Documenting The Decline In Fisheries Productivity Due To Habitat Loss - Tropical, Eastern And Southern Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$24,000.00
Summary
1 - Recreatiopnal Fishing - As identified at the 2012 Recreational Fishing Conference, the vast majority of recreational fishing is inshore. The Conference agreed that habitat protection and repair was one of its four priorities. RESPONSE- This project spports this priority with the objective of collecting and disseminating in clear and unambiguous terms the loss of inshore productivity due to habitat decline and thence the opportunity for productivity improvement with habitat repair. 1 - Recreatiopnal Fishing - As identified at the 2012 Recreational Fishing Conference, the vast majority of recreational fishing is inshore. The Conference agreed that habitat protection and repair was one of its four priorities. RESPONSE- This project spports this priority with the objective of collecting and disseminating in clear and unambiguous terms the loss of inshore productivity due to habitat decline and thence the opportunity for productivity improvement with habitat repair.
2 - Aquaculture - A recent FRDC project developing an Oyster Portal for the oyster industry has clearly identified the decline in Sydney Rock production, much of which can be directly attributed to habitat loss/ net primary productivity decline. RESPONSE - SRO will be included as one of the indicator fisheries. Growing technology has improved, demand for product is high but production continues to decline.
3 - Commercial Fishing - The Coorong fishery, the prawn fisheries and the barramundi fishery have all been interacting with the PI seeking repair of inshore productivity. All have specific areas of habitat repair and legitimate proposals - eg Burdekin floodplain - over 1500 bunds prohibiting barramundi accessing previous estuarine to freshwater systems; eg Coorong- proposals to maximise the benefits of the increased fresh water in the Murray. RESPONSE - barramundi, school prawns and coorong fishery will all be case studies
4 - Investor Interest - the Australian Government is keen to invest its Biodiversity Fund in major repair works to theAustralian landscape. RESPONSE - The companion FRDC funded Business case for habitat repair will suggest a major program of about $300M, including about $10M for further research. This small investment will collate and promate summary facts and figures on the productivity declinne in Australia's estuary fisheries and therefore the benefits of inshore habitat repair. Objectives: 1. To quantify the decline in productivity within tropical estuarine to freshwater systems due to habitat loss and estimate the productivity opportunities of repair 2. To quantify the decline in productivity within Australia's subtropical and temperate east coast major floodplain dominated estuaries due to habitat loss and estimate the productivity opportunities of repair 3. To quantify the decline in productivity within the lower lakes and Coorong, including hypothesising on flow ons to recruitment within Victorian southern estuary systems due to the barrages and overall loss of connectivity and estimate the productivity opportunities of repair in connectivity and freshwater - marine mixing in the Coorong Read moreRead less
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Development Of Improved Molecular Diagnostic Tests For Perkinsus Olseni In Australian Molluscs
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$305,561.00
Summary
Improved diagnostic methods for endemic and exotic pathogens of aquatic animals have been identified as a Key Research Area in the 2009-12 FRDC AAHS R&D plan (6.2.3 Endemic and exotic aquatic animal disease diagnostics).
Since Perkinsus olseni was first described in Australian abalone by Lester and Davies in 1981, histology and culture in Ray’s medium have been the most commonly applied diagnostic procedures for detection of Perkinsus sp.. Although these tests are relatively straight f ....Improved diagnostic methods for endemic and exotic pathogens of aquatic animals have been identified as a Key Research Area in the 2009-12 FRDC AAHS R&D plan (6.2.3 Endemic and exotic aquatic animal disease diagnostics).
Since Perkinsus olseni was first described in Australian abalone by Lester and Davies in 1981, histology and culture in Ray’s medium have been the most commonly applied diagnostic procedures for detection of Perkinsus sp.. Although these tests are relatively straight forward and practical, they are general in nature and neither identifies or differentiates specific species of Perkinsus. Despite a well developed framework for the molecular characterization of Perkinsus and modern PCR based molecular tests for some of the more commercially important Perkinsus species, these have rarely been applied in Australia. The first attempts to apply molecular methods to a small number (n=40) of Perkinsus infected abalone from disease outbreaks in NSW have already revealed a new variant which probably represents a new previously unrecognized species in Australia (Reece et al. 2010). This fact and the apparent variation in pathogenicity observed with Perkinsus in different areas, has raised several questions about which Perkinsus sp. are present in commercial mollusc populations.
Given that a significant depletion of blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) stocks in NSW over the last 20 years has been attributed to infection with Perkinsus (FRDC Project 2004/084) and localized areas of infection occur in a number of Australian states, from South Australia to northern Western Australia, the development and implementation of highly sensitive and rapid PCR based molecular methods to identify specific species of Perkinsus is essential. The development and application of such tests is necessarily underpinned by a detailed understanding of the molecular makeup of Perkinsus in these populations which is the subject of this application.
Objectives: 1. Undertake a targeted molecular, histological and cultural examination of known Perkinsus infected wild abalone populations from NSW, SA and WA to compare existing methods of detection. 2. Establish representative axenic (single species) cultures of Perkinsus sp. from infected abalone. 3. Use established PCRs and DNA sequencing methods to confirm the presence of P. olseni and determine the genetic diversity, including other Perkinsus sp. from these populations. 4. Develop and validate qPCR methods for the detection and identification of P. olseni in infected abalone. 5. Compare and evaluate the performance of the Objective 4 qPCR with existing conventional PCR methods for detection of P. olseni. Read moreRead less
Ocean Nursery And Grow Out Phases Of Giant Clam Mariculture
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Determine rearing methods, environmental conditions and maintenance programs that provide optimal yields 2. Determine methods that are applicable to the commercial culture of giant clams, especially Tridacna gigas & Hippopus hippopus, through ocean-nursery & grow-out phases
Elucidating The Nutritional Requirements Of Farmed Hybrid Abalone
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$282,544.00
Summary
The farming of quality Australian abalone is a profitable industry, producing an estimated total ~1,000 tonnes live weight with a value of $35 million in the financial year ending July 2017. Notably, over the next 10 years, abalone production is forecast to increase by >300% to ~3,600 tonnes with an estimated total value of ~$120 million based on current day market prices. However, in order to facilitate this growth, detailed knowledge pertaining to the nutritional requirements of farmed abalon ....The farming of quality Australian abalone is a profitable industry, producing an estimated total ~1,000 tonnes live weight with a value of $35 million in the financial year ending July 2017. Notably, over the next 10 years, abalone production is forecast to increase by >300% to ~3,600 tonnes with an estimated total value of ~$120 million based on current day market prices. However, in order to facilitate this growth, detailed knowledge pertaining to the nutritional requirements of farmed abalone species is paramount. Currently, hybrid abalone culture is carried out via the provision of feeds developed specifically for greenlip abalone. While these feeds promote good growth and survival in both species, it is considered that the ideal protein ratio requirements of abalone may vary in relation to temperature (season), age (stage of growth) and species, (greenlip vs. hybrid). The issue is further exacerbated by varying, and site specific environmental conditions; especially high summer temperatures causing incidents of elevated mortality; and low winter temperatures suppressing growth. As such, on-farm performance of hybrid abalone has significant scope for improvement via nutritional intervention. Carefully planned and targeted RD&E effort that builds on the nutritional knowledge amassed for greenlip abalone therefore has the capacity to make rapid steps in relation to the productivity of the hybrid abalone aquaculture industry. Those gains are in turn expected to be transferable back to greenlip aquaculture.
The Australian Abalone Growers Association has identified ‘Nutrition’ as an RD&E investment priority in its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, with a Strategic Goal to ‘Implement a Nutrition Program for Health, Survivorship and Meat Weight Gain’. This project will assist industry in achieving its projected growth within the time-frame of AAGA’s Strategic Plan by developing formulated feeds that are tailored to the major seasonal trends experienced by the abalone farming industry. Depending on the differences found in nutritional requirements this may result in the development of age/size-specific, temperature/season-specific and/or species-specific diets. Objectives: 1. To elucidate the key nutritional requirements of farmed hybrid abalone (Haliotis laevigata x rubra) with respect to stage of growth and environmental rearing temperature. 2. Profile the nutritional characteristics of commercially available abalone aquafeeds towards improved hybrid abalone feed formulations 3. Understand the impacts of nutritional conditioning on the survival of abalone in response to adverse temperature conditions 4. Development of rapid screening assays for diet digestibility and on-farm performance assessment Read moreRead less
Increasing Productivity In Tropical Australian Aquaculture - An Industry Workshop
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$6,481.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Establish a local benchmark for pond production technology through a technology transfer workshop 2. To substantially improve Australian aquaculture production through technology transfer from SE Asia 3. To provide a forum for the presentation of recent (FRDC funded) advances in Australian aquaculture
Assessment Of Juvenile Eel Resources In South-east Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$279,545.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To characterise and qualitatively assess A. australis glass eel migration into coastal catchments of southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania for the purpose of investigating potential for commercial exploitation of glass eels on an ecologically sustainable basis. 2. To adapt intensive/semi-intensive, pond/tank culture technology for the purpose of enhancing survival and viability of translocated juvenile eels, including glass eels, to be used in restocking/extensive producti ....Objectives: 1. To characterise and qualitatively assess A. australis glass eel migration into coastal catchments of southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania for the purpose of investigating potential for commercial exploitation of glass eels on an ecologically sustainable basis. 2. To adapt intensive/semi-intensive, pond/tank culture technology for the purpose of enhancing survival and viability of translocated juvenile eels, including glass eels, to be used in restocking/extensive production and/or intensive production to market size. Read moreRead less
Empowering Fishing Women To Capitalise On Networks
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$52,802.38
Summary
The role of women is poorly represented in fishing statistics and measures of productivity. There is more information available on fisheries production than there is on women's contribution to the fishing industry. Consequently, there is an immediate need for information to be gathered which will build a picture of the role that women play in the fishing industry and help to develop that role. Such information would provide insight into what areas of the fishing industry were of interest to ind ....The role of women is poorly represented in fishing statistics and measures of productivity. There is more information available on fisheries production than there is on women's contribution to the fishing industry. Consequently, there is an immediate need for information to be gathered which will build a picture of the role that women play in the fishing industry and help to develop that role. Such information would provide insight into what areas of the fishing industry were of interest to individual women, what issues were of concern, and how women might develop an even more productive role in strengthening the fishing industry.
Developing an understanding of the issues of concern to women, improving skill levels of women involved in the fishing industry, and widening of the established network would all provide a better avenue for information exchange and support to all women across Australia .
This project has a number of objectives in meeting its overall aim to form a productive support network for women, through positive"people development", in order to enable them to develop skills that will enhance the role of women within their own working environment and the fishing industry as a whole. Objectives: 1. To add to and strengthen the existing role of WIN in promoting awareness of the roles of women of the fishing industry. 2. To increase the opportunities for women to participate in the decision-making process of their industry. 3. To facilitate the collection and dissemination of information to women within the fishing industry. 4. To build on existing networks such as WIN (SA) and SIN (NSW) with a view to developing a national focus for women in the fishing industry. Read moreRead less
Development Of Commercial Production Systems For Mud Crab (Scylla Serrata) Aquaculture In Australia: Hatchery & Nursery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$500,471.12
Summary
This project provides the opportunity to develop a new mud crab aquaculture industry for tropical and sub- tropical Australia. It will provide the crablets needed by pioneering farmers to run the first grow-out trials.
Industry has identified the need to commercialise this technology, as can be seen by the involvement of Seafarm and McRobert Aquaculture Systems participation in this project.
Seafarm is determined to secure a reliable supply of crablets for its Queensland opera ....This project provides the opportunity to develop a new mud crab aquaculture industry for tropical and sub- tropical Australia. It will provide the crablets needed by pioneering farmers to run the first grow-out trials.
Industry has identified the need to commercialise this technology, as can be seen by the involvement of Seafarm and McRobert Aquaculture Systems participation in this project.
Seafarm is determined to secure a reliable supply of crablets for its Queensland operation, following the initial success of the first crop of crablets recently grown and harvested from its ponds. The company has stated its intention to diversify into mud crabs, in addition to its core prawn farming business.
McRobert Aquaculture Systems is aiming to get involved with the supply of crablets to both Australian and international markets, using its new tank system. It is also keen to ensure its new tank system is fully field tested for mud crab larval culture, so that it can be marketed on a sound,scientific basis.
Aboriginal groups across northern Australia have expressed great interest in becoming involved with mud crab aquaculture development. This project will provide for the supply of commercial quantities of mud crablets, which will support their future involvement.
Both the Northern Territory and the Queensland Government agencies are dealing with a steady stream of inquires regarding the availability of crablets and also the release of mud crab farming technology. This project will help meet that demand.
Mud crab aquaculture will be the focus of both industrial scale aquaculture (similar to prawn farming) development and of appropriate, ecologically friendly farming systems for coastal aboriginal communities.
In time mud crab aquaculture will enable the marketing of mud crabs, both for the local and export markets to become consistent, reliable and of an assured quality. It will also provide the opportunity for the development of a range of products including soft shell crab, crabs of a variety of sizes and a range of crab meat products.
Scaling up of research results to commercial hatchery and nursery systems will overcome two of the major obstacles to development of mud crab aquaculture in Australia identified in the draft mud crab industry development plan (which was an attachment to our previous application this year).
This project will support diversification of pond based marine aquaculture in tropical and sub-tropical Australia.
Any animal which is being farmed intensively will encounter a range of health challenges. Identifying disease agents and developing effective management strategies for them is critical. Control of bacteria loading in larval culture was identified in the ACIAR project as a key barrier to overcome in the commercialisation of mud crab culture. This project contains a health component, which will benefit from preliminary work undertaken by Dr John Norton at QDPI Oonoomba over the last few years.
This project is a vital first step in the development of the mud crab aquaculture industry in Australia. Future activities will involve work on digestion, nutrition and grow-out system design to fully commercialise this farming sector. Objectives: 1. Complete phase 1(hatchery) and 2 (nursery) of the commercialisation of mud crab aquaculture in Australia, which will include the following objectives:- 2. Develop a commercial scale larval production system for mud crab megalopa 3. Develop a commercial scale nursery system for production of mud crablets 4. Production of manuals for larval and nursery rearing of mud crabs Read moreRead less
Seafood CRC: Australian Seafood Productivity Improvement Centre (ASPIC)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$347,883.66
Summary
1.In Australia’s public R&D institutions, there are very few scientists with experience in seafood processing, packaging, new product development and retailing. As a consequence, most seafood processing companies import their staff or use staff from other food industries. 2.There is very little public R&D support for seafood processors wishing to start new ventures, develop new products, install new machinery or solve processing problems. Objectives: 1. Work with seafood proc ....1.In Australia’s public R&D institutions, there are very few scientists with experience in seafood processing, packaging, new product development and retailing. As a consequence, most seafood processing companies import their staff or use staff from other food industries. 2.There is very little public R&D support for seafood processors wishing to start new ventures, develop new products, install new machinery or solve processing problems. Objectives: 1. Work with seafood processing companies linked to CRC participants and assist with identification of opportunities for new product development and new approaches to processing. 2. Solve problems associated with processing 3. Assist companies to reduce the risk when establishing new processing initiatives 4. Contribute to significantly improving the presentation of seafood at retail and food service levels 5. Function as a leader and change agent in the national seafood processing sector. Read moreRead less
Harnessing The Aquaculture Potential Of Queensland’s Native Rock Oysters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$628,669.00
Summary
QOGA has identified core research priorities that need to be addressed to improve productivity and reverse the steady decline in production.
This project will partner with QOGA and other stakeholders to address the identified need to establish new oyster farming options, technologies, and production systems. The RD&E requires a dual focus, to both improve viability of the current SRO sector, and initiate commercialisation of new TRO varieties for expansion beyond SEQ.
Recent flood events have ....QOGA has identified core research priorities that need to be addressed to improve productivity and reverse the steady decline in production.
This project will partner with QOGA and other stakeholders to address the identified need to establish new oyster farming options, technologies, and production systems. The RD&E requires a dual focus, to both improve viability of the current SRO sector, and initiate commercialisation of new TRO varieties for expansion beyond SEQ.
Recent flood events have emphasised the urgent requirement to further improve the quality and availability of QX resistant SRO stock. It is a QOGA priority to have QX resistance validation trials conducted in Qld to determine the most viable SRO options for SEQ. Validation will be undertaken in collaboration with NSW DPI (building on FRDC 2016/802) and will link with farm-based growout trials conducted at strategic sites, assessing performance relative to location and system. Outcomes will also form a benchmark for direct comparison with newly identified lineages.
With the identification of new TRO varieties (FRDC 2018-118), QOGA advocates that both BRO and LGRO require thorough investigation and the development of targeted hatchery and growout research including farm-based production trials. This aligns with QOGA’s need to access additional culture species options with increased temperature tolerance (essential for northern expansion and climate-change security) and potential QX resistance.
A research hatchery has recently been established to address QOGA’s request for a dedicated R&D hatchery. The hatchery is already producing priority oyster strains (SRO & BRO) and is capable of undertaking this required research and meeting the industry’s immediate requirement to access spat.
To efficiently address the Qld oyster industry’s stated priority needs, this project will undertake research that combines new genomic sequencing and hatchery technologies, best practice production processes and expert local oyster farmer knowledge.
Objectives: 1. Overall:Provide an assessment of the most regionally appropriate oyster species and associated production protocols capable of improving oyster farm productivity and achieving broad industry expansion within and beyond SEQ. 2. Hatchery and nursery:Improve hatchery and nursery production capacity to support R&D activities and provide Qld farmers with additional spat while developing more efficient hatchery/ nursery processes that include advanced molecular processes for improving reproductive capacity, gonad conditioning and reliability of spawning. 3. Blacklip Rock Oysters:Provide reliable BRO spat production capacity that meets the short-term stocking and start-up needs of Qld BRO farms. Develop locally relevant production protocols and determine BRO farming suitability at specific locations along the Qld coastline, while integrating with and contributing to broader CRCNA RD&E activities. 4. Lineage G Rock Oysters:Provide reliable LGRO spat production capacity that meets the short-term stocking and start-up needs of Qld LGRO farms. Develop novel hatchery, production, and post-harvest assessment protocols for LGRO. 5. Sydney Rock Oysters:Improve understanding of SRO QX resistance through validation trials assessing the benefits of QX resistant strains under SEQ conditions. Develop information on production parameters and systems for specific SEQ farming locations to assist with development of best practice production protocols. 6. Genetics and distribution:Develop conclusive, oyster industry focussed, genetic information detailing BRO and LGRO distribution and diversity along Queensland’s east coast. This information is essential for assessing geographic aquaculture potential at both a species and population level and developing appropriately informed management and stocking policies. 7. Non-destructive sampling:Develop refined sampling and genetic identification technologies to achieve accurate, rapid, and non-destructive broodstock identification procedures. This is necessary to ensure that hatchery activities can reliably identify and produce the required species or population. Read moreRead less