Review Of Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety Legislation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$36,500.00
Summary
This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
There is a need for a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed seafood industry response to a review of the AMSA legislation. SIA has engaged with industry nationally and the need to respond in a collective submission that is reflective of the views of Australia’s seafood industry
In addition, ....This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
There is a need for a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed seafood industry response to a review of the AMSA legislation. SIA has engaged with industry nationally and the need to respond in a collective submission that is reflective of the views of Australia’s seafood industry
In addition, there is a need for subsequent interpretation of the outputs from the AMSA legislation review to aid industry in understanding the implications of the findings. This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
Objectives: 1. Engage a range of seafood industry representatives (individuals and organisations) in provision of input to a consolidated SIA response to the AMSA Legislation Review 2. Understand and report on industry issues associated with the application and content of the AMSA legislation 3. Provide advice to SIA to inform a national response to the AMSA legislation review Read moreRead less
To Develop A National Marine Safety Extension Resource Toolkit And To Trial With All Fisheries Jurisdictions
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
There have been significant resources (financial and physical) allocated to workplace health and safety (including mental health, training and systems for data collection) over the last 15 years in the commercial fishing industry .However the majority have been “stand alone" and there has been limited extension for the wider industry to adopt. Although there have been some positive moves in the area of health and safety such as the SRL Clean Green program and the Spencer Gulf Prawn fishery, ther ....There have been significant resources (financial and physical) allocated to workplace health and safety (including mental health, training and systems for data collection) over the last 15 years in the commercial fishing industry .However the majority have been “stand alone" and there has been limited extension for the wider industry to adopt. Although there have been some positive moves in the area of health and safety such as the SRL Clean Green program and the Spencer Gulf Prawn fishery, there has largely been a “silo” approach to the various initiatives across the commercial fishing industry and a real lack of coordination that can lead to a lack of communication, adoption and the lack of visibility of tools to those that need it. This is due in part to the nature of the industry that tends (overall) not to have the willingness to adopt something that another fishery has implemented, fragmentation of industry in some states and within a fishery. Additionally, the absence of a peak national body until June 2017 also created a gap for driving nationwide issues including workplace safety and health initiatives. Through the building of these networks and the establishment of on the ground champion in each state to influence industry including the building of capacity/ resources within the peak bodies to embrace workplace health and safety on behalf of their members, improved awareness and adoption of safety programs should occur. To do this State peak bodies require support to enable them to add value for their members and therefore utilise existing and currently funded research and develop extension processes.It is unknown to what level industry uptake of the current AMSA requirements for a safety management system (SMS) has occurred. It is not well understood by industry that the existence of a SMS to meet AMSA requirements only goes half way for legal compliance. Each states Worksafe body also has legislation that requires compliance with safe work practices. It is desirable to produce a SMS that meets both sets of legislation and develop a tool that can be used to assess the uptake of the initiatives through the peak bodies as well as developing a robust set of statistics to benchmark the performance. Objectives: 1. To build capability in each jurisdiction industry council for the development of a safety management system toolkit based on gear type/fishery type for implementation across industry 2. To develop processes to ensure existing and future projects including LMS ( 2017-194) and Barriers to Adoption ( 2017-046) are integrated into objective 1 above 4. To develop a national “champions” network for workplace/ marine safety to assist jurisdictional bodies communicate and champion the safety message 5. To ensure current and previous marine safety RD&E projects are linked and collaborate effectively to achieve increased levels of extension 6. To develop a tool and estimate wild catch fisheries accident statistics ( historical) and to provide a system and a benchmark to measure future performance of accident statistics Read moreRead less
Risk Profile For Paralytic Shellfish Toxins In Tasmanian Periwinkles
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$180,504.00
Summary
Recurrent harmful algal blooms in Tasmanian waters (Gymnodinium in the South and Alexandrium on the East Coast) have impacted Oyster, Mussel, Abalone and Rock Lobster industries, necessitating the implementation of biotoxin monitoring programs and harvest closures during high risk periods. It is currently unknown whether Periwinkles can accumulate paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) from Tasmanian microalgal blooms and a conservative risk management approach has been taken thus far to protect both ....Recurrent harmful algal blooms in Tasmanian waters (Gymnodinium in the South and Alexandrium on the East Coast) have impacted Oyster, Mussel, Abalone and Rock Lobster industries, necessitating the implementation of biotoxin monitoring programs and harvest closures during high risk periods. It is currently unknown whether Periwinkles can accumulate paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) from Tasmanian microalgal blooms and a conservative risk management approach has been taken thus far to protect both public health and market access.
Unlike bivalve shellfish, Abalone and Rock Lobster, there is currently no clearly defined biotoxin management plan for Periwinkles in Tasmania. As grazers, Periwinkles are loosely grouped with Urchins and Abalone, the latter of which are a proven PST risk. This Abalone biotoxin sampling plan is triggered when Tasmanian Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP) closes bivalve harvest areas due to PST risk. In a conservative approach, the current recommendation is PST analysis of 20 pooled Periwinkles per Abalone block on at least a monthly basis to maintain market access. This presents a considerable cost burden to the small dive fishery and interrupts harvest operations, as PST sampling of Periwinkles is required if elevated PST are detected in Abalone, which are known to hold onto PST for longer time periods in between blooms (years).
To date, the vast majority of Periwinkle samples that have been analysed for PST were collected from weak or no bloom years or regions. Evidence from French tank trials exposing the common European Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) to Alexandrium minutum cysts containing PST showed significant toxin uptake (0.2 mg PST/kg) within six days of exposure (Neves et al, 2015). It remains unknown whether commercially harvested Tasmanian Periwinkles (Lunella undulata) are at risk of PST accumulation and if the current conservative monitoring approach is commensurate to risk. In such scenarios, risk managers will commonly outsource a preliminary risk assessment (known as a risk profile). Risk profiles are an important tool for risk managers and industry. They provide a summary of all information pertinent to food safety associated with the specific hazard/food combination. The purpose of a risk profile is to assist initial risk management activities, such as identifying future actions required (if any), and the options for food safety management programs. They also inform the level of resourcing required to control the hazard/food pairing.
This project will deliver an urgently required risk profile for PST in Periwinkles to inform future actions (if any) and provide options for cost-effective food safety management programs. This profile will: 1. Determine the risk of PST accumulation in Periwinkles in Tasmania as a result of harmful microalgal blooms during high risk exposures at peak algal bloom densities in the field and in tank trials. 2. Outline potential management options and knowledge gaps, should risk management be necessary. This includes an assessment of whether the bivalve PST regulatory limit is appropriate to use in Periwinkle risk management (currently based on shellfish serving size of 100-400g) and the spatial variability associated with sampling.
References Neves, Raquel AF, et al. "Responses of the common periwinkle Littorina littorea to exposure to the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum." Journal of Molluscan Studies 81.2 (2015): 308-311.
Objectives: 1. Determine whether Tasmanian Periwinkles can bioaccumulate PST from Alexandrium and/or Gymnodinium microalgal blooms during both field and laboratory exposures. 2. Identify the most suitable size of biotoxin management zones for Periwinkles. 3. Assess whether the use of the bivalve PST regulatory limit is appropriate for Periwinkles by conducting a literature search and consumption survey. 4. Generate a risk profile for PST in Tasmanian wild caught Periwinkles and provide guidance for risk management. Read moreRead less
Contextualising Shellfish Food Safety In Northern Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$147,000.00
Summary
The emerging edible oyster industry in northern Australia involves Aboriginal communities, industry and governments and is working towards improvements in productions systems, biosecurity and capacity development. Initial volumes produced by this developing industry are likely to be small scale, targeting local markets, however there is significant potential to expand overtime to service the broader Australian and international markets.
To enable industry access to supply these markets ....The emerging edible oyster industry in northern Australia involves Aboriginal communities, industry and governments and is working towards improvements in productions systems, biosecurity and capacity development. Initial volumes produced by this developing industry are likely to be small scale, targeting local markets, however there is significant potential to expand overtime to service the broader Australian and international markets.
To enable industry access to supply these markets there is a need to ensure appropriate food safety. Preliminary shellfish quality assurance assessments have been conducted at oyster farming trials in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. However, there remains a gap in the knowledge of shellfish food safety risks and the most appropriate way to administer a shellfish food safety program in Northern Australia.
Information on the specific food safety risks in tropical Australia to inform the application or contextualise ASQAP in Northern Australia remains a gap. There is also a further need to consider how ASQAP can be applied to a developing industry in a remote context. Tropical Australia has unique challenges of temperature, environment, limited infrastructure and remoteness. The emerging tropical oyster industry requires an assessment of the risks and options to manage the sale of an initial small-scale production of farmed bivalve shellfish produced in Northern Australia. Objectives: 1. Perform an assessment of food safety concerns and associated risks in tropical Australia 2. Provide recommendations on appropriate harvest area classification systems (based on water and/or meat results) and monitoring and risk management protocols for oyster farming in tropical Australian environmental and remote contexts 3. Develop models for shellfish food safety programs in tropical Australian conditions Read moreRead less
SeSAFE – Delivering Industry Safety Through Electronic Learning
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$434,706.31
Summary
The SeSAFE project has to date focused on raising safety awareness and the development/delivery of safety training modules. This is a response to current inadequacies in safety training in the fishing and aquaculture industry.
It is now timely for SeSAFE to address other inadequacies in safety training by:
• Filling the gap that allows new crew to step foot on a dangerous work platform before receiving any safety training • Providing consistent safety training content to ....The SeSAFE project has to date focused on raising safety awareness and the development/delivery of safety training modules. This is a response to current inadequacies in safety training in the fishing and aquaculture industry.
It is now timely for SeSAFE to address other inadequacies in safety training by:
• Filling the gap that allows new crew to step foot on a dangerous work platform before receiving any safety training • Providing consistent safety training content to all fishers nationwide • Promoting SeSAFE as the industry benchmark in pre-sea safety training, that also serves to demonstrate achievement towards duty-of-care requirements • Developing a standard of achievement and certificate of completion, for use as a recognised industry standard and potential requirement for employment at sea • Overcoming jurisdictional inconsistencies and inadequacies in safety training • Developing fishery-specific modules for multiple fisheries, to complement onboard safety inductions • Extending SeSAFE training to seafood processors, fishery observers, and others • Establishing a secure funding base to ensure persistent, long-term delivery of SeSAFE training as well as a permanent hosting organisation, e.g. Seafood Industry Australia.
There is also a need to continue existing SeSAFE activities because:
• Many fishers and others are anticipating recurrent safety training • SeSAFE is one of the few sources of fishery-specific safety training, such as safe handling of fishing gear • It will leverage progress and momentum toward improved safety performance, which may otherwise be foregone • Several agencies, e.g. the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, are poised to use SeSAFE to provide safety training • SeSAFE training means individuals can avoid group training sessions and reduce the risk of Covid 19 infection.
SeSAFE training responds to Objective 3 of FRDC’s National RD&E Seafood Industry Safety Initiative Strategic Plan 2019/21, 'Increase uptake by industry of workplace safety and safety training programs and education tools', by serving the education component of the Strategic Plan.
Objectives: 1. INFORM, via an independent review, the design and application of user-pay funding models in Australian primary industries, the potential for a similar model to be introduced by SeSAFE in the fishing and aquaculture industry, and steps recommended to realise this outcome. 2. TRANSITION to a user-pays funding model to perpetuate the cost-effective delivery of SeSAFE training, based on the outcome of the independent review, and to Seafood Industry Australia or other party hosting the SeSAFE program at the conclusion of this project. 3. RETAIN delivery of SeSAFE training to existing users in the Australian fishing and aquaculture industry. 4. EXPAND the number of industry bodies, fishing and aquaculture companies, independent fishers and aquaculture workers, processors, observers, researchers, and others utilising SeSAFE training on a recurrent basis. 5. EXPAND the number of fishery-specific modules beyond those already developed for the ACPF, including completion of fishery-specific modules for the Western Rock Lobster Council and weather forecasting modules for the Bureau of Meteorology. 6. PROMOTE SeSAFE as the industry benchmark in pre-sea safety training to meet duty of care requirements. 7. INCENTIVISE the use of SeSAFE training, including through formal recognition of SeSAFE training by AMSA and others, certification, and potential rebate by insurance agencies. Read moreRead less
The Detection Of Ciguatera Toxins In NSW Spanish Mackerel
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$490,000.00
Summary
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) causes the largest number of seafood-related food safety incidents in Australia. In NSW and southern QLD waters, CFP is mostly related to Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson). Ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by marine microalgae (Gambierdiscus spp), are polyether toxins that accumulate in fish and cause CFP when fish are eaten. CTXs are heat stable, odourless, tasteless, and toxic at low concentrations, therefore it is very difficult to distinguish toxic fish. In ....Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) causes the largest number of seafood-related food safety incidents in Australia. In NSW and southern QLD waters, CFP is mostly related to Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson). Ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by marine microalgae (Gambierdiscus spp), are polyether toxins that accumulate in fish and cause CFP when fish are eaten. CTXs are heat stable, odourless, tasteless, and toxic at low concentrations, therefore it is very difficult to distinguish toxic fish. In NSW, since 2014, 31 people have contracted CFP after consuming Spanish Mackerel caught locally, mostly through recreational fishing.
Validated commercial monitoring methods for CTXs are unavailable internationally, although research tools for CTX measurement have been developed. Regulatory methods for CFP prevention are to avoid certain fish species, fish of certain sizes (ie >10kg), or fish from certain regions. In Australia, effective prevention methods have not been clearly evaluated. This results in Spanish Mackerel that are safe to eat potentially being excluded from sale, resulting in significant losses (ie > ~$200k p.a in NSW). This project addresses this issue, which was identified as high priority in the Australian ciguatera research strategy formulated at a recent workshop (27-28th March, 2019).
In 2014, FRDC (Tactical Response) and the NSW Recreational Fisheries Trust funded an initial study on the incidence of CTXs in NSW Spanish Mackerel. CTX was present in flesh and liver samples (1-7% incidence), and was not clearly correlated with the weight of individual fish. This information showed that CFP risk management may require reassessment. This project will advance knowledge by: evaluating methods of detection of CTXs; determining detailed predictive data on CTX incidence; and evaluating environmental and biological factors associated with CTX in Spanish Mackerel to allow for an evaluation of risk assessment strategies. This information will benefit industry by enhancing consumer safety and industry confidence, and enabling the sale of safe Spanish Mackerel.
Objectives: 1. Determine industry CTX needs and conduct of review of available CTX measurement tools (including cell based assays, ELISA kits, and LCMS) against these needs. Conduct an assessment of the currently available screening tools to determine which, if any, hold promise for industry use. Conduct a viability assessment for how a tool might be used in industry or, if none of the currently available tools are appropriate, make recommendations for future activities to develop a rapid screening tool that meets industry needs. 2. Obtain samples of flesh and liver from ~300 individual Spanish Mackerel of all sizes caught in Industry relevant regions of NSW waters over a period of 2 years, as well as length, weight, sex and site information, with the participation of the Sydney Fish Market and commercial fishing Cooperatives. Obtain samples from any individual Spanish Mackerel associated with illnesses in NSW or QLD. Measure CTX1B and other available CTX analogs using best practice methods identified in Objective 1. 3. Conduct statistical data analyses of all available data on CTX concentrations in Spanish Mackerel in comparison to biological and environmental variables.Develop recommended options for food safety risk management for Spanish Mackerel in NSW that will allow for a viable industry while protecting public health. Read moreRead less
Detecting Paralytic Shellfish Toxins In Oysters - Initial Assessment Of AquaBC Rapid Test Kit
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$29,845.00
Summary
Reliable detection of marine biotoxins is a critical requirement for any effective biotoxin monitoring program, requiring any analytical technique to be properly validated. The Neogen rapid test kit for the detection of paralytic shellfish toxin (PSTs) was successfully validated in both single lab and inter-lab validations for use in oysters, offering rapid (within 20 min) on farm results. The test was used in Tasmania to reduce business risk, (i.e. frequent testing of shellfish that can rapidly ....Reliable detection of marine biotoxins is a critical requirement for any effective biotoxin monitoring program, requiring any analytical technique to be properly validated. The Neogen rapid test kit for the detection of paralytic shellfish toxin (PSTs) was successfully validated in both single lab and inter-lab validations for use in oysters, offering rapid (within 20 min) on farm results. The test was used in Tasmania to reduce business risk, (i.e. frequent testing of shellfish that can rapidly accumulate PST within a week) and employed in South Australia for regulatory purposes (low frequency of PST detection in this region).
A key factor influencing the suitability of antibody based rapid test kits is the PST profile present in the sample to be analysed. The term PST profile describes the relative concentrations of different PST analogues that might be present in each seafood sample. These profiles differ between toxic algal species, different seafood species and their tissues. Not all PST analogues are equally detected by the antibodies of different test kits (quantified as the % cross-reactivity). These cross-reactivities are critical for ensuring reliable detection across different combinations of PST analogues that might be present in shellfish.
To determine if the AquaBC rapid test kit is suitable replacement for routine monitoring, a full validation for each seafood tissue matrix would normally be conducted to determine the probability of detection curve (probability of detection across a range of PST concentrations) for multiple PST profiles, ideally followed by an inter-laboratory validation (as was conducted for the Neogen test). However, a full validation study requires repeat testing of hundreds of samples and is therefore expensive. From our previous work with the Neogen test kit, we have identified some key performance indicators that would allow for a quick initial assessment of the new AquaBC test kit, using much reduced sample numbers. These small pilot trials would include testing the most commonly encountered PST profiles (i.e. which PST toxin analogues are present) and their relative concentrations (i.e. can we reliably detect the presence of PST at the regulatory level without obtaining too many positive results at PST levels below concern?). Rather than conducting a full validation, this project will provide an initial assessment of these parameters in regard to the PST profiles commonly encountered in TAS, SA and NSW. Should this assessment be positive, a full follow up validation may be recommended. Objectives: 1. Review & identify different PST profiles that may be encountered in TAS, SA and NSW oysters. 2. Challenge the AquaBC test kit against a range of different PST concentrations and profiles to provide an initial assessment of its suitability for detecting PST in Australian oyster tissues. Read moreRead less