Protecting Critical Transport Infrastructure using Hybrid Approaches for Interference and Spoofer Detection and Localisation. Modern infrastructure increasingly relies on the positioning and timing capabilities provided by the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). GNSS signals, however, are vulnerable to interference and spoofing attacks. This vulnerability is aggravated as satellite navigation becomes more central to the operation of airports, ports, railways, and communications systems. ....Protecting Critical Transport Infrastructure using Hybrid Approaches for Interference and Spoofer Detection and Localisation. Modern infrastructure increasingly relies on the positioning and timing capabilities provided by the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). GNSS signals, however, are vulnerable to interference and spoofing attacks. This vulnerability is aggravated as satellite navigation becomes more central to the operation of airports, ports, railways, and communications systems. Building on from earlier work by University of New South Wales, University of Adelaide and GPSat Systems, this project aims to create a system for locating interference and spoofers to GNSS of any power in real time, providing layered monitoring and reactive mitigation solutions against interference and spoofing attacks.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
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
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
Identification And Management Of Potential Food Safety Issues In Aquaculture-produced Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$80,761.00
Summary
Priorities for future industry research programs need to be developed to demonstrate food safety requirements are being met.
As part of the YTKF development, food safety is identified as a high priority in the Yellowtail Kingfish Aquaculture Strategic Research and Development Plan 2003-2008. Specific food safety issues for the Industry to address to support its sustainable development include: - Longer feeding cycles for Yellowtail Kingfish. - Multiple market weights for Yellowt ....Priorities for future industry research programs need to be developed to demonstrate food safety requirements are being met.
As part of the YTKF development, food safety is identified as a high priority in the Yellowtail Kingfish Aquaculture Strategic Research and Development Plan 2003-2008. Specific food safety issues for the Industry to address to support its sustainable development include: - Longer feeding cycles for Yellowtail Kingfish. - Multiple market weights for Yellowtail Kingfish. - Multiple markets for Yellowtail Kingfish, hence multiple residue standards. - Multiple and mixed origins of feed components for Yellowtail Kingfish aquafeeds.
At the 35th session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants being held in March in Tanzania the issue of setting of Maximum Limits (MLs) for farmed fish and aquafeeds is being discussed. Many of the YTKF markets are Codex Alimentarius Member Nations. At this meeting data will be presented on dioxin levels in fish meal/oil, binders, anti-caking agents, anticoagulants, trace elements, macro minerals and pre-mixes.
The EU has set a Maximum Level (NL) for dioxin in muscle meat of fish and fishery products and products at 4 pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g fresh weight. On or before 2006 this ML for dioxin will be reduced significantly, and may be converted to a fat weight basis ML in line with all other EU commodity MLs that have been set for dioxin.
For manufactured aquafeeds the EU has set a dioxin ML of 2.25 ng WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ//kg (relative to a moisture content of 12%), under Council Directive 2001/102/EC. Currently levels in South American sourced products are one tenth of those levels found in European sourced products.
Codex have stressed the importance of examining the transfer and retention of individual dioxin congeners from feed to food producing animals (ie fish) not total dioxin alone. Stochastic Monte Carlo predictive modelling options could be considered to address this.
Japan and Australia have adopted dioxin standards based on dietary modelling, setting a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for the whole diet.
FSANZ is currently undertaking a dioxin survey of Australian foods including seafood.
Environment Australia as part of the National Dioxins Program, in conjunction with the National Residue Survey is undertaking a national survey of dioxin levels in a variety of foods, native animals, plants and aquatic biota.
Under European Union Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 "Setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs", a Maximum Level (ML) for lead in muscle tissue of fish of 0.2 mg/kg is in force.
Codex Alimentarius is considering reducing the Maximum Limit (ML) for lead (Pb) from 0.5 mg/kg to 0.2 mg/kg in fish muscle tissue.
Under EU Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 "Setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs", a ML has been set for cadmium in fish. Australia does not have a ML for cadmium in fish under the FSANZ Food Code.
The US Congress is currently considering reducing the ML for mercury in fish.
Singapore's Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority administers the "Sale of Food Act" & "Food Regulations" which govern residue MLs for trade. Objectives: 1. Determine risk factors for food safety hazard levels in Yellowtail Kingfish. 2. Define market requirements and identify minimum criteria (levels of detection etc) to direct testing. 3. Define priorities for development of a product integrity program. 4. Provide food safety risk management options for industry. 5. Define any food safety R&D priorities. Read moreRead less
SCRC: Seafood CRC Research Travel Grant: Attendance At The Marine And Freshwater Toxins, Third Joint Symposium And The Association Of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) Task Force Meeting Andparticipation In The International Training Workshop On Chemical Based Methods (LCMS/ MSMethods) For Detecting Diarrheic And Other Lipophillic Toxins, Tacoma, Washington USA
Next-generation ocean current forecasting to improve maritime safety . This project aims to measure upper ocean currents at scales of 10-100 km in Australia's marine estate using pioneering satellite radar technology. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will map currents at 10 times the resolution of present-day satellites and revolutionise our understanding of ocean dynamics. Expected outcomes include validation of SWOT data in Australian waters and merging this data into Bure ....Next-generation ocean current forecasting to improve maritime safety . This project aims to measure upper ocean currents at scales of 10-100 km in Australia's marine estate using pioneering satellite radar technology. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will map currents at 10 times the resolution of present-day satellites and revolutionise our understanding of ocean dynamics. Expected outcomes include validation of SWOT data in Australian waters and merging this data into Bureau of Meteorology ocean models. Downstream benefits include improved ocean forecasts for maritime safety, search-and-rescue, spill modelling, and marine conservation. At the same time, the project will build sovereign capability in emerging remote sensing technology with a legacy beyond the life of the SWOT mission.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