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
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
Tropical Fish Traps – Addressing Ghost Fishing Impacts And Refinements To Catch Reporting/sampling
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
The negative impacts of lost fish traps ghost fishing are well documented and of concern to all parties involved with the sustainable harvest of seafood from the aquatic environment (Macfadyen et al 2009; Newman et al 2011; Vadziutsina & Rodrigo 2020). Essentially, lost fishing gears that continue to kill/harm fish represent an inefficiency in the fish production process, and in essence are a form of waste associated with the harvesting process, that ultimately reduces the yield and casts a bad ....The negative impacts of lost fish traps ghost fishing are well documented and of concern to all parties involved with the sustainable harvest of seafood from the aquatic environment (Macfadyen et al 2009; Newman et al 2011; Vadziutsina & Rodrigo 2020). Essentially, lost fishing gears that continue to kill/harm fish represent an inefficiency in the fish production process, and in essence are a form of waste associated with the harvesting process, that ultimately reduces the yield and casts a bad light on the fishery itself. This project does not meet any specific FRDC priority in the current round, hence the lodgment under (Other), although because of what it attempts to address and minimise, it is likely to gain strong support from those concerned with appropriate management of fisheries i.e., minimising the wasteful use of renewable food resources at a time when there is a food crisis in the world, with parties including the FRDC, AFMA, ENGO's and the fishing industry. Objectives: 1. Quantification of fish trap (various designs) loss rates, both in the distant past and more recently, together with the main factors influencing the loss rate. 2. Quantification of how well “dumped” or unattended traps catch fish, together with the main factors affecting the performance (including the presence of trap disabling mechanisms). 3. Apply refinements* to fishing practices/gear to address loss rates and ghost fishing and assess performance (*utilising observations made in the first year of project). 4. Apply refinements to fishing activity reporting to assist with the management of effort creep, trap loss, and ascertaining appropriate harvest levels for the target species. Read moreRead less
This project will address an urgent action identified under the updated Conservation Advice for the Maugean Skate to increase the levels of dissolved oxygen in Macquarie Harbour. Both modelling and empirical studies have demonstrated the role that salmonid aquaculture and river flows both play in influencing the dissolved oxygen status of the harbour (MHDOWG 2015; Ross & MacLeod 2017, Wild-Allen et al. 2020). A climate driven increase in bottom water temperatures of 1.5-2oC over the past 30 year ....This project will address an urgent action identified under the updated Conservation Advice for the Maugean Skate to increase the levels of dissolved oxygen in Macquarie Harbour. Both modelling and empirical studies have demonstrated the role that salmonid aquaculture and river flows both play in influencing the dissolved oxygen status of the harbour (MHDOWG 2015; Ross & MacLeod 2017, Wild-Allen et al. 2020). A climate driven increase in bottom water temperatures of 1.5-2oC over the past 30 years in the harbour is also considered to have influenced the observed decline through decreased solubility and increased metabolic rates (Ross et al., 2021). The proposed project aims to help address this immediate priority to increase oxygen levels to support the conservation efforts for the skate and to offset the total oxygen drawdown of salmonid aquaculture in the harbour. The scientific evaluation program will assess the efficacy and environmental response to the oxygenation. This evaluation will be critical in assessing the feasibility and scalability of the system. Objectives: 1. Develop plume model and run scenarios to inform injection depth, flow volume, concentration, and distribution of injection points for oxygenation trials. 2. Measure oxygen load, retention and spatial extent of oxygen improvement. 3. Monitor and evaluate the ecosystem response. 4. Determine scalability based on objectives 1-4 using CSIRO’s Macquarie Harbour Model 5. Provide advice on progress to all key stakeholders and how it relates to conservation planning and action for the Maugean skate. Read moreRead less
This project is needed to reduce the impact of prawn trawling on sea-snake populations both in Australia and overseas; the technology developed has been proven to reduce the landings of sea-snakes by 80%, however, it has not been properly assessed in terms of why it is so effective and whether sea-snakes escaping are healthy and likely to survive. This project attends to this need. The proposed project activity also includes a refinement phase whereby observations made during the Assessment sea- ....This project is needed to reduce the impact of prawn trawling on sea-snake populations both in Australia and overseas; the technology developed has been proven to reduce the landings of sea-snakes by 80%, however, it has not been properly assessed in terms of why it is so effective and whether sea-snakes escaping are healthy and likely to survive. This project attends to this need. The proposed project activity also includes a refinement phase whereby observations made during the Assessment sea-trials phase will be utilised to improve its performance prior to starting the Extension phase across several Australian prawn fisheries.
Successful reduction in sea-snake landings, as well as other small/moderate sized finfish bycatch, will help meet the sustainable fisheries priority.
Objectives: 1. Comprehensively assess the bycatch reduction performance of the Sea-snake TED/BRD including coverage of when, where, and how sea-snake escape, and what other species are likely to benefit the most from its use. 2. Utilise both the existing Sea Harvest data (e.g., from 2023) and the assessment data from Objective 1 activity, to refine the Sea-snake TED/BRD, noting that these refinements may extend beyond improving exclusion rates and retention rates (prawn), to making the trawl gear fish better and ‘cleaner’. 3. Develop clear uptake guidelines to enable the Sea-snake TED/BRD to be successfully introduced into other prawn fisheries where variance in net design, TED/BRD design, and operations, may, if ignored, compromise its performance. Read moreRead less
Global Review: Incentivising Small And Medium Scale Aquaculture Businesses To Measure And Report Environmental, Social, And Governance Outcomes
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$225,975.00
Summary
The Australian aquaculture industry is faced with a number of environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations and challenges now and into the future as we see a growing expectation from major retailers and an investor and increasingly government focus on offsetting carbon, nutrients and land. Specific challenges include measuring and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions, disease and antibiotic use, use of forage fish in feeds, habitat destruction, fish welfare and husbandry, and effluen ....The Australian aquaculture industry is faced with a number of environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations and challenges now and into the future as we see a growing expectation from major retailers and an investor and increasingly government focus on offsetting carbon, nutrients and land. Specific challenges include measuring and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions, disease and antibiotic use, use of forage fish in feeds, habitat destruction, fish welfare and husbandry, and effluent discharge. While larger corporate businesses and some sectors have made some progress in these areas, the small-medium business enterprises will require support given they often have little to no resources to measure, report and allocate new funding and action to address ESG challenges. This is particularly important in areas where some of the challenges will become expectation e.g. market access and carbon emissions reporting. There is a substantial disparity on how key ESG indicators are reported and assured across different sectors of the seafood industry, which is dependent on many different factors. These can include (but are not limited to):
- the size of the enterprise; - local, State or Federal legislation; - third-party certification requirements; - global best practices; - investor expectations - export market requirements - company policies
Consistency of reporting across the industry is vital to improve ESG policy and practices, ensure accountability of organisations, and increase consumer confidence of the seafood sector. A review of ESG challenges, and existing reporting frameworks/incentive programs both nationally and internationally will be key to developing a centralised reporting framework that both satisfies compliance and regulation and leads to tangible improvement outcomes for SME in the ESG space.
Objectives: 1. Desktop Review – ESG Challenges in Australian Aquaculture SME’s. 2. Global Review on incentive schemes 3. Provide recommendations on actionable steps Read moreRead less
Improving And Promoting Fish-trawl Selectivity In The Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) And Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS) Of The Southern And Eastern Scalefish And Shark Fishery (SESSF)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$776,141.00
Summary
It is very clear that fishing-technology research to improve resource harvesting is a priority need for the future sustainability of fish trawling in Australia. The issue is quite poignant, considering that over the past 15 years, there has been a massive reduction in the total number of trawlers in Australia, and lower profits among remaining operators struggling to remain viable. Innovative modifications and refinements to existing systems that improve selectivity and reduce environmental impa ....It is very clear that fishing-technology research to improve resource harvesting is a priority need for the future sustainability of fish trawling in Australia. The issue is quite poignant, considering that over the past 15 years, there has been a massive reduction in the total number of trawlers in Australia, and lower profits among remaining operators struggling to remain viable. Innovative modifications and refinements to existing systems that improve selectivity and reduce environmental impacts and costs are an urgent priority to ensure economic viability. Such developments are difficult to achieve by individual fishers without quality research, development and extension that is adequately resourced.
More specifically, there is a clear need to maintain progress towards developing innovative, high-priority technological modifications to fish trawls in the CTS and GABTS that mitigate sustainability issues while maintaining target catches at existing levels. Equally important, ratified designs then need to be tested across fleets to encourage adoption and refinement as a precursor to eventual legislation. Ultimately, satisfying these needs will contribute towards improving the social licence and economic return of trawl fisheries in the SESSF, while helping to ensure their ongoing sustainability and address what remains one of the most controversial issues facing bottom trawling.
Objectives: 1. Review the available domestic and international literature and data, and consult with a project stakeholder committee (comprising representatives of the CTS, GABTS, NSW PFA and AFMA) to prioritise modifications to be formally assessed for their utility in minimising bycatch, while maintaining target catches among trawls used in the CTS and GABTS. 2. Based on the outcomes of 1 above, assess the utility of existing and new modifications to trawls for minimising bycatch, while maintaining target catches in the CTS and GABTS. 3. By providing strong economic incentives through improved efficiencies, and via applied extension activities, encourage the wide-scale voluntary adoption and ongoing exploration of appropriate best-practice technologies that cumulatively reduce bycatches, while maintaining target catches in the CTS and GABTS. Read moreRead less
Cumulative Impact Risk Assessment Tool For Aquaculture In Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$172,999.00
Summary
Difficulties with current legislation in Australia at State and Federal level make it challenging for marine farms to protect themselves, but equally for the community to have faith that aquaculture development is not harming the marine environment. An example from Tasmania is the recent contamination of Macquarie Harbour, whereby tailings from Copper Mines Tasmania (CMT) dam in Queenstown entered the harbour and undoubtedly caused environmental harm to salmon and other species. Because CMT and ....Difficulties with current legislation in Australia at State and Federal level make it challenging for marine farms to protect themselves, but equally for the community to have faith that aquaculture development is not harming the marine environment. An example from Tasmania is the recent contamination of Macquarie Harbour, whereby tailings from Copper Mines Tasmania (CMT) dam in Queenstown entered the harbour and undoubtedly caused environmental harm to salmon and other species. Because CMT and salmon farmers operate under different Acts CMT was not responsible for the incident but rather the government. Consequently, no investigation or clean-up ensued.
Additionally, the scope of statutory tools, such as EIS under the Tasmanian Marine Farm Planning Act 1995, is not regional and does not consider the compound interactions of and on production activities. A good example is the recent Storm Bay salmon farming expansion; while the EPBC listed handfish species in Tasmania were listed in the marine farming development plan, with a brief context, management of these species was not considered in the EIS because that process only includes direct impact of the lease position. Arguably, cumulative impacts from all development in the area will have varying impacts on the species, impacts which are not being considered under current government legislation, but are potentially the source of public ire.
For aquaculture to pursue sustainable efforts environmentally, economically and socially in the increasingly crowded near shore space requires proactive planning and transparency that is not currently possible given existing assessment tools. In particular, assessment of cumulative impacts must be addressed. Cumulative impact assessments (CIA) are gaining momentum across multiple industries due to a recognised need to apply them in the pursuit of sustainable management. CIAs are being undertaken with the protection of marines resources at front of mind, but so far there has been little consideration of aquaculture. An approach to CIA that makes aquaculture the centre point is required if we are to consider its impacts or conversely, its effectiveness. Objectives: 1. Identify the risks of multiple actions or impacts on the environment and social values of a marine production matrix in Australian waters. In order to do this a comprehensive literature review is required to develop the CIA approach and ensure the methods and gaps in aquaculture CIA are addressed to meet the needs of Australian aquaculture, the community and the consumer. 2. Develop a risk assessment tool that can be utilised by the public realm (governments at all levels, NFPS, community) to better understand the complexities of regional marine waters and user impacts to maximise current and future economic, social and environmental benefits. To do this requires identification of valued environmental and social components first, whereby such components are characterised, from this a framework is build on each valued component. 3. Assess aquaculture in the context of broader social and environmental issues within the marine production matrix, by performing an aquaculture specific cumulative impacts assessment for regional Australia Read moreRead less
Establishing A National End Of Life Fishing/aquaculture Gear Recovery System For Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$273,080.00
Summary
Building on the circularity discussions and work being undertaken by FRDC and the industry, this project seeks to undertake the legwork required to establish a nationwide on-demand End of life (EOL) fishing gear recovery system for Australia and pilot it in key locations. The materials that many nets and ropes are made of are highly valuable and recyclable and in fact in many other countries, is already being recycled or remanufactured. Until now, having a national system has been cost prohibi ....Building on the circularity discussions and work being undertaken by FRDC and the industry, this project seeks to undertake the legwork required to establish a nationwide on-demand End of life (EOL) fishing gear recovery system for Australia and pilot it in key locations. The materials that many nets and ropes are made of are highly valuable and recyclable and in fact in many other countries, is already being recycled or remanufactured. Until now, having a national system has been cost prohibitive due to the large distances and need for economies of scale and limited local buyer interest. As a part of the national targets set by the Australian Government relating to plastics use and recycling, commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors have been exploring how to move to a circular economy model and reduce plastic inputs through a variety of projects run by FRDC and others. However, with fishing gear the biggest plastic polymer input, and contamination challenges, there has yet to be a suitable system established.
This project seeks to enable the opportunities that addressing EOL gear provides in Australia to the commercial fishing and aquaculture sector through the establishment of an effective EOL fishing gear recovery system for the country to reduce the landfill costs to industry. It seeks to build on the learnings from previous projects as well as the ten years of experience of our partner Bureo has in in operating an EOL fishing gear recovery program. Bureo currently have an EOL gear recovery system active in 9 countries.
The key objectives are: ● By the end of 2026 there is an effective end-of-life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system implemented across key fishing ports, and key aquaculture centres benefiting regional communities and fisheries conservation and assisting the Australian Government to address plastic recovery/recycling targets. ● By the end of 2024, the enabling environment for an effective and fit for purpose EOL fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system is in place within Australia, with commencement of recycling underway in key pilot locations.
Objectives: 1. By March 2025 the feasibility of and logistical requirements are understood to establish a national end of life recovery system for commercial fishing and aquaculture gear in Australia and an enabling pathway for roll out created. 2. By the end of 2026 there is an effective end-of-life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system for Australia implemented across at least 5 key fishing ports, with measurable benefits being delivered to regional communities, industry, conservation, while contributing towards the Australian Government’s recycling targets. Read moreRead less