Activating lazy stormwater wetlands through real time monitoring & control. Constructed stormwater wetlands are the last line of defence preventing pollution of urban waterways, but wetlands often fail, with their passive operation unable to adapt to the highly variable climate and hydrology they experience. This project aims to use advances in real-time control technology to turn these lazy wetlands into active wetland systems, optimising their performance. It aims to deliver new-generation tec ....Activating lazy stormwater wetlands through real time monitoring & control. Constructed stormwater wetlands are the last line of defence preventing pollution of urban waterways, but wetlands often fail, with their passive operation unable to adapt to the highly variable climate and hydrology they experience. This project aims to use advances in real-time control technology to turn these lazy wetlands into active wetland systems, optimising their performance. It aims to deliver new-generation technologies to enhance water quality treatment, enhance urban water security and guarantee environmental flows to maintain healthy waterways. Working in partnership with waterway managers and water retailers, this project strives to deliver a nationally and globally relevant technology to change how we manage water in cities.Read moreRead less
Validation and monitoring of advanced oxidation for potable water reuse. This project aims to address an important limitation in the ability to monitor performance of advanced oxidation processes used to treat recycled water for drinking. The project will be conducted using a novel pilot system, designed to facilitate flexible operation and detailed monitoring. Through carefully designed experiments, observed operational parameters will be related to treatment performance for a range of contamin ....Validation and monitoring of advanced oxidation for potable water reuse. This project aims to address an important limitation in the ability to monitor performance of advanced oxidation processes used to treat recycled water for drinking. The project will be conducted using a novel pilot system, designed to facilitate flexible operation and detailed monitoring. Through carefully designed experiments, observed operational parameters will be related to treatment performance for a range of contaminants. An expected outcome is the development of a framework to provide validation of process performance relationships and ongoing performance monitoring for use by water utilities and regulatory agencies that oversee their operations. This highly practical framework for validation and performance monitoring of an advanced water treatment process should result in improved viability of water recycling projects, increased urban water supply security and enhanced protection of public health.Read moreRead less
Revolutionising water-quality monitoring in the information age. In today’s information age, automated low-cost sensors distributed in the environment have the potential to revolutionise the way we monitor and manage air, water and soil. This project aims to develop novel statistical methods to detect anomalies in the data generated from these in-situ sensors with computationally efficient modelling on river networks through space and time, with the applied goals of automating anomaly detection ....Revolutionising water-quality monitoring in the information age. In today’s information age, automated low-cost sensors distributed in the environment have the potential to revolutionise the way we monitor and manage air, water and soil. This project aims to develop novel statistical methods to detect anomalies in the data generated from these in-situ sensors with computationally efficient modelling on river networks through space and time, with the applied goals of automating anomaly detection in water-quality data and generating predictions of sediment and nutrient concentrations throughout river networks in near-real time. This will represent a fundamental increase in scientific knowledge, which will be immediately useful in the domains of aquatic science, environmental monitoring, and statistics.Read moreRead less
Quantifying And Reducing The Burden Of New And Emerging Psychoactive Substances In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
The public health threat posed by emerging drugs of concern (e.g., new psychoactive substances (NPS) and crystalline methamphetamine) requires timely and effective public health interventions. This research program will strengthen estimates of the global NPS health burden, enhance the surveillance of unwitting drug consumption, and develop and evaluate novel harm reduction responses. Findings will inform policy and health service delivery, both globally and within Australia.
The Role Of Preconception And Perinatal Substance Use And Misuse In Childhood Social, Emotional And Behavioural Problems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
This project will use perinatal and preconception data from three long-running Australian studies that have tracked the health and wellbeing of several thousand participants prior to parenthood. The aim is to understand how parental histories of substance use, and patterns of use during pregnancy, and in early life, shape offspring social, emotional and behavioural outcomes across childhood. Results will inform new approaches to preventing substance-related harms within and across generations.
Portable and field-deployable analytical platforms for water monitoring. This project sets out to tackle one of the costliest and most challenging environmental problems, namely, nutrient pollution in water systems. At present, nutrient pollutant monitoring is predominantly carried out using an antiquated manual approach with numerous shortcomings, inadequate to achieve truly effective water quality management. The in-situ analyser developed and deployed within this project will provide continuo ....Portable and field-deployable analytical platforms for water monitoring. This project sets out to tackle one of the costliest and most challenging environmental problems, namely, nutrient pollution in water systems. At present, nutrient pollutant monitoring is predominantly carried out using an antiquated manual approach with numerous shortcomings, inadequate to achieve truly effective water quality management. The in-situ analyser developed and deployed within this project will provide continuous real-time observations and will allow users to remotely monitor water quality; alerting them to pollutant levels, enabling immediate action to be taken to prevent environmental damage. The system is low-cost, facilitating mass adoption, yet delivers an analytical performance comparable to leading laboratory analysers. Read moreRead less
Understanding Drivers Of Jellyfish Blooms In The Hawkesbury Estuary
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$196,722.00
Summary
Jellyfish blooms disrupt commercial fisheries around the world and blooms are increasing in frequency and magnitude in some regions (Condon, Pitt et al. 2013). Although the causes of jellyfish blooms are debated, they are frequently linked to anthropogenic pressures, including eutrophication, expansion of coastal infrastructure, and climate change (Pitt et al. 2018). The current jellyfish bloom in the Hawkesbury estuary is more extensive, persistent, and disruptive than previous blooms and .... Jellyfish blooms disrupt commercial fisheries around the world and blooms are increasing in frequency and magnitude in some regions (Condon, Pitt et al. 2013). Although the causes of jellyfish blooms are debated, they are frequently linked to anthropogenic pressures, including eutrophication, expansion of coastal infrastructure, and climate change (Pitt et al. 2018). The current jellyfish bloom in the Hawkesbury estuary is more extensive, persistent, and disruptive than previous blooms and may represent a long-term and sustained change to fishing conditions in the estuary. Some fishers have said they will leave the industry if blooms persist, hence this project is needed to reduce interactions between jellyfish and commercial net fishers and ensure the on-going viability of commercial net fisheries in the Hawkesbury.
The project specifically addresses the FRDC priority call for "Understanding the drivers of jellyfish blooms in the Hawkesbury". We will review the scientific literature and analyse existing data sets on water quality and jellyfish to identify probable environmental drivers of jellyfish blooms in the Hawkesbury estuary, which will enable estuary managers to prioritise which environmental conditions to manage to reduce jellyfish blooms. We will search for novel technical solutions (such as modifying fishing times or locations) that could reduce by-catch of jellyfish, assess potential ways to actively manage jellyfish (through their extraction or biological control), and co-design a long-term jellyfish monitoring program based on world best-practice with estuary managers and fishers to initiate the long-term collection of jellyfish data by stakeholders, which is essential for understanding jellyfish population dynamics and developing predictive models for jellyfish.
The drivers of jellyfish blooms in the Hawkesbury estuary may be linked to recent major floods. Floods are predicted to become more extreme and frequent under climate change. Hence our proposal aligns with FRDC's strategic investment opportunity for improving resilience of fishing in a changing climate. By providing information critical for managing jellyfish populations, our project also meets FRDC's F&D Plan Outcome 1 to "expand environmental management to cover areas other than stock status of target species". Through recruitment, mentoring and career development of a research fellow, our project builds capacity and capability of Australia's fisheries research and development sector (FRDC Enabling strategy IV).
Objectives: 1. Review the environmental drivers of jellyfish blooms, methods used by commercial fishers to manage interactions with jellyfish and methods that could be used to control jellyfish populations. 2. Collate and analyse existing data sets on water quality and jellyfish to identify potential drivers of jellyfish populations 3. Review jellyfish monitoring programs and co-design with stakeholders a fit-for-purpose and on-going jellyfish monitoring program for the Hawkesbury estuary 4. Engage stakeholders to locate relevant data sets and disseminate findings to end-users and beneficiaries Read moreRead less
Development Of Technical And Extension Material To Support Murray Cod Aquaculture Industry Expansion In Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The 5 July 2017 meeting of representatives from the various States involved in the Murray Cod industry agreed to three key R&D priorities to support expansion of the Murray Cod industry in Australia. They included:
1. Development of a farm management plan/manual to: provide advice on optimising production systems and water quality; review and update of existing Murray Cod culture guidelines using recent relevant publications and input from commercial operators; and identify any informa ....The 5 July 2017 meeting of representatives from the various States involved in the Murray Cod industry agreed to three key R&D priorities to support expansion of the Murray Cod industry in Australia. They included:
1. Development of a farm management plan/manual to: provide advice on optimising production systems and water quality; review and update of existing Murray Cod culture guidelines using recent relevant publications and input from commercial operators; and identify any information gaps 2. Off Flavour. Review of recent publications/work from other sectors (eg Barramundi) to prevent off flavor in Murray Cod. Murray Cod quality product assurance; and 3. Fish health and treatment (parasites, bacterial infection, Lurnea, Chilodonella, ratty tail). Review and update information on treatment options (chronic/prophylactic) for Murray Cod. Murray Cod health management strategy
This project proposal aims to address these high R&D industry priorities by developing a range of technical and extension material.
The Murray Cod industry is developing rapidly in Australia increasing from 250t 2014/15 to over 500t 2016/17. Industry forecast several thousand tonnes production by 2020 with many new farms seeking approval and new franchise business models moving forward. To capitalise on this expansion, there is a pressing need to improve extension resources.
Objectives: 1. Development of best practice production guidelines for Murray Cod aquaculture, to be used nationally 2. Extension to industry, and new investors, of the best practice production guidelines Read moreRead less
Post Harvest Application Of Electro-stunning In A Commercial Setting, Sustainable Packaging Development And New Product Development To Increase Sustainability Of Australian Farmed Barramundi
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$418,818.00
Summary
Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC. Objectives: Commercial in confidence
Development Of Molecular Detection Methods For Myxosporean Parasites Infecting Yellowtail Kingfish And Mahi Mahi
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$393,002.00
Summary
Soft flesh due to infection with myxosporean parasites irreversibly reduces the quality and market value of fish. Due to the delayed onset of the condition, infected fish can reach the consumer before soft flesh is detected, causing wastage, economic losses to affected fishers, and loss of consumer confidence.
Rapid onsite detection of myxosporean infection is vital to maximise value of landed fish, minimise environmental impacts associated with animal protein wastage, and increase prod ....Soft flesh due to infection with myxosporean parasites irreversibly reduces the quality and market value of fish. Due to the delayed onset of the condition, infected fish can reach the consumer before soft flesh is detected, causing wastage, economic losses to affected fishers, and loss of consumer confidence.
Rapid onsite detection of myxosporean infection is vital to maximise value of landed fish, minimise environmental impacts associated with animal protein wastage, and increase productivity for NSW commercial fishers, NSW fishers cooperatives and relevant fish markets.
This project focuses on outcome 2 of FRDC’s R&D plan – best practices and production systems. Fast and accurate detection of pathogens help industry identify risks faster and make informed decisions to refine and optimise best practices and production systems. There will be several benefits and impacts on society, environment, and the economy, including:
Society - fisheries productivity affects livelihoods of people working in the industry and its associated sectors - healthy and sustainable food resources Environment - reduce wastage Economic - increasing productivity through higher yields and higher market value - enhancing food/protein production improves food security and creates more employment opportunities Objectives: 1. To develop and evaluate PCR-based diagnostic tools for quantitative detection of myxosporeans in Mahi Mahi and Yellowtail Kingfish 2. To develop and evaluate in situ diagnostic tools for quantitative detection of myxosporeans in Mahi Mahi and Yellowtail Kingfish Read moreRead less