Industry

Aquaculture nutrition research is a fundamental component in the establishment of new aquaculture industries and in the further development of existing aquaculture industries for the following reasons:

1. Feed costs represent a significant proportion (30-50%) of the production costs in most aquaculture systems. The most effective way to reduce feed costs is to improve the feed conversion efficiency of the target species which can only be accomplished by improving definition of feed ingredients, defining the nutritional requirements for different production phases, improving diet form and feed stability and increasing the range of feed ingredients available for use — all of which require significant research inputs.
2. Development of cost-effective manufactured feeds for aquaculture species is a difficult process because the research has to be conducted underwater. This makes collection of information on fundamental parameters such as feed intake difficult. In addition, most aquaculture diets needs to be extruded which is a research discipline in itself and requires highly specialised equipment.
3. Many aquaculture diets have a heavy reliance on fresh fish, fish meals and fish oils. To provide long term stability to new and established aquaculture industries and to reduce the reliance on these ingredients, there is a need to identify alternative nutrient sources that facilitate maintenance of similar production levels and product quality.
4. Improved nutrition of aquaculture species is one of the most effective ways to reduce any environmental impacts from aquaculture by reducing nutrient loads in effluent.
5. Some aquaculture sectors, such as prawns, still rely heavily on imported feeds due to a lack of alternatives in Australia.

Given the large number of unknowns often associated with the nutrition of new aquaculture species and the difficulties associated with conducting the research, significant improvements in the efficiency of conducting this research can be achieved by developing a coordinated approach to the definition of research priorities and research methods, such as that achieved within a managed subprogram. To this end, the Aquaculture Nutrition Subprogram was established in September, 2001.

There is a significant investment in aquaculture nutrition research in Australia. Since 1990, FRDC has funded more than 50 projects that focus on nutrition or have components of research that focus on nutrition. In addition, a range of species specific FRDC Subprograms have, or have had, nutrition research as a high priority within their research portfolio including the Abalone, Rock Lobster Enhancement and Aquaculture and Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture subprograms. Current investment in nutrition research projects by the FRDC, the AQUAFIN CRC and research providers will exceed $AUD5 million over the next 3 years.

To date FRDC has invested in two nutrition specific subprograms — the Fishmeal Replacement (FMR) and Aquaculture Diet Development (ADD) Subprograms. The FMR and ADD Subprograms were successful in meeting the objectives of managed subprograms on the basis that they:

• Promoted a high level of collaboration between scientists working within a common discipline;
• Successfully delivered nutrition research expertise to infant aquaculture industries that otherwise would have not had access to this level of nutritional skill;
• Reduced the level of duplication of research effort towards a common goal;
• Applied outcomes were delivered to industry improving the profitability and viability of these industries;
• Facilitated a coordinated delivery of research funding submissions and research reports to the FRDC.
• Advanced the overall international knowledge base for aquaculture nutrition.

The smaller aquaculture industries benefiting from research conducted within the FMR and ADD Subprograms (ie. barramundi, salmon, prawns, silver perch) have suggested they would value the continuation of further coordinated research in the area of aquaculture nutrition. Industries such as the barramundi industry rate nutrition as the highest research priority above all other disciplines, and believe that nutrition research on behalf of their industry would be severely compromised in the absence of a nutrition specific subprogram. Research providers and researchers operating within the FMR and ADD Subprograms valued their involvement as the Subprograms, through the Subprogram Leader, managed to breakdown many institutional boundaries that previously existed. The Subprogram workshops also represented a valuable form of peer review for research results. Research providers and researchers conducting nutrition research projects within species-based subprograms found the FMR and ADD to be a valuable resource. Workshops conducted as part of these subprograms provided an outlet for related research results and a valuable forum for critical review of the research. Many researchers operating outside the FMR and ADD used these subprograms as their reporting vehicles to FRDC.

The infrastructure (ie collaborations, industry contacts, mailing lists etc) developed as part of the FMR and ADD Subprograms represents a valuable resource to the Australian aquaculture industries, and this resource will be maintained through the Aquaculture Nutrition Subprogram.

Industry Contacts