Establishment Of The Seafood Services Australia Stage 1 - Seafood Quality Management And Seafood Safety (SeaQual Australia)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,519,007.62
Summary
Like many of Australia's primary industries the seafood industry needs to adjust constantly to changing consumer preferences and expectations and changing market conditions. The seafood industry also has to contend with changes in the availability of the resource.
Industry and governments throughout Australia recognise the need to support the continued growth of an internationally competitive sustainable seafood industry in Australia. This need has resulted in a significant increase ....Like many of Australia's primary industries the seafood industry needs to adjust constantly to changing consumer preferences and expectations and changing market conditions. The seafood industry also has to contend with changes in the availability of the resource.
Industry and governments throughout Australia recognise the need to support the continued growth of an internationally competitive sustainable seafood industry in Australia. This need has resulted in a significant increase in the pace and scope of regulatory reform and policy changes (environmental management, food safety, occupational health and safety, training, marketing etc). Thus the operating environment is in a state of constant change as it moves towards one of increased industry self regulation and responsibility.
There are significant challenges in achieving sustainable industry development - one of the most pressing is the need to drive a cultural change which results in an industry following world's best practice in management and operations ensuring that there is maximum return for the resource.
Consumers and therefore governments are increasingly demanding assurance that the food they eat is safe. Regulatory reform in this area is being driven by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority in the development and implementation of the proposed National Food Safety Code. Victoria has already passed their legislation and other States have drafted legislation ready for consideration by their governments.
The international trade environment is also changing rapidly with increased scope for implementation of non tariff barriers to exports - typically relating to food quality and environmental management. The economic crisis in Asia has already negatively affected the levels of Australian seafood exports, a trend which is expected to continue unless there is an increased focus on identifying and meeting the needs of the marketplace.
Developing seafood industry standards (accepted nationally and internationally) incorporating food safety, quality and environmental management elements provides a significant opportunity to ensure change occurs to meet these challenges.
With the operating environment changing so rapidly there is an increasing need for the development and adoption of seafood industry standards (accepted nationally and internationally) incorporating food safety, quality and environmental management elements. The standards development process provides a significant opportunity to ensure that the cultural change required to achieve the vision for the industry will occur.
The capabilities that are proposed to be brought under an "Australian Seafood Centre" (ASC) would provide the impetus to develop and manage the adoption of such standards and would provide coordinated products and services to all stakeholders.. With many industry development initiatives existing at State and National level there are significant opportunities for achieving a bigger and faster impact through better networking and integration. The ASC would provide a focus for post harvest initiatives, creating critical mass for achieving significant outcomes to benefit all stakeholders (government and industry).
The recently released SeaQual strategic plan "The Seafood industry's Strategic Plan for Achieving Seafood Excellence" identifies five key goals and a number of strategies for achieving them. The plan identifies the roles and responsibilities of industry and government stakeholders and recognises that success will depend on commitment from all stakeholders including the allocation of appropriate resources.
At the recent workshop held in Queensland, all States identified the need for work to be done in relation to seafood safety and quality, particularly in the development of agreed and accredited industry guidelines and in the eventual development of agreed industry standards. It was agreed that SeaQual Australia could provide immediate benefits to all States by providing key linkages with agencies with responsibility for food regulation and by networking the State based SeaQual operations.
The proposed development of an “Australian Seafood Centre” initially with seafood safety and quality management capabilities – SeaQual Australia is a major and complex project which will need both a strategic and an operational focus. It will meet the need to manage and review the implementation of the Strategic Plan while achieving the synergies and consequent cost efficiencies through the provision of a “single window” to the seafood industry on food safety and quality issues. It will ultimately do the same for all post harvest activities. Objectives: 1. Establish SeaQual Australia (SeaQual Mark 2) and State SeaQuals in each State and the Northern Territory 2. Implement the Seafood Industry's Strategic Plan for Achieving Seafood Excellence" (SISPASE) with a high priority on Food Safety and Quality Management 3. Establish the Australian Seafood Centre: delivery of cost effective, competitively priced seafood post harvest services through the integration of new and existing services (including SeaQual Australia) under one centre Read moreRead less
South East Fishery Industry Development Subprogram: Facilitation, Administration And Promotion
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$50,000.00
Summary
To achieve the complementary outcomes of sustainability and economic benefits to the stakeholders in the SEF, a whole of chain approach to R&D is required (which is in accordance with government direction on R&D planning). Current practice focuses on the biology and fishery management which has precluded more innovative ways of adding value. Following a workshop held in November 1999 (Canberra) a recommendation was made that FRDC develop a subprogram to support the industry development compone ....To achieve the complementary outcomes of sustainability and economic benefits to the stakeholders in the SEF, a whole of chain approach to R&D is required (which is in accordance with government direction on R&D planning). Current practice focuses on the biology and fishery management which has precluded more innovative ways of adding value. Following a workshop held in November 1999 (Canberra) a recommendation was made that FRDC develop a subprogram to support the industry development component of R&D for the SEF. This application will develop the subprogram over the next year and produce a Strategic Plan that incorporates a whole of chain approach. Objectives: 1. Coordinate the FRDC SEF subprogram (applications, workshops, communication) 2. Conduct an annual research workshop to present research outcomes from the subprogram and to define research objectives for subsequent years. 3. Facilitate travel of industry representatives and the subprogram leader to biannual steering committee meetings. 4. Coordinate the preparation of as subprogram newsletter, media releases, and workshop publications. 5. Integrate with other FRDC and externally funded SEF projects to ensure maximum leverage of industry funds and avoid duplication. Read moreRead less
SCRC: ASCRC Sponsorship: 9th International Conference On Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS), Sydney, 2013 And Industry Master Classes
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (ASQAAC)* saw and supported the need to host the international premier shellfish safety event, ICMSS, in Australia. ASQAAC aim to deliver a ‘cutting edge’ programme focussed on shellfish safety and related disciplines and encourages participation from a broad range of national and international experts and students. ICMSS is the principal shellfish safety event worldwide for industry, government regulators and researchers to share kno ....The Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (ASQAAC)* saw and supported the need to host the international premier shellfish safety event, ICMSS, in Australia. ASQAAC aim to deliver a ‘cutting edge’ programme focussed on shellfish safety and related disciplines and encourages participation from a broad range of national and international experts and students. ICMSS is the principal shellfish safety event worldwide for industry, government regulators and researchers to share knowledge and experience on shellfish safety issues. ASQAAC won a bid in June 2009 at ICMSS, France 2009 to return the 9th ICMSS Conference to Sydney, Australia where it was initiated in 1994.
ASQAAC's aim is not to profiteer from hosting the conference but to include as many international experts, local industry and students as possible with the aim of; • Limiting the health risks associated with microbiological, marine biotoxin and other chemical contamination of shellfish; • Improvement of effective and efficient management procedures and detection tools to prevent and/or monitor shellfish contamination; and • Promotion of international harmonisation of shellfish safety standards and regulations.
From a global perspective Australia has an admirably healthy marine environment with respect to potential seafood safety risks, this has resulted in ‘high quality safe-to-eat’ shellfish. The relatively low shellfish safety risk in Australia has promoted the uptake of risk-based shellfish safety management practices, pragmatic regulation and innovative approaches.
Hosting the ICMSS provides a unique opportunity to showcase Australia's point of difference, particularly in discussions of international program harmonisation, and promote the Australian shellfish safety sector as well as the Australian seafood industry in general.
* ASQAAC is a collaborative tripartite relationship between regulators, industry and researchers and is a national forum to identify and solve emerging food safety challenges and promote national consistency.Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Sample up to 1000 sharks of various spp for total mercury content; determine alkyl mercury levels in approximately 150. 2. Examine effects of sex, length, locality on levels. What implications for future of this shark fishery? 3. Sample up to 200 sharks for selenium content
Seafood CRC: Dried WA Seafood Products For The Asian Market: A Pilot Study
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$53,044.80
Summary
There is a demand for dried seafood product for the Asian market. Development of such a suite of products would increase the market opportunities available to WA seafood producers, expand the types of seafood that can be produced in a commercially viable manner and counteract the challenges of distance by extending shelf-life. Regional development opportunities for seafood processing capability may also be realized. Objectives: 1. Assess the technical viability of producing ....There is a demand for dried seafood product for the Asian market. Development of such a suite of products would increase the market opportunities available to WA seafood producers, expand the types of seafood that can be produced in a commercially viable manner and counteract the challenges of distance by extending shelf-life. Regional development opportunities for seafood processing capability may also be realized. Objectives: 1. Assess the technical viability of producing dried seafood products from a variety of WA seafood products. 2. Establish quality assured processes to produce market ready dried WA seafood products. Read moreRead less
A FRDC funded University Sydney/EMAI project investigating the biological behaviour (epidemiology) of POMS has identified an additional need that falls outside its original project aims.
The recent incidence and subsequent loss of the industry in the Hawkesbury River, NSW also devastated test stock placed in the water by ASI. The industry must invest in all options to safeguard national production; breeding resistant oysters and alternate husbandry. The objective of this project is ....A FRDC funded University Sydney/EMAI project investigating the biological behaviour (epidemiology) of POMS has identified an additional need that falls outside its original project aims.
The recent incidence and subsequent loss of the industry in the Hawkesbury River, NSW also devastated test stock placed in the water by ASI. The industry must invest in all options to safeguard national production; breeding resistant oysters and alternate husbandry. The objective of this project is to provide scientific evidence that water treatments can be applied to enable safe rearing of spat in holding tanks in a POMS affected area until the window of infection closes. There is evidence to suggest that a similar approach is used in the French oyster industry to cope with POMS.
The project objective is to treat water in land-based tanks holding spat to interrupt putative transmission mechanisms. If successful, this can be used by hatcheries to hold stock in safe rearing conditions adjacent to a potentially infected estuary until the window of infection closes, and then they will be stocked out into the estuary. This is of use for growers with leases in infected waters who require a method for rearing/conditioning hatchery spat on-shore from the time of receipt until it is safe to put them in the estuary. If POMS spreads to affected waters near hatcheries in Tasmania, they will also require a solution for safe spat production. Objectives: 1. Confirmation of the efficacy of water treatments for maintaining viable spat during a POMS transmission season in an infected environment 2. Information to benefit commercial hatcheries to enable production of spat from eggs through highly susceptible larval stages, in the face of POMS 3. Information to benefit growers who receive spat from hatcheries during a POMS transmission season 4. Information which can be integrated with husbandry (growing height modifications) to reduce mortalities in adult oysters and enable production of C. gigas in the face of POMS 5. Information which can be used to plan trials on how spat might be grown to a specific size (as distinct from just maintained) during a POMS transmission season in an infected environment Read moreRead less
Investigation Of Mercury And Other Heavy Metal Contamination Of Shark And Other Commercial Marine Fish
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Determine levels of mercury and other heavy metals in samples of the edible flesh of the commercial shark species of SE Australia. 2. Correlate mercury levels with certain biological parameters in school & gummy sharks
Reducing The Impact Of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins On Australian Shellfish Industries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$135,400.00
Summary
The Problem: There are regular and sometimes prolonged closures of commercial shellfish harvesting, and more recently rock lobster wild harvest fisheries, in south eastern and eastern Tasmanian growing areas due to elevated paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) levels. This project aims to reduce the impact of PSTs on the Australian shellfish industry without compromising the safety of shellfish consumers or the integrity of the Tasmanian shellfish brand.
Tasmanian seafood species affected ....The Problem: There are regular and sometimes prolonged closures of commercial shellfish harvesting, and more recently rock lobster wild harvest fisheries, in south eastern and eastern Tasmanian growing areas due to elevated paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) levels. This project aims to reduce the impact of PSTs on the Australian shellfish industry without compromising the safety of shellfish consumers or the integrity of the Tasmanian shellfish brand.
Tasmanian seafood species affected by PSTs are varied and currently generate significant revenue for the state (see Appendix2). PSTs are a group of neurotoxins produced by some marine microalgae that accumulate in shellfish through normal filter feeding. They have potentially severe impacts on humans if PST-contaminated seafood is consumed. There are more than 30 known congeners with saxitoxin (STX) believed to be the most potent analogue and the C-toxins among the least (see Appendix3).
A PST limit of 0.8 mg/kg of saxitoxin equivalents in shellfish has been established and this has traditionally been enforced internationally using an outdated mouse bioassay (1). Analytical test methods based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been developed to accurately quantify levels of each PST congener (2, 3). These new tests are used for regulatory monitoring, including in Australia, through application of toxic equivalence factors (TEFs) (4). However, the TEFs used internationally are still based upon mouse bioassay data. More appropriate TEFs that are based on acute oral toxicity data are needed as these will give a more valid determination of shellfish toxicity.
Gymnodinium catenatum was introduced into Tasmanian coastal waters in the 1980s. It is a known PST-producer with a toxin profile dominated by low toxicity C-toxins, mainly C3 and C4 (see Appendix4). Although the MBA-derived TEFs for C-toxins are relatively low (5), the levels observed in Tasmanian shellfish still ensure the regulatory limit is often exceeded.
Objectives: 1. Generate a sufficient quantity of starting material that contains C3,4 from contaminated shellfish or a suitable algal species. 2. Isolate sufficiently characterised C3,4 material to enable acute oral toxicity studies to be completed. 3. Determine the acute oral toxicity of the purified C3,4 material using OECD Test Guideline 425 and based on this data derive a new TEF to be used for regulatory testing. Read moreRead less