Effects Of Biological And Environmental Factors And Of Fishing Practices On Recruitment And Abundance Of Scallops
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$55,396.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine information needs for developing a predictive model based on environmental and fisheries variables 2. To collate all the existing and relevant local data on scallop recruitment and abundance, associated environmental factors and fishing effort 3. Combine these data into a model describing relationships between environment, fishing effort, recruitment and abundance 4. Build a model of the fishery using the Port Phillip Bay data (which is the most ....Objectives: 1. To determine information needs for developing a predictive model based on environmental and fisheries variables 2. To collate all the existing and relevant local data on scallop recruitment and abundance, associated environmental factors and fishing effort 3. Combine these data into a model describing relationships between environment, fishing effort, recruitment and abundance 4. Build a model of the fishery using the Port Phillip Bay data (which is the most comprehensive data set). Include sensitivity analysis. Identify any additional data needs 5. Determine suitabilityof the Port Phillip Bay model for modelling the scallop fishery in south-eastern Australia 6. Recommend further course of action for data collection and fisheries management in order to refine the model Read moreRead less
Interdisciplinary Insights Into The Rational Design Of Malaria Therapy And Vaccines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Malaria is a global health concern with almost half a million deaths annually. There is an urgent need for a highly effective malaria vaccine and new antimalarials. However, despite decades of research into this pathogen, our understanding of what causes illness in a person and how immunity operates is limited. This project will use a mathematical modelling approach to provide a new way to understand infection, as a rapidly changing and intricate process.
Seafood CRC: Maximising The Quality Of Australian Wild-caught Prawns (Quality Assurance)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$177,179.94
Summary
Despite overwhelming support for industry investment to implement the national prawn market development strategy developed by Brand Council (CRC 2011/736), a major aligned industry concern was the inconsistent quality of, in particular wild caught prawns, and how this inconsistency may have the potential to negatively impact the market development activities. The Australian wild catch prawn industry is widely distributed and characterised by variation in geography, target species, operating/h ....Despite overwhelming support for industry investment to implement the national prawn market development strategy developed by Brand Council (CRC 2011/736), a major aligned industry concern was the inconsistent quality of, in particular wild caught prawns, and how this inconsistency may have the potential to negatively impact the market development activities. The Australian wild catch prawn industry is widely distributed and characterised by variation in geography, target species, operating/harvest systems, size of vessel and operator capabilities. Additionally, there can be high staff turnover, language and cultural differences and literacy issues. This leads to inconsistent product harvesting, brining, cooling, preserving, packaging and grading and/or inappropriate processing, which causes inconsistent product quality. Such quality issues can be exacerbated by poor handling at both retailer and consumer level.
While prawn quality standards have previously been created, there has been little integration, acceptance or uptake of these standards and associated training by indutry More often, standards have been created at fishery, company and vessel level, or are at the request of down chain partners. With considerable industry investment to both develop and implement the national Australian prawn strategy, there is now a greater incentive for the production of a consistent quality product to underpin the Australian prawn strategy messages/activities and ensure the best possible prawn experience for consumers.
Objectives: 1. The Australian prawn market development strategy is underpinned by supply of a consistent, high quality product. 2. To establish, trial, and evaluate the impact of a national, whole of chain, prawn quality program for grading, shelf-life, appearance and provenance of Australian prawns. Read moreRead less
From Maps To Efficient Multi-parasite Control In The Philippines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,121.00
Summary
Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths are major parasitic infections in Asia, causing anaemia, poor growth and poor school performance and death in some chronic schistosomiasis cases. We will use maps to demonstrate the geographic distribution of these parasites in the Philippines. We will estimate the impact and costs and benefits of parasite control programmes. This research will help plan more efficient parasite control and reduce the impact of these infections in the Philippines.
Finally New Tools Are Available To Combat Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, But How Do We Make Them Work? Models To Determine Effective Implementation Strategies In Australia And Our Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
The risk of drug resistance in tuberculosis (MDR TB) is thwarting control efforts and must be addressed. Potential strategies being considered are; treating MDR TB in the latent phase, using new short-course treatment for active TB and using new vaccines. My work develops simulation models to test strategies before they are implemented, to maximise impact and avoid costly or low-impact interventions. I will examine strategies in Australia and in high burden countries in Australia’s region.
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
Economic Analysis Of The Tasmanian Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$47,422.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine the impact of the Tasmanian fishing industry on the local economy. 2. To assess the future growth prospects of the different industry components.
South Australia Innovative Solutions For Aquaculture Access And Management Initiative
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$9,960.00
Summary
1. The South Australian Government has clearly defined that the development of aquaculture, in particular finfish farming, is a high priority outcome. To ensure this happens it has identified outputs of defined specification to address the delivery of this outcome. This will be an ongoing program over many years that requires a novel program structure as opposed to the normal project structure undertaken by FRDC and PIRSA. The project will address this need by: 1.1 Providing the opportunity ....1. The South Australian Government has clearly defined that the development of aquaculture, in particular finfish farming, is a high priority outcome. To ensure this happens it has identified outputs of defined specification to address the delivery of this outcome. This will be an ongoing program over many years that requires a novel program structure as opposed to the normal project structure undertaken by FRDC and PIRSA. The project will address this need by: 1.1 Providing the opportunity to improve the current level of management adoption of research within South Australia. This is consistent with the FRDC’s recent call for management to have a greater influence on the direction of research and development and an increased role in the management, adoption and execution of research and development; 1.2 Providing a framework for better management of State funds in the context of research and development and management to ensure timely delivery of results; and 1.3 Providing greater certainty in planning research and development in the future as it gives a quantifiable investment that will be put into a specific program. This means there is an obligation by all parties to ensure that they meet their financial commitment. Objectives: 1. It is proposed that PIRSA and FRDC develop a partnership for the development of the aquaculture industry in South Australia with particular regard to finfish farming. This partnership will develop research and development critical to the ongoing regulation and development of this industry. 2. The partnership will develop the following outputs:·To establish a strategic policy and legislative framework based on the principles of ecologically sustainable development to build, manage and protect South Australia’s aquaculture resources.·To develop a decision support system for aquaculture integrating information from a variety of sources with objective qualitative and quantitative decision criteria and risk considerations to improve the clarity, transparency and certainty of tactical and strategic decision-making by regulators.·To improve aquaculture allocation decisions and management responses by developing risk-based spatial impact and carrying capacity models to increase understanding of the broad scale impacts associated with aquaculture.·To develop and adopt incentive instruments that are outcome focused and effectively integrate economic, social and environmental considerations to deliver better regulatory outcomes, reduced costs and greater innovation.·To develop appropriate decision criteria based on a widely accessible information management system, assessing population dynamics of sea lion colonies in proximity to aquaculture developments and developing better practice models for managing interactions between marine animals and aquaculture to ensure regulators and industry have the capacity to effectively manage interactions between marine animals and aquaculture.·To develop appropriate sustainability indicators, undertake an audit the sustainability of the industry and publish a State of the Aquaculture Industry Report to provide a transparent snapshot of the sustainability of South Australia’s aquaculture industry.·To develop techniques, knowledge and policies to ensure the effective management of parasites of yellowtail kingfish and interactions between farmed and wild populations to ensure the long-term sustainability of the yellowtail kingfish aquaculture sector. 3. Notwithstanding these known outputs it is intended that the needs of managers and the industry will be refined in real time. The purpose of this structure is to ensure that investment in other areas of research and development occurs in a structured manner that meets these needs. Read moreRead less
This project will address key aspects from four highly ranked SSJF research priorities as established by SquidRAG in 2005:
1. Understanding spatial distribution and the effects of environmental variability on squid. 2. Entrapment versus attraction, discovering the biological differences between jig and trawl caught squid. 3. Growth, reproduction, mortality and productivity 4. Squid predator-prey relationships
Research needs for the newly proposed tar ....This project will address key aspects from four highly ranked SSJF research priorities as established by SquidRAG in 2005:
1. Understanding spatial distribution and the effects of environmental variability on squid. 2. Entrapment versus attraction, discovering the biological differences between jig and trawl caught squid. 3. Growth, reproduction, mortality and productivity 4. Squid predator-prey relationships
Research needs for the newly proposed targeted mid-water trawl squid fishery for the GAB will also be addressed.
This project also sits squarely within two strategic goals within the FRDC R&D Program 1 Planned Outcome- Natural Resource Sustainability: (1) “To increase and apply knowledge of the biology of fish and their ecosystems” and (2) “To increase and apply knowledge of interactions between fish and their ecosystems”.
Previous research has established important biological parameters for arrow squid, it has also highlighted large temporal and spatial variability. This variability coupled with the extreme fluctuations in fishery production hinders successful management.
Understanding the role the environment plays in arrow squid population dynamics will help develop models and pinpoint periods when conditions are conducive to squid growth and recruitment.
Understanding whether different techniques (jig vs. trawl) target different components of the population is significant especially for future policies on total allowable effort (TAE).
Understanding squid diet is also important for ecosystem management (ie.; especially for the proposed GAB fishery that will also be harvesting potential prey).
It was recognised at the Canberra meeting that Australia does not have the capacity to undertake broad-scale pre-season recruit net surveys, but using both light trapping of recruits and ecosystem modelling were seen as feasible techniques for understanding recruitment and stock fluctuations.
Both the SquidMAC and the SquidRAG see ongoing research as extremely important for future informed management of the fishery. Objectives: 1. To investigate the influence of environmental and oceanographic variables on arrow squid growth and recruitment 2. To investigate the ecology, population dynamics of squid in the newly proposed mid-water trawl GAB fishery 3. To compare the biological composition of jig and trawl-caught squid 4. To describe the key components, spatial and temporal variability and environmental influences on the diet of arrow squid 5. To assess the use of light traps as samplers of juvenile squid recruitment 6. To develop an ecosystem model based on squid predator-prey relationships for squid stock assessment 7. To provide SquidMac with better information on environmental influences on stock fluctutations to assist in determining trigger points for the fishery 8. VARIATION TO CONTRACTOBJECTIVE 5 "To assess the use of light traps as samplers of juvenile squid recruitment" is still an objective of teh project but has been discontinued beacue this method was considered inappropriate as arrow squid were not attracted by the light traps" 9. VARIATION TO CONTRACTOBJECTIVE 3: "To compare the biological composition of jig and trawl-caught squid" Read moreRead less
A Model Quality Assurance Program For Red Spot Whiting Based On The Clarence River Fisheremen's Co-operative Facilities
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Produce a market study in conjunction with pivate sector companies to isolate the markets and segments of these markets interested in red spot whiting 2. Develop a strategy to achieve implementation of a QA program by the Co-operative 3. Use personnel involved in the implementation of this strategy as a facilitator for TAFE's curriculum design