Development of a business plan for enhancement of saucer scallops in sub-tropical waters

Funded Activity Summary

The Victorian scallop industry has decline substantially and does not appear to be recovering. Scallops have traditionally been one of Victoria's largest fisheries and the ability to resurrect a failing native fishery offers obvious benefits. Victoria has not committed time or moneys to the development of reseeding but in light of the recently successful scallop trials in Victoria it is an area that MAFRI has shown some new interest. This economic feasibility study and the potential direction for research is now very relevant to Victoria Fisheries.

There is considerable industry interest in enhancing saucer scallop populations for subsequent harvest. The Western Australian government has granted exclusive use areas off the Western Australian coastline for two companies to undertake pilot enhancement work. Neither company has developed suitable hatchery technology to support their proposed operations. There has been long-standing industry interest in enhancement in Queensland, and pilot hatchery research on saucer scallops is underway at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre.

The Queensland trawl industry is facing restructuring and considerable reduction in the area in which it can fish. Profitability in the industry appears to be generally low (Taylor Moore, pers. com.). It is not difficult to forecast that environmental pressure groups will attempt to further curtail industry activities and reduce fishing effort in and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and that this will further impact on the industry's economic performance. At the same time, the trawl industry is a significant generator of employment and economic wealth in regional areas where unemployment levels are far higher than the national average. Any proposals that have realistic potential to improve social and economic welfare have obvious benefit to such communities, as well as to the national interests.

Those scallop enhancement operation that been successful are now making super-normal profits. The Japanese enhancement operations, for example, are giving returns in the order of 400% profit. While this figure does not adequately address or account for previous research and development expenditure, there is no doubt enhancement operations run properly, and supported by adequate investment and infrastructure can be financially profitable. At the same time, there are numerous examples of scallop enhancement and culture operations that have been financially unsuccessful. Operations such as those in Newfoundland, Scotland, and, to a lesser extent, in Tasmania, have failed to become long production sources of scallops. Developing feasibility studies and business plans seems to be the only way to determine whether it is worth while making the considerable investments in time and money needed for a successful enhancement or culture project.

Objectives:
1. Identifiy key operational procedures and potential operational and bio-technological bottlenecks associated with successful and unsuccessful scallop enhancement and culture operations. Document critical knowledge gaps for potential enhancement of saucer scallops.
2. Identify financial, social and biological risks associated with enhancement and culture of saucer scallops in sub tropical Australian waters and commercial scallops in southern waters.
3. Undertake a preliminary feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis for enhancement and culture of saucer scallops in subtropical Australian waters and commercial scallops in southern waters, based upon outcomes of Objective 1.
4. Develop business plans (operational procedures, financial framework and timetable) for conducting a financially viable and ecologically sustainable saucer scallop enhancement or culture program in sub tropical waters of Australia and / or for commercial scallops in southern waters.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 31-08-2000

End Date: 09-04-2003

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $70,448.00

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Biology | Business | Economic | Husbandry | Oceanography | Resource Enhancement | Wellbeing

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