SCRC: PDRS: Use Of Next Generation DNA Technologies For Revealing The Genetic Impact Of Fisheries Restocking And Ranching
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Several initiatives by the Australian Seafood CRC's Future Harvest theme involve some form of stocking or enhancement of fisheries. In WA, populations of Roe's Abalone are currently being restocked after a catastrophic mortality event, while stock enhancement of Greenlip Abalone is also occurring. The CRC is also supporting translocation of Southern Rocklobster and ranching of Sea Cucumbers. In all such cases there is a need to understand the population genetic dynamics of stocked populations an ....Several initiatives by the Australian Seafood CRC's Future Harvest theme involve some form of stocking or enhancement of fisheries. In WA, populations of Roe's Abalone are currently being restocked after a catastrophic mortality event, while stock enhancement of Greenlip Abalone is also occurring. The CRC is also supporting translocation of Southern Rocklobster and ranching of Sea Cucumbers. In all such cases there is a need to understand the population genetic dynamics of stocked populations and the extent of genetic interactions of stocked with wild populations (Flinders has been conducting his research for sea cucumbers using the traditional microsatellite marker approach in 2008/733). Important considerations are the genetic health of individuals used as breeders, genetic structuring of source populations, effective population size, effects on inbreeding or loss of genetic diversity, recruitment and geographic spread. Molecular markers can be used to investigate these effects and guide the stocking. Genomic technologies such as GBS are rapidly developing and becoming less expensive and more useful to apply than traditional genetic approaches. These new genomic techniques that directly genotype individuals using sequence information are extremely promising as they eliminate the need for species specific marker development and could provide an efficient and comprehensive means of studying genomes at an individual and population level. Importantly, contrary to traditional genetic methods such as microsatellite surveys, new genomic techniques such as GBS might provide ways of disclosing functional genetic variation (variation that is ecologically relevant and related to the fitness of the individual) or facilitating genomic selection. Once GBS data is mapped to areas of the genome with known function, marker assisted selection for traits of importance to aquaculture becomes possible. Here we propose engaging a post-doc that will specialise in this area and assist projects with Flinders involvement on Roe's and Greenlip Abalone in Western Australia.Read moreRead less
Proceedings Of The Workshop On The Biology And Resource Potential Of Cephalopods Melbourne Australia, 9-13 March 1981
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Prepare a handbook of information on fisheries management, primarily as a reference for fisheries officers, the fishing industry and tertiary institutions
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
Investigation Of The Resource Availability Of Juvenile Eels (Anguila Australis) In Tasmania With Respect To Aquaculture Potential.
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. To assess the status of the juvenile eel resource in Tasmania 2. To establish protocols for efficient and exologically sustainable exploitation of glass eel and elver stocks 3. To assist in establishing a commercial eel farming insdustry in Tasmania by investigating and developing intensive culture technology for elvers
Studies Of The Growth And Mortality Of School Prawns
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$562,041.50
Summary
Considering the prominence of the NSW prawn resources, it is important that managers be equipped with the information necessary to manage the school prawn resource in a sustainable way that provides equity for all stakeholders. Despite its prominence as one of the two most important contributors to the prawn production in NSW, little is known about the population dynamics of this species.
There is evidence to suggest that the school prawn populations in NSW may be overfished. Availabl ....Considering the prominence of the NSW prawn resources, it is important that managers be equipped with the information necessary to manage the school prawn resource in a sustainable way that provides equity for all stakeholders. Despite its prominence as one of the two most important contributors to the prawn production in NSW, little is known about the population dynamics of this species.
There is evidence to suggest that the school prawn populations in NSW may be overfished. Available information shows that the size of spawning populations in ocean waters may be declining and that prawns are being caught at sizes far shorter than those that would optimise biological “yield per recruit” under an F0.1 fishing policy.
The data which was used in this population modeling of the species had relatively low levels of precision. Estimates of growth and mortality with acceptable levels of precision are needed so that population models can be used with confidence to predict the outcomes of scenarios aimed at optimising the use of the school prawn resource. Out of a list of ten topics needing research, attendees at the Juvenile Prawn Summit assigned the highest priority for research to the study of growth and mortality of school prawns. Objectives: 1. To estimate values for parameters describing growth of school prawns. 2. To estimate values for instantaneous fishing mortality for school prawns. Read moreRead less
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: Provision Of Research Platforms For Projects Requiring Port Lincoln Based R&D Support
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,299,598.25
Summary
NEED This project is essential for cost effective and cohesive R&D aimed at meeting the priority needs of the highly successful SBT aquaculture industry. While the industry has developed rapidly since its initiation in 1990, R&D is a pivotal requirement to underpin its development and assure the long-term sustainability of the industry. This project is focused on maintaining an offshore SBT R&D capability.
It involves providing services to support to research activ ....NEED This project is essential for cost effective and cohesive R&D aimed at meeting the priority needs of the highly successful SBT aquaculture industry. While the industry has developed rapidly since its initiation in 1990, R&D is a pivotal requirement to underpin its development and assure the long-term sustainability of the industry. This project is focused on maintaining an offshore SBT R&D capability.
It involves providing services to support to research activities undertaken on and around offshore commercial tuna farms including managing and coordinating the infrastructure for small scale, experimental, high risk and/or novel research and development activities utilizing live SBT.
These services have been and continue to be required by a range of projects managed by the SBT Aquaculture Subprogram (the specific scientific methods associated with each research project are developed more fully within the relevant project).
This project will: 1) ensure high quality technical services are provided in Port Lincoln to tuna researchers in a coordinated way. These services are provided for experiments primarily on commercial tuna farms and the waters adjacent to these. 2) ensure that the use of the available resources is optimized and that a minimum level of duplication occurs; 3) enable the costs associated with these activities to be clearly distinguished; 4) play a key role in communication between researchers and tuna farmers, as the project staff is based in Port Lincoln, the centre of commercial activities.
This project will provide support for scientists involved in effectively undertaking research using the new commercial (industry) seacage research platform, where research with live tuna will occur on commercial farms. This strategy has the advantage of conducting research in the most appropriate circumstances to achieve the desired outcome. The greater industry involvement in this project, through the involvement of an experienced industry operator, also has the advantage of improving the transfer of research outcomes to industry, involving industry to a greater extent in the evaluation of outcomes, enhancing industry development of innovative technologies and practices to address commercial issues,and disseminating information more representative of their commercial operations. All these aspects are important in facilitating the take up and commercialization of the research outcomes. Objectives: 1. Provide and maintain a managed technical service as required by other project PIs undertaking tuna research activities using the commercial (industry) seacage research platform in Port Lincoln. 2. Ensure, to the level of resources available, that the commercial (industry) seacage research platform operations are world best practice. 3. Coordinate and therefore optimize the use of the limited resources available for research requiring live SBT as part of the commercial (industry) seacage research platform, through the development of an agreed project Annual Operating Plan. 4. Ensure completion, in consultation with other project PIs, of the planned activities designated in the project Annual Operating Plan on the commercial (industry) seacage research platform. 5. Support improved communication between project PIs and industry partners. Read moreRead less
Building Economic Capability To Improve The Management Of Marine Resources In Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$861,997.00
Summary
The need for increasing fisheries economic research nationally was recently highlighted at the AFMF - SSR annual workshop, a workshop held by AFMA to discuss fisheries economic research needs (AFMA, 2007), and in the FRDC Research and Development Plan (2005-10). Building capacity in fisheries economics within industry (e.g. RAGs, MACs) and government was also considered necessary to facilitate uptake of management tools that would enhance economic performance of the industry (AFMA, 2007). The need for increasing fisheries economic research nationally was recently highlighted at the AFMF - SSR annual workshop, a workshop held by AFMA to discuss fisheries economic research needs (AFMA, 2007), and in the FRDC Research and Development Plan (2005-10). Building capacity in fisheries economics within industry (e.g. RAGs, MACs) and government was also considered necessary to facilitate uptake of management tools that would enhance economic performance of the industry (AFMA, 2007).
Research needs vary at the State and Commonwealth level. For example, priority economic research projects in South Australia have been identified as the contribution of recreational fishing to regional communities; and a comparative study of the effects of quota management regimes on productivity and sustainability. In Tasmania, specific identified research needs include the development of performance indicators, resource allocation, economic efficiency of alternative management strategies, and market and industry analysis. In Queensland, the impact of marine conservation on both recreational and commercial fishing is a significant issue in the South East, as is resource allocation between recreational and commercial fishers in the East Coast inshore fin-fish fishery. Improved efficiency in the prawn farming industry is also a recent priority given the increased exchange rate and growth in prawn imports. At the Commonwealth level, economic performance measurement and management strategy evaluations that incorporate economic considerations and the impact of marine reserves on the fishing industry are priority research areas (AFMA, 2007).
Research projects undertaken by the PhD students enroled under this project will target these identified priority needs. Hence, both capacity building and research needs will be jointly satisfied.
AFMA (2007). Economics in Commonwealth fisheries management - Workshop final report, 2 March 2007, Canberra. R2006/1127l 7/3/2007 Objectives: 1. To build Australia's capability in fisheries resource economics through graduate training 2. To address identified high priority applied fisheries economics research needs of both State and Commonwealth marine resource sectors through PhD research projects 3. To develop and deliver a range of fisheries resource economic training opportunities for marine scientists, industry and managers through a short course program 4. To develop an ongoing national focus in the area of applied fisheries resource economics that can address the long term research and training needs of both State and Commonwealth marine resource sectors Read moreRead less
Development Of A Business Plan For Enhancement Of Saucer Scallops In Sub-tropical Waters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$70,448.00
Summary
The Victorian scallop industry has decline substantially and does not appear to be recovering. Scallops have traditionally been one of Victoria's largest fisheries and the ability to resurrect a failing native fishery offers obvious benefits. Victoria has not committed time or moneys to the development of reseeding but in light of the recently successful scallop trials in Victoria it is an area that MAFRI has shown some new interest. This economic feasibility study and the potential direction ....The Victorian scallop industry has decline substantially and does not appear to be recovering. Scallops have traditionally been one of Victoria's largest fisheries and the ability to resurrect a failing native fishery offers obvious benefits. Victoria has not committed time or moneys to the development of reseeding but in light of the recently successful scallop trials in Victoria it is an area that MAFRI has shown some new interest. This economic feasibility study and the potential direction for research is now very relevant to Victoria Fisheries.
There is considerable industry interest in enhancing saucer scallop populations for subsequent harvest. The Western Australian government has granted exclusive use areas off the Western Australian coastline for two companies to undertake pilot enhancement work. Neither company has developed suitable hatchery technology to support their proposed operations. There has been long-standing industry interest in enhancement in Queensland, and pilot hatchery research on saucer scallops is underway at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre.
The Queensland trawl industry is facing restructuring and considerable reduction in the area in which it can fish. Profitability in the industry appears to be generally low (Taylor Moore, pers. com.). It is not difficult to forecast that environmental pressure groups will attempt to further curtail industry activities and reduce fishing effort in and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and that this will further impact on the industry's economic performance. At the same time, the trawl industry is a significant generator of employment and economic wealth in regional areas where unemployment levels are far higher than the national average. Any proposals that have realistic potential to improve social and economic welfare have obvious benefit to such communities, as well as to the national interests.
Those scallop enhancement operation that been successful are now making super-normal profits. The Japanese enhancement operations, for example, are giving returns in the order of 400% profit. While this figure does not adequately address or account for previous research and development expenditure, there is no doubt enhancement operations run properly, and supported by adequate investment and infrastructure can be financially profitable. At the same time, there are numerous examples of scallop enhancement and culture operations that have been financially unsuccessful. Operations such as those in Newfoundland, Scotland, and, to a lesser extent, in Tasmania, have failed to become long production sources of scallops. Developing feasibility studies and business plans seems to be the only way to determine whether it is worth while making the considerable investments in time and money needed for a successful enhancement or culture project. Objectives: 1. Identifiy key operational procedures and potential operational and bio-technological bottlenecks associated with successful and unsuccessful scallop enhancement and culture operations. Document critical knowledge gaps for potential enhancement of saucer scallops. 2. Identify financial, social and biological risks associated with enhancement and culture of saucer scallops in sub tropical Australian waters and commercial scallops in southern waters. 3. Undertake a preliminary feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis for enhancement and culture of saucer scallops in subtropical Australian waters and commercial scallops in southern waters, based upon outcomes of Objective 1. 4. Develop business plans (operational procedures, financial framework and timetable) for conducting a financially viable and ecologically sustainable saucer scallop enhancement or culture program in sub tropical waters of Australia and / or for commercial scallops in southern waters. Read moreRead less