SCRC: PhD: Reducing The Taint In Barramundi Farmed In Recirculating Freshwater Systems
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Inconsistent quality of farmed barramundi (pond or recirculation system) in the marketplace has been identified by ABFA as a major issue causing buyer resistance and negative market impacts. This is limiting realisation of full revenue return for farmed barramundi. The inconsistency in quality is mainly associated with the presence of ‘earthy’ or ’muddy’ taints derived from planktonic and benthic algae (particularly cyanobacteria), fungi and actinomycetes which are known to p ....Inconsistent quality of farmed barramundi (pond or recirculation system) in the marketplace has been identified by ABFA as a major issue causing buyer resistance and negative market impacts. This is limiting realisation of full revenue return for farmed barramundi. The inconsistency in quality is mainly associated with the presence of ‘earthy’ or ’muddy’ taints derived from planktonic and benthic algae (particularly cyanobacteria), fungi and actinomycetes which are known to produce geosmin (GSM) and 2-methyl isoborneol (MIB). These compounds impart muddy, earthy, musty odour, detectable by the human palate when present at extremely low concentrations in water and fish, and not favoured by consumers (Percival et al., 2008). This project aims to develop an algae-taint production model for recirculation systems. This innovative approach will provide clear and measurable direction for reducing taint compound levels through provision of a practical management tool. Its use will significantly improve knowledge of the balance between water quality, algicide use and purging time and conditions, and taint variability.Read moreRead less
The Manufacture Of Powdered Fish Collagen For Use As A Findings Agent By The Brewing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$7,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To investigate and source raw material (fish swim bladder) supplies 2. To determine a method for producing powdered fish collagen on a pilot commercial scale 3. To develop relevant tests to assure product quality 4. To undertake industry trials on quality assured pilot scale product 5. To determine the costs of full scale production
Seafood CRC: Loss Minimisation In Farmed Prawns Through Improvements In Storage Life And Colour
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$185,763.69
Summary
The prawn industry is being challenged to provide prawn product that maintains premium quality throughout an extended storage-life. Significant revenue loss for farmed prawns within the retail sector occurs through product not meeting market colour specification and also severe price reduction near the end of chilled storage life. The losses can be minimised by optimising on-farm production protocols to maintain a consistent colour in farmed prawns during frozen storage and by gaining additional ....The prawn industry is being challenged to provide prawn product that maintains premium quality throughout an extended storage-life. Significant revenue loss for farmed prawns within the retail sector occurs through product not meeting market colour specification and also severe price reduction near the end of chilled storage life. The losses can be minimised by optimising on-farm production protocols to maintain a consistent colour in farmed prawns during frozen storage and by gaining additional shelf-life of chilled cooked prawns throughout the supply chain.
The opportunity is to introduce a range of technologies, along with widely-adopted proven best practise, that maintains premium quality after cooking and freezing. The technologies will incorporate natural compounds with antimicrobial/antioxidant properties, synergistic packaging, glazing and thereby extend chilled storage-life of the prawn whilst maintaining optimal quality. By maximising astaxanthin level at harvest and reducing degradation during storage, consistent premium red-orange colour of prawns will be assured for the retail market.
This research addresses the Program 3: Improving Farmed Prawn Market Value priority of APFA’s Five Year R&D Plan for the Australian Prawn Farming Industry, 2007-2012. Program 3 seeks to achieve the objective of increasing the average price received for Australian farmed prawns to $16.50/kg.
Objectives: 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of natural extracts as preservation technologies for reducing microbial loads 2. Compare various packaging options which are available commercially and select the most appropriate for synergistic extension storage life and to develop ready-to-go concept products 3. Develop optimised on-farm processing protocols by combining the most suitable natural compounds and packaging to obtain premium quality prawns 4. Summarise current available information on world-wide best practice operations that maximise red colour in cooked prawns 5. Determine rate of astaxanthin loss during processing and frozen storage 6. Establish required astaxanthin level in harvested prawns to retain colour level (APFA 8+) through subsequent long-term frozen storage 7. Identify synergistic benefits of a combination of techniques, including live harvest holding (black tank) and optimal glazing methods on astaxanthin levels and colour retention 8. Extend and illustrate optimal protocols to the industry partners through on-farm trials Read moreRead less
Testing Fish Freshness With A GR International Fish Freshness Meter (Torrymeter)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Correlate Torrymeter readings and sensory evaluation scores on selected fish species, over a 15-day period, ; 2. to determine the rejection level for each of the species studied 3. document spoilage patterns by written and photographic records
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
Water Abstraction Impacts On Flow Dependent Fisheries Species Of The Northern Territory, Australia - A Synthesis Of Current Knowledge And Future Research Needs
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$101,740.68
Summary
The tropical waters of northern Australia contain unique and diverse aquatic species that are adapted to the seasonally variable climate. Many species rely on seasonal river flows to move, forage, reproduce and fulfil critical life history stages, particularly in ephemeral rivers which become disconnected in the dry season. River flows and harvest are known to influence both freshwater and marine fish and fisheries. However, river flows have been modified in several tropical catchments by water ....The tropical waters of northern Australia contain unique and diverse aquatic species that are adapted to the seasonally variable climate. Many species rely on seasonal river flows to move, forage, reproduce and fulfil critical life history stages, particularly in ephemeral rivers which become disconnected in the dry season. River flows and harvest are known to influence both freshwater and marine fish and fisheries. However, river flows have been modified in several tropical catchments by water abstraction and development of water storage infrastructure for agriculture and drinking water. Additionally, there is increasing pressure to develop new water resource infrastructure in northern Australia. A large and disparate body of literature exists that has documented the relationships between tropical fish species and the seasonal variations in river flow. Production of several commercially, recreationally, and traditionally important tropical aquatic species is linked to flow, suggesting that these may be at risk from the multiple pressures of water abstraction and harvesting, warranting the need for a synthesis of current knowledge on water abstraction impacts and identification of knowledge gaps for targeted future research.
We will address this priority task through the delivery of a stakeholder targeted synthesis of current knowledge on the impacts of water abstraction on tropical aquatic species by a team of recognised experts who have worked extensively on the flow dependence of tropical aquatic species in northern Australia. Through this synthesis, we aim to increase stakeholder understanding of water abstraction impacts on aquatic species.
Objectives: 1. Determine key directives for the synthesis during initial meeting in Darwin with the NT government research advisory committee 2. Review and synthesise relevant grey and published literature 3. Identify potential risks of surface water abstraction on priority fish species and identify critical knowledge gaps and future research needs 4. Share the outcomes with project stakeholders and provide research advice Read moreRead less
2010 FRDC Visiting Expert Bursaries - Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA): Water Quality Experts
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
As the seafood sustainability debate in Australia moves forward, the dialog is increasingly not just between industry and government, but also with a range of marine conservation-focused NGOs. Industry needs positive dialog with these groups to build up trust and ultimately cooperation on sustainability issues.
Fishers have often been blamed for much that is wrong with the marine environment. However fishers understand that fishing and conservation are natural bedfellows as their liv ....As the seafood sustainability debate in Australia moves forward, the dialog is increasingly not just between industry and government, but also with a range of marine conservation-focused NGOs. Industry needs positive dialog with these groups to build up trust and ultimately cooperation on sustainability issues.
Fishers have often been blamed for much that is wrong with the marine environment. However fishers understand that fishing and conservation are natural bedfellows as their livelihood depends on sustaining the ocean ecosystem and the resources within.
The seafood industry therefore needs to highlight the long-term benefit of balancing the need for conservation against the need for food and other services. In the UK there is a broad seafood industry perspective that fishers must be recognised as an essential part of building a sustainable future for the marine environment.
Phil, has been working in this field for the UK seafood industry for the past 20 years. Initially engaging with environmentalists when the rest of the industry thought it was 'crazy' to do so. He successfully managed to bridge the gap between conservationists, industry and government and for the last 10 years has run the UK's sustainable fishing advisory group, which brings together industry, conservationists and government membership.
It is felt that the seafood industry would greatly benefit and gain positive outcomes from the experience Phil has gained over the last 20 years. This is an opportunity to improve the communication, respect and cooperation between industry and conservationists that is so sorely needed. Objectives: 1. Disseminate to key industry and government stakeholders international advancements in water quality treatment technology as it relates to the prawn and barramundi farming industries. Read moreRead less