To maximize gains from the breeding programs they need to cross best performing stock. Where the stock is located in different States, there is a need to move the animals across state borders - preferably as animal or seed, but the ability to move gametes or larvae would be viewed as significant progress towards achieving the objectives of the program. The project leaders are also requesting that the business of selling genetically enhanced stock not be restricted to customers within state borders as this limit would make the program economically unviable.
This need for national translocation policies is becoming urgent with the steady but unpublicized increase in the number of aquatic animal hatcheries across Australia. To make the hatcheries viable, sales across jurisdictions in some industries are essential in some industries. Considering all aquatic animal species, not just abalone, Western Australia alone has in excess of seventeen aquaculture production hatcheries (as at August 2003) and this pattern is similar in other jurisdictions.
Final report
The use of scientifically based hazard identification, risk analysis and risk management is fundamental to managing unwanted effects. Hazards, such as quarantine incursions, will continue to occur despite the use of risk assessment methodologies but the frequency and severity of their occurrence will be reduced.
This was recognised by the Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture in 1999 when they published the “National policy for the translocation of live aquatic organisms”.
This FRDC project provides a simple risk assessment methodology based on the Australian Standard for Risk Management (AS/NZS 4360: 2004) and one that is consistent with the Ministerial Council policies. It was trialled in a workshop situation involving stakeholders to derive scores for likelihood and consequences associated with identified hazards. From these scores a risk rating can be obtained that will indicate whether risk management measures need be applied. At the workshop a number of management measures were suggested for reducing risks associated with abalone and prawn translocations and these are documented. However, the application of management measures is an issue for individual jurisdictions who assess the risk in terms of their own acceptable level of risk and then adopt appropriate management measures. For example, the risks associated with translocation of trout in Tasmania have far greater consequences to that state than the same risks would in Western Australia.
Overall, and for both abalone and prawns, the known risks associated with translocation of selected lines of juvenile stock bred in high health hatcheries and of known disease status, to onshore grow out facilities should prove to be manageable in terms of risk. Examples of translocation management measures adopted in Western Australia and Queensland are provided as appendices. Translocation of animals of known disease status into open water or semi-open water culture situations is more problematic and is likely to be influenced by genetic issues as well as disease issues.
The risk assessment methodology used is readily adaptable to other species and to risks associated with the environment or genetic issues, though, with the exception of fouling organisms on abalone, these were not specifically addressed during the workshop.
Domestic trade is governed by the Commonwealth Government’s Mutual Recognition Act 1992 and complementary legislation. This ensures that consistency with World Trade Organisation and sanitary and phytosanitary principles extends to trade between States and Territories. It is probable that States and Territories will adopt differing entry requirements due to differing assessments of risk based on individual assessments of likelihood and consequence, and variations between acceptable levels of risk between jurisdictions. However, the measures adopted and the reasons for their adoption must be documented and they must be science based.
Keywords: Abalone, aquaculture, prawns, shrimp, translocation, risk assessment.
