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Field Based Trials And Risk Assessment Of New Species To Enhance The Value Of Tropical And Subtropical Impoundment Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$910,505.00
Summary
This project offers a significant opportunity to enhance tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia, by using new iconic species to diversify the fisheries and attract new anglers to stocked waterways. Accessibility to large pelagic gamefish is not easy for many anglers. Creating access to trevally in impoundments will make such species more accessible to anglers, potentially reduce the pressure on the wild fishery, and offer a unique fres ....This project offers a significant opportunity to enhance tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia, by using new iconic species to diversify the fisheries and attract new anglers to stocked waterways. Accessibility to large pelagic gamefish is not easy for many anglers. Creating access to trevally in impoundments will make such species more accessible to anglers, potentially reduce the pressure on the wild fishery, and offer a unique freshwater impoundment fishing experience in a protected setting. Since trevally will not breed in impoundments, their abundance can be readily managed through stocking rates.
Access to trevally in impoundments is something that anglers want. In 2006, Queensland stocking groups voted trevally as one of the top three ranked new species for development of impoundment fisheries. Published papers indicate trevally are relatively easy to produce, with production methods like those for Barramundi. The other two highly ranked species, Jungle Perch and Mangrove Jack have proved more difficult to produce in large numbers compared to trevallies, and more than 20 years of trying to develop impoundment Mangrove Jack fisheries has achieved only limited success.
Giant and Bigeye Trevally are iconic sportfish, which if stocked, have potential to increase regional tourism. Local governments have already recognised the value of angling tourism in their regions. For example, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns Regional Councils have all developed recreational fishing strategies to boost tourist visitation. Townsville City Council is also in the process of opening the Ross River Dam to stocking to develop angling opportunities and attract additional tourists. Trevally will offer an opportunity to create sustained angling tourism to value-add to existing fisheries in the post-pandemic period.
The only way to determine if one or both trevally species can translate into successful impoundment fisheries compatible with existing Barramundi fisheries, is to conduct comprehensive stocking trials using fingerlings and sub-adult fish. The two highest risk factors identified for trevally stocking in large near coastal impoundments are their potential to impact on prey abundance (and therefore carrying capacity) and rare and threatened species. Rare and threatened species are unlikely to be in the impounded waters dominated by Barramundi, but they could exist in impoundment tributary streams. Therefore, knowledge on whether trevally will mostly remain in the impounded waters or will tend to run upstream into tributaries is critical.
This project aims to use stocking trials to evaluate potential stocking risk factors for Bigeye and Giant Trevally, such as relative survival, growth, diet, residency, impacts on prey abundance and rare and threatened species, catchability by anglers at conservative stocking rates, and angler attitudes to and perceptions of the fishery. This project will serve as a useful case study for other diversification options in northern Australia and elsewhere. Without these trials it would be impossible to progress euryhaline trevally species as new fisheries for large, near-coastal impoundments in Australia. This project directly meets the QRAC priority of field-based trials and risk assessment of new species to enhance the value of tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries.
Objectives: 1. Formalise a desk top risk assessment for stocking of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally in tropical and sub-tropical impoundments. 2. Produce Bigeye and Giant Trevally fingerlings for stocking trials 3. Assess the capacity for prey species in a Barramundi dominated impoundment to support conservatively stocked numbers of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally 4. Assess the potential for Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally to enter impoundment tributary streams where they could impact on rare and threatened species. 5. Assess relative survival, growth and diets of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally in a Barramundi dominated impoundment. 6. Assess angler attitudes to trevally in Barramundi impoundments 7. Assess angler catch of Bigeye and Giant trevally in an impoundment. 8. Extend trevally fingerling production techniques to hatcheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia. Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC230100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures. This Centre aims to develop the advanced capacity needed to secure Australia’s food and fibre production and export value into the future. Leveraging immense industry support, the Centre expects to develop and integrate cutting-edge plant and animal breeding technologies and deliver world-class training that addresses critical demand for highly skilled industry leaders. Expected outcomes include a future-ready predictive breedi ....ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures. This Centre aims to develop the advanced capacity needed to secure Australia’s food and fibre production and export value into the future. Leveraging immense industry support, the Centre expects to develop and integrate cutting-edge plant and animal breeding technologies and deliver world-class training that addresses critical demand for highly skilled industry leaders. Expected outcomes include a future-ready predictive breeding industry able to transform data into optimised decisions, and the human capacity to drive it. This should provide significant benefits to enhance the sustainability and profitability of all major Australian agriculture sectors, including livestock, grains, horticulture, cotton, wine, dairy, forestry and fisheries.Read moreRead less
New insights into female reproductive tract formation and tubulogenesis. Aims: This project aims to improve our understanding of female reproductive tract formation by studying its developmental origins. Most of the female reproductive tract derives from a pair of embryonic tubes called Müllerian ducts, the formation of which is incompletely understood. Significance: Using chicken and mouse models and innovative genetic approaches, the project will undercover novel genes and cellular pathways in ....New insights into female reproductive tract formation and tubulogenesis. Aims: This project aims to improve our understanding of female reproductive tract formation by studying its developmental origins. Most of the female reproductive tract derives from a pair of embryonic tubes called Müllerian ducts, the formation of which is incompletely understood. Significance: Using chicken and mouse models and innovative genetic approaches, the project will undercover novel genes and cellular pathways in Müllerian duct formation. Expected outcomes: This work will enhance knowledge in the biological sciences, in the area of female reproduction and how tubes form in biological systems. Benefits: It will train research scientists, develop collaborations and enhance Australia’s high standing in the field of reproduction.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the maternal gut microbiome as a driver of fetal development . This project aims to experimentally determine how changes in the maternal gut microbiota impact the phenotype of the offspring. This innovative project uses an interdisciplinary approach combined with novel models and the latest generation technology for genome sequencing. Expected outcomes include extensive new knowledge of how the gut microbiota communicates with the host during pregnancy and the impact this has on the ....Unravelling the maternal gut microbiome as a driver of fetal development . This project aims to experimentally determine how changes in the maternal gut microbiota impact the phenotype of the offspring. This innovative project uses an interdisciplinary approach combined with novel models and the latest generation technology for genome sequencing. Expected outcomes include extensive new knowledge of how the gut microbiota communicates with the host during pregnancy and the impact this has on the gastrointestinal, immune, cardiovascular and reproductive systems. Our findings should yield information that may ultimately be translated into products that augment agricultural production, providing significant benefits.Read moreRead less
Resolving the steps in the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for the evolution of grasses using the C4 biochemical pathway that enables plants to survive in hot, dry, high-light environments. The endemic Australian subtribe Neurachninae is the only known grass group that contains C4 species, species using the ancestral C3 pathway, as well as species using pathways intermediate to C3 and C4. Through a comparative approach employing ....Resolving the steps in the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for the evolution of grasses using the C4 biochemical pathway that enables plants to survive in hot, dry, high-light environments. The endemic Australian subtribe Neurachninae is the only known grass group that contains C4 species, species using the ancestral C3 pathway, as well as species using pathways intermediate to C3 and C4. Through a comparative approach employing high-throughput sequencing technologies, it is expected that the molecular changes underlying the transition from C3 to C4 will be identified. These results should define what is required to engineer plant varieties with increased yield and the ability to withstand climate change effects.Read moreRead less
How do mammalian germ cells transition from mitosis to meiosis? This project aims to determine how germ cells are regulated in the mammalian embryo. Germ cells go on to form the sperm and eggs and are, therefore, critical for reproduction. In particular, this project expects to generate new knowledge about the process of meiosis, a cellular process that is specific to the germ cells. Expected outcomes will inform efforts to control fertility and infertility in livestock, humans and other mammali ....How do mammalian germ cells transition from mitosis to meiosis? This project aims to determine how germ cells are regulated in the mammalian embryo. Germ cells go on to form the sperm and eggs and are, therefore, critical for reproduction. In particular, this project expects to generate new knowledge about the process of meiosis, a cellular process that is specific to the germ cells. Expected outcomes will inform efforts to control fertility and infertility in livestock, humans and other mammalian animals (e.g. pets and endangered species). They are also likely to inform the discipline of stem cell biology in general.Read moreRead less
Security Of Resource Access - What Is Legislative Best Practice For The Commercial Seafood Industry?
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$50,000.00
Summary
The need for improved resource security was articulated at the SIA Tipping Point meeting held in Fremantle in February 2019. This event was attended by seafood industry representatives from across Australia. The absence of secure access to resources, both aquatic and terrestrial, is a major threat and looming impediment to the growth and prosperity of the Australian seafood industry. This is not a new problem, but despite debate, discussion, lobbying and advocacy for more than 2 decades, it ....The need for improved resource security was articulated at the SIA Tipping Point meeting held in Fremantle in February 2019. This event was attended by seafood industry representatives from across Australia. The absence of secure access to resources, both aquatic and terrestrial, is a major threat and looming impediment to the growth and prosperity of the Australian seafood industry. This is not a new problem, but despite debate, discussion, lobbying and advocacy for more than 2 decades, it remains an existential threat to the Australian seafood industry.
Improving security is critical to providing an environment that encourages innovation and the confidence to invest and work in our industry.
Lack of certainty of access to biological and environmental resources has significant ramifications for the mental health of our people, and negatively impacts access to business opportunities and other critical business resources including finance and staff. Flow on effects from continued resource access restrictions also affect our post-harvest businesses, freight companies and local communities across Australia.
The threats to access and resource security are varied, including: • sharing resources with, and impacts of, other marine and terrestrial users including recreational fishers, indigenous title claims, petroleum industry, • changes to / lack of clarity surrounding government policy and legislation, • use of Ministerial discretionary powers, as demonstrated by the Western Australian Government intervention in the WRL fishery quota and dramatic increases of pearling lease fees, • water quality requirements associated with aquaculture operations, • uncertainty results in risk in financing of commercial fishing operations, • access limitations restrict growth of jobs in the aquaculture, wild and post-harvest sectors, • changing community perceptions • eNGO activism such as in the small pelagic fishery, quota purchases, alternate definition of sustainability and targeting particular fishing methods, • restriction of access through increasing reserves including Marine Parks and threats of more restrictive management plans, and • changing environmental conditions. Objectives: 1. To evaluate international instruments to improve the security of Australia's resource access 2. Identify best practice with respect of surety of access Read moreRead less
Breeding super black soldier flies at scale for sustainable food production. This project aims to address the current challenges impeding the industrial scale-up of Australian Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming across diverse feed waste substrates by generating critical on-farm knowledge. This project expects to generate fundamental knowledge in commercial BSF breeding designs whilst also developing and testing new animal evaluation technologies (ie, genetic & spectroscopy) through interdisciplinar ....Breeding super black soldier flies at scale for sustainable food production. This project aims to address the current challenges impeding the industrial scale-up of Australian Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming across diverse feed waste substrates by generating critical on-farm knowledge. This project expects to generate fundamental knowledge in commercial BSF breeding designs whilst also developing and testing new animal evaluation technologies (ie, genetic & spectroscopy) through interdisciplinary approaches that will accelerate industry productivity. Expected outcomes of this project include the long-term growth and competitive advantage of the Australian insect farming industry, as well as promoting the benefits of a circular economy through bioconversion of organic waste into commercially viable products.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Sustainable Scallop (Ylistrum Balloti) Fisheries Enhancement Program For Western Australia: Preliminary Feasibility Study
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$920,050.00
Summary
A substantial rise in future demand for seafood is forecast with ocean fishery productivity projected to decline by up to 50% in some fisheries due to ecological disruptions. A key challenge therefore will be maintaining fishery productivity. Shark Bay and the Abrolhos Islands scallop fisheries are prime examples - following the extreme marine heat wave of 2011 lost income from these fisheries is estimated at $53 million GVP, or $155 million including multipliers.
The integration of aq ....A substantial rise in future demand for seafood is forecast with ocean fishery productivity projected to decline by up to 50% in some fisheries due to ecological disruptions. A key challenge therefore will be maintaining fishery productivity. Shark Bay and the Abrolhos Islands scallop fisheries are prime examples - following the extreme marine heat wave of 2011 lost income from these fisheries is estimated at $53 million GVP, or $155 million including multipliers.
The integration of aquaculture and wild fisheries is becoming increasingly recognised as a tool for enhancing fishery productivity (Taylor et al, 2017). Re-stocking and stock enhancement following recruitment failure could lead to faster fishery recoveries, and also be used to supplement natural recruitment to provide a more consistent and higher yield harvest from year to year. Development of supply chains for scallops into domestic and overseas high-value live markets requires consistent supply. Due to climatic variability and highly variable natural recruitment there is an urgent need to investigate scallop stock enhancement using hatchery-produced juveniles in WA.
A key element for success will be the development of reliable, efficient and scalable seed production systems, which will be based on previous research findings integrated novel, contemporary shellfish production technology. During this project, 16 million cultured scallop spat are planned to be released. The annual yield of scallops from the Rottnest SWF Zone A is 25 to 50 tonnes (whole scallop weight), or approximately 250,000 - 500,000 scallops assuming an average weight of 0.100 kg/whole scallop. This Project aims to release on average 8 million spat each year of the Project (600,000, 1,500,000 and 6,000,000 of 10mm, 5mm and 2mm spat respectively), which could contribute 45,000 hatchery-produced scallops to the catch each year assuming 2.50%, 1.00% and 0.25% of 10mm, 5mm and 2mm spat released respectively were captured, increasing yield by 8.3 – 16.6 % in the annual production, demonstrating the feasibility of scallop stock enhancement.
Objectives: 1. Develop and validate genetic tools to determine parentage / origin of scallops and measure genetic diversity 2. Develop hatchery and nursery protocols for consistent production of scallop spat 3. Develop strategies and methodologies for scallop spat deployment and stock enhancement sampling; measurement of seeded scallop spat survivorship; assessment of effect of spat size at deployment on survival rates; duration of growth to market size; determine impact of enhancement Read moreRead less