Objectives: 1. Study the biology of the mud crab (Scylla serrata) and its fishery in Queensland, 2. Study the relative efficiency of various methods of fishing for crabs
SCRC: SCRC: AS-CRC PDRF Project - Quantitative Genetics Post Doctoral Research Scientist (Flinders University And SARDI Joint Appointment)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
This research will address all the background issues relating to the implementation of successful breeding programs for the species cultured by the end users investing in the CRC's Breeding for Profit theme (e.g. trait prioritisation, determination and allocation of resources, genetic parameter estimation, breeding program design, data management and analysis, etc.). The PDRF will be expected to play a significant role in developing the project applications for CST, ABFA and AAGA and be involve ....This research will address all the background issues relating to the implementation of successful breeding programs for the species cultured by the end users investing in the CRC's Breeding for Profit theme (e.g. trait prioritisation, determination and allocation of resources, genetic parameter estimation, breeding program design, data management and analysis, etc.). The PDRF will be expected to play a significant role in developing the project applications for CST, ABFA and AAGA and be involved in the development of strategic projects in the Theme as these develop and then be a lead scientist undertaking the designated research, in association with experts in aquaculture genetics and also from other disciplines (e.g. nutrition, aquatic animal health, larval rearing and systems design). The proposed project is likely to comprise a range of research activities focussed on the estimation of genetic parameters, the management of selection programs and the estimation of genetic gains. There will also be a range of complementary research activities addressing key constraints to optimisation of breeding programs.
The contributions of this PDRF will be directed at the CRC’s Program 1 – Value Chain Profitability, Outcome 1 – Increased profitability and industry value through efficient delivery of Australian seafood to the consumer; and Output 1.3 - removal or reduction of key production constraints in selected aquaculture systems. The focus in this area will be on milestones 1.3.1 (new genetic tools and/or appropriate breeding strategies developed for genetic management and improvement of at least two aquaculture species); 1.3.2 (genetic parameters estimated for key commercial traits; genetic improvement programs designed and implemented for at least two aquaculture species) and 1.3.5 (production efficiency gains from genetic, health management and nutritional interventions quantified to inform long-term strategies and estimate commercial benefits).Read moreRead less
SCRC: Seafood CRC: Review Of Available Software Tools That Can Be Used To Support Selective Breeding Programs In The Seafood CRC
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Some examples of useful software tools needed to support breeding programs in the CRC would be: •Models to simulate selective breeding programs and to determine economic weights of key traits and optimise the breeding program design accordingly. • Relational database systems for effective, reliable recording, storage and output of relational data (pedigree, phenotypes, genotypes etc.) • Pedigree analysis software or procedures • Genetic analysis software or procedures • Soft ....Some examples of useful software tools needed to support breeding programs in the CRC would be: •Models to simulate selective breeding programs and to determine economic weights of key traits and optimise the breeding program design accordingly. • Relational database systems for effective, reliable recording, storage and output of relational data (pedigree, phenotypes, genotypes etc.) • Pedigree analysis software or procedures • Genetic analysis software or procedures • Software that assists development of multiple trait selection indices incorporating economic weights for key target traits • Software that helps guide mate selection (including optimum contribution selection tools)
Each breeding program in the Seafood CRC will ultimately need to know: •What type of software do other established breeding programs (in aquaculture and other primary production) require and use? • What software is already available, from where and from who? What problems do the tools address and what do they enable? • Which software tools are applicable or easily adapted to aquaculture? • What level of adaptation would be required for the adoption of existing tools into aquaculture and what resources (skills) would this need? • Which tools could address common problems across different aquaculture sectors? • What level of skill is needed to operate the software? • Does the software have good documentation and do the developers offer support services? • Is the software freely available, available at a price, available to partners or maintained as a trade secret? • Might it be useful to link to other breeding companies or organizations (aquatic, livestock or forestry) to access existing tools or expertise for developing such tools? • Are there initiatives underway or being planned that aim to develop useful new software for aquaculture and might the CRC be able to link to such initiatives?Read moreRead less
Energy Use And Carbon Emissions Assessments In The Australian Fishing And Aquaculture Sectors: Audit, Self-assessment And Guidance Tools For Footprint Reduction
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$98,500.00
Summary
As identified in the EOI scope and from previous FRDC and other research, there are multiple needs for further information on energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Australian fisheries and aquaculture sectors (F&A). Firstly, at the top-level, a national account of these sector’s performance is necessary to provide a clear determination of the overall F&A contribution within the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Industry classification (AFF Industry) classification within Nationa ....As identified in the EOI scope and from previous FRDC and other research, there are multiple needs for further information on energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Australian fisheries and aquaculture sectors (F&A). Firstly, at the top-level, a national account of these sector’s performance is necessary to provide a clear determination of the overall F&A contribution within the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Industry classification (AFF Industry) classification within National Inventory Data. The AFF Industry is second largest emissions sector and there is a need to disaggregate the F&A sector from the broader agricultural data, and to also develop industry baselines against which further performance can be measured (and potentially benchmarked against other sectors). Second, there is a need for sub-sectors (specific managed fisheries or industry groups) as well as individual companies to be able measure, assess and then potentially manage their own energy use and emissions. Finally, once companies, subsectors and the F&A sectors have data, there is a need for education and tools to assist them to improve energy efficiency and profitability, lower emissions and related risks but also importantly how to create positive engagement with stakeholders, particularly customers becoming more discerning in product selection based on carbon footprint, to maintain competitiveness in consumer protein selection decision-making. Objectives: 1. Program 1: Establish energy use and GHG profile of Australian F&A sectors 2. Program 2: Develop and self-assessment tool for Australian F&A sectors energy efficiency and GHG 3. Program 3: Develop a toolbox and examples for emissions reduction opportunities in the fisheries & aquaculture sectors Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Improving Efficiency In Generating Submissions And Consistency Of Outcomes For MSC Based Assessments
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$63,939.00
Summary
The Government of WA, in collaboration with industry, has initiated an ambitious program to have all commercial fisheries in Western Australia undergo MSC certification. All commercial fisheries will undergo pre-assessment by the end of 2014. Any fishery that chooses to undergo full MSC assessment will have the initial certification costs funded which will begin in 2014. A number of issues have arisen during the establishment of this process that need to be addressed prior to the end of the pr ....The Government of WA, in collaboration with industry, has initiated an ambitious program to have all commercial fisheries in Western Australia undergo MSC certification. All commercial fisheries will undergo pre-assessment by the end of 2014. Any fishery that chooses to undergo full MSC assessment will have the initial certification costs funded which will begin in 2014. A number of issues have arisen during the establishment of this process that need to be addressed prior to the end of the pre-assessment process and especially before many fisheries move to full assessment.
Direct experience with MSC assessment process for the rock lobster fishery, plus reviews of the MSC process (MRAG, 2011) have shown that once initial ‘scores’ or opinions have been established for a fishery, these scores and opinions strongly dictate the outcome and the subsequent level of conditions established for the fishery to either gain or maintain certification. In going from pre to full assessments, the scores may go down, but almost never go up (MRAG, 2011). Lower scores that require undertaking activities to ‘close off’ conditions, especially for Principle 2 (ecological) criteria is where the costs of MSC certification can become prohibitive These costs can be significantly greater than the direct MSC assessment or audit costs; for rock lobster this has run into many $millions. It is essential, therefore, that the number of 'unecessary' conditions, particularly those requiring collection of more information (which is the most common condition applied, MRAG, 2011) are minimised to avoid unnecessary costs for industry and government.
An additional complexity is the Fishery Standard Review (FSR) currently being undertaken by MSC. This has proposed changes for P1 and P2 whcih could significantly alter how we approach MSC assessments and therefore need to directly test the impacts of these proposed changes. Objectives: 1. Increase the efficiency of generating submissions for MSC assessments. 2. Minimise the likelihood of unnecessary conditions being imposed during MSC assessments Read moreRead less
Assessing The Effectiveness Of LEDs, T90 Cod-end/grid Trawl Systems And Net Modifications For Reducing Bycatch And Improving Efficiency And Selectivity Of Catches In South Australian Prawn Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$965,454.00
Summary
There are three commercial Prawn fisheries in South Australia: Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (SGPF); Gulf St Vincent Prawn Fishery (GSVPF); and West Coast Prawn Fishery (WCPF). All exclusively target the Western King Prawn (Penaeus (Melicertus) latisulcatus). The SGPF is the largest in terms of total area (22,367 km2), production (latest 10-year mean: 1,853 t p.a.), and number of licence holders / vessels (39). The WCPF is the smallest of the prawn fisheries with three licences (68 t in 2021). Ther ....There are three commercial Prawn fisheries in South Australia: Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (SGPF); Gulf St Vincent Prawn Fishery (GSVPF); and West Coast Prawn Fishery (WCPF). All exclusively target the Western King Prawn (Penaeus (Melicertus) latisulcatus). The SGPF is the largest in terms of total area (22,367 km2), production (latest 10-year mean: 1,853 t p.a.), and number of licence holders / vessels (39). The WCPF is the smallest of the prawn fisheries with three licences (68 t in 2021). There are currently 10 commercial fishing licences issued for the GSVPF with production in 2021/22 at 138.5 t. Balmain Bugs (Ibacus spp.) and Southern Calamari (Sepioteuthis australis) may be retained as byproduct in each fishery.
There is ongoing interest in maintaining a program that assesses, refines and ultimately adopts bycatch mitigation strategies. Steps taken to reduce bycatch and / or discard mortalities in South Australia include avoidance (i.e. spatial and temporal closures and reduced trawl footprint), changes to on-board handling (i.e. ‘crab bag’, sorting grid, hopper with water flow-through system), and trialling and / or use of bycatch reduction devices (i.e. Nordmøre grid, Tom's fisheye, T90 cod-end / grid design modifications) and tools (i.e. LEDs). However, the benefits of some of these bycatch mitigation strategies are not fully understood (e.g. LEDs, Tom’s fisheye) and further development is needed to achieve optimum outcomes for the resource, industry, and the environment. There is a genuine interest from industry to assess catch efficiency and selectivity of different trawl systems (e.g. quad versus double rig) and net configurations (e.g changes to cod-end and trawl body) in GSVPF and LED configurations / colours in SGPF to determine impacts on prawn catch and bycatch.
Our study aims to 1) Assess the effectiveness of LEDs in reducing bycatch, while minimizing prawn loss, in the SGPF; 2) Test the effects of trawl systems (e.g. quad vs double rig) and net configurations (e.g. changes to cod-end and trawl body) on trawl efficiency and catch selectivity in the GSVPF; and 3) Build on existing cost-benefit analysis knowledge and tools (i.e. FRDC 2011-209 , FRDC 2011-750 and FRDC 2016-213) to quantify the economic / productivity outcomes of prawn trawl modifications.
This project directly addresses South Australian Prawn Fishery’s research needs (i.e. research plans proposed by the GSVPFMAC and SGPF RSC) and will showcase the potential for further bycatch mitigation to increase fishing yield, value, and profitability while reducing bycatch. Furthermore, the outputs can be extended through the Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries (ACPF) to other Australian prawn trawl fisheries that have similar needs to mitigate and monitor bycatch. Objectives: 1. Assess the effectiveness of LEDs in reducing bycatch, while minimizing prawn loss, in the SGPF 2. Test the effects of trawl systems (e.g. quad versus double rig) and net configurations (e.g. changes to the cod-end and trawl body) on trawl efficiency and catch selectivity in the GSVPF 3. Build on existing cost-benefit analysis knowledge and tools (i.e. FRDC 2011-209 , FRDC 2011-750 and FRDC 2016-213) to quantify the economic / productivity outcomes of prawn trawl gear modifications Read moreRead less
A Fishing Survey Of Flatfishes In Bass Strait Waters Adjacent To Tasmania
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Assess commercial viability of specialised trawling for flounder & sole in shallow inshore waters of Bass Strait adjacent to Tasmania 2. efficiency of vessel 11-16m for otter trawling; 3. provide data to compare earning capacity of similar vessels in specialised trlg & rock lobster fishery
Objectives: 1. Perfect a sighs of hooks & terminal tackle which will increase hook-up holding rates. 2. Devise suitable squid bait presentation. Investing effects of lightsticks on catch rate; catch rates around submarine canyons & sea mounts 3. Establish areas of aggregation
SCRC: Seafood CRC: Training Needs Analysis/learning Environment Analysis - Template, Pilot & Report
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The whole seafood industry in Australia is poorly qualified when it comes to industry training. The up-take of the SITP has been poor, despite the fact that the SITP is recognized around the world as a best practice Training Program. Much of the industry is a nil-entry level employer and clearly this puts the industry at a disadvantage in so many ways. The Seafood CRC will be addressing this through its Industry E&T and this is one project to get the ball rolling. The project is to develop a ....The whole seafood industry in Australia is poorly qualified when it comes to industry training. The up-take of the SITP has been poor, despite the fact that the SITP is recognized around the world as a best practice Training Program. Much of the industry is a nil-entry level employer and clearly this puts the industry at a disadvantage in so many ways. The Seafood CRC will be addressing this through its Industry E&T and this is one project to get the ball rolling. The project is to develop and test the processes for Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and/or Learning Environment Analysis (LEA) as part of the Seafood CRC’s Industry Education and Training (E&T) strategy.Read moreRead less