requirements. 3. Determine any bottlenecks for application for prawn effluent treatment. To inform future consideration of subsequent particle removal treatment options that are not part of this project, particle aggregates (density/size) will be characterised over time post EC treatment, including settlement or flotation velocity, and cohesiveness under mechanical stress. Read moreRead less
Fishery-independent Estimate Of Spawning Biomass Of Southern Bluefin Tuna Through Identification Of Close-kin Using Genetic Markers
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$739,660.00
Summary
Management of SBT is greatly complicated by large uncertainties in the stock assessment. One key parameter is absolute spawning stock size, for which the only available estimates are highly uncertain and are driven entirely by fishery-derived data (e.g. Japanese CPUE, catches on the spawning ground). Hence, the management procedures being developed for SBt use relative, rather than absolute, abundance indices. Current concerns about historical over-catch, of uncertain magnitude and duration make ....Management of SBT is greatly complicated by large uncertainties in the stock assessment. One key parameter is absolute spawning stock size, for which the only available estimates are highly uncertain and are driven entirely by fishery-derived data (e.g. Japanese CPUE, catches on the spawning ground). Hence, the management procedures being developed for SBt use relative, rather than absolute, abundance indices. Current concerns about historical over-catch, of uncertain magnitude and duration make the conventional stock aseessment even less certain. A fishery independent estimate of standing stock biomass (SSB) provides both a stand alone benchmark to compare with current catches, and a fixed reference point around which to rebuild future assessments. This cannot be done with current fishery independent approaches, such as conventional tagging. However, recent advances in genetic and statistical methods now permit a fishery-independent estimate, using identification of parent-offspring pairs in random samples of juveniles and spawners. The same approach can also provide information on age-specific fecundity and thus on appropriate definition of SSB (spawning stock biomass). This is another area of significant uncertainty for management because, as noted above, the different definitions of SSB have considerably different implications for stock projections and rebuilding times.
An absolute estimate of spawning stock biomass is particularly valuable given the estimated level of depletion of the SBT stock, and the high uncertainty about the productivity of the stock (i.e. the relationship between the parent stock and recruitment). Although this project will initially aim to provide an estimate of average SSB over 2002-2005, it will ultimately provide the methods to enable a time-series of SSB to be estimated if sampling continues. Furthermore, the statistical methods developed and applied in this project will have general applicability to a range of species.
Objectives: 1. To provide a fishery-independent estimate of the number of SBT spawners (preliminary estimate ready for CCSBT 2007; precise estimate ready for CCSBT 2008). 2. To provide direct estimates of age-specific fecundity and an improved definition of spawning stock biomass (estimate for CCSBT 2008) Read moreRead less
Growth Of Pearl Oysters In The Southern And Northern Areas Of The Pearl Oyster Fishery And Examination Of Environmental Influences On Recruitment To The Pearl Oyster Stock
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$143,482.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine growth rates of pearl oysters in the Lacepede Channel and Exmouth Gulf areas 2. To utilize the existing and new knowledge of time lags between spatfall and recruitment to the fishery and the period of vulnerability to fishing to carry out analyses of possible environmental influences on recruitment
Assessment Of The Impacts Associated With The Harvesting Of Marine Benthic Invertebrates For Use As Bait By Recreational Anglers
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$346,425.88
Summary
Coastal areas of Australia, especially those close to urban areas, are under increasing pressure from industrial and tourism developments, and the associated infrastructure to support them. These shallow-water coastal and estuarine areas will also continue to be the focus of attention by the recreational and commercial fishing sectors. An understanding of the impacts of damage to key intertidal habitats will allow managers to minimise the adverse impacts and developmental degradation on Austra ....Coastal areas of Australia, especially those close to urban areas, are under increasing pressure from industrial and tourism developments, and the associated infrastructure to support them. These shallow-water coastal and estuarine areas will also continue to be the focus of attention by the recreational and commercial fishing sectors. An understanding of the impacts of damage to key intertidal habitats will allow managers to minimise the adverse impacts and developmental degradation on Australia's fisheries resources.
There is currently no detailed information available on the specific effects of loss or damage to intertidal estuarine habitats on the animal assemblages that utilise these habitats, despite the recognised importance of the habitats and the benthic invertebrates to fisheries resources. Studies which have examined the effects of damage to subtidal habitats have shown important links to fisheries utilising these habitats (e.g. Sainsbury et al., 1993). Similar studies should be a priority for critical intertidal estuarine habitats. Although this project focuses on damage to intertidal habitats caused by bait-harvesting, the results of this work will be applicable to other sources of damage to these habitats, providing an important database establishing causal relationships between effects on the physical structure of the habitat and impacts on the associated animals. Objectives: 1. Assess the ecological impacts of commercial and recreational harvesting of yabbies and bloodworms on other components of the ecosystem. 2. Assess the impacts of bait-harvesting activities on the sustainability of populations of yabbies (Trypaea australiensis) and bloodworms (Marphysa sp.). 3. Develop a population assessment technique for yabbies and bloodworms. 4. Determine levels of recruitment of these species and assess whether harvesting affects recruitment. 5. Obtain estimates of the recreational harvest of these species. Read moreRead less