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PROJECT NUMBER • 2022-075
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

National Workshop to develop a regional collaborative plan to control the invasive Longspined Sea Urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii)

The 2023 National Centrostephanus Workshop was convened by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. The workshop brought together 130 representatives from industry, government, research, Aboriginal communities, recreational fishing groups, and the community to: • Identify...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
TAGS
Rac Vic
Rac Tas
Rac Nsw
Invasive Species
Climate Change
SPECIES
Sea Urchins
Industry

Using scat DNA to inform sustainable fisheries management and Ecological Risk Assessments: a Shy Albatross case study

Project number: 2016-118
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $96,500.00
Principal Investigator: Rachael Alderman
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 26 Oct 2017 - 17 Mar 2019
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Rac Cmwth
Nutrition
Food Web
Fisheries Management

Need

Due to the biases and unethical sampling methods conventionally used to collect dietary data, the most recent data for shy albatross is over 20 years old (Hedd et al 2001). A recent international review of albatross diets highlighted the need to 1) incorporate appropriate dietary studies as an integral component of species recovery and management plans, and 2) elevate the importance of dietary studies in long term monitoring plans to link observed demographic parameters to ecological drivers (McInnes et al 2016a). With changing environmental conditions and improvements to mitigation measures used by fisheries, it is important to monitor how TEP species may adapt to these changes. Current, reliable diet information will allow risk assessment tools such as trophic models to be developed and provide a baseline of diet information in which we can test what drives any dietary shifts in TEPs. There is also paucity in information about if and when seabird-fishery engagements occur. This was raised at the AFMA Seabird Workshop in late 2016. Quantification of albatross engagements with vessels would assist with the development of the Seabird Strategy for Commonwealth fisheries to ensure fisheries are managed sustainably.

This project seeks to apply new high-resolution DNA-based diet-analysis (DNA metabarcoding) to characterise the diet of shy albatross, including intra- and inter-annual variability. This trophic information, in combination with existing fine-scale tracking data, will contribute valuable information to assist in fisheries management and ecological risk assessment processes. Specifically, this information will enable us to: i) estimate the range of prey species consumed by shy albatross, (ii) develop trophic models to estimate the relative resource requirements of shy albatross, (iii) evaluate intra-and inter-annual level of engagement of shy albatross with fisheries, (iv) provide baseline data for evaluating efficacy of fisheries management changes, (v) provide a demonstration of the applicability of this technique to other TEP species and regions.

Objectives

1. Develop a South East Australian marine prey DNA database
2. Characterise of the range of prey species consumed by shy albatrosses to high taxonomic resolution (species or genus where possible) and the relative frequency of occurrence of each taxa within the diet.
3. Assess the extent to which the shy albatross engage with fisheries by quantifying the frequency of target, secondary and bycaught species in the diet
4. Assess the spatial and temporal variability of both objectives 2 and 3

Final report

Authors: McInnes J.C Tuck G.N. and Alderman R.
Final Report • 2019-01-01 • 6.07 MB
2016-118-DLD.pdf

Summary

Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels through the availability of fishery discards, increasing the risk of injury or mortality from interactions with fishing gear. However, it is difficult to estimate what proportion of the population may be at risk. We use DNA metabarcoding of scats to characterise the intra- and inter-annual variability in the diet of Shy Albatross at Albatross Island, and combine this dietary data with foraging range estimates to examine spatial overlaps and species overlaps between albatross and fisheries in the region. Shy Albatross diet consisted predominantly of fish (93% of samples) and cephalopods (38% of samples), with 84 fish and 11 cephalopod species detected. The majority of food was sourced naturally, however, at least 13% of the population overall is sourcing food from fisheries, with up to 29% during some breeding stages. There were spatial overlaps between Shy Albatross and six Commonwealth managed fisheries operating in South-East Australia and two Tasmanian managed fisheries. There was considerable intra-annual variation in the level of engagement with the Commonwealth fishery, but little inter-annual variability. Blue Grenadier, Ling and Warehou sp. were the main Commonwealth managed fishery discard species consumed. This study highlights that fisheries still pose a risk for Shy Albatross in Australian waters. As the majority of albatross food is sourced naturally, it shows that albatross are unlikely to be reliant on discards, therefore a reduction in discard availability would benefit shy albatross populations and improve the sustainability of fisheries in the region. DNA dietary analysis in conjunction with spatial foraging data provides a valuable tool to assess the proportion of a population at risk from fishing operations.

Pilchard orthomyxovirus fast-track proof-of-concept vaccine

Project number: 2016-054
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $396,935.00
Principal Investigator: Richard Morrison
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 1 Jan 2017 - 21 Dec 2017
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Atlantic Salmon

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence

Development of Pilchard orthomyxo virus vaccine for salmonids

Project number: 2016-045
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $1,742,108.00
Principal Investigator: Richard Morrison
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2016 - 27 Jun 2019
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Atlantic Salmon

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence

Seafood CRC: disease challenge testing at the Centre of Excellence- Scope for estimating the genetics of resistance

Project number: 2014-712
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $298,000.00
Principal Investigator: Jeremy Carson
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 31 Jan 2016 - 29 Jun 2016
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Atlantic Salmon

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence

TSGA IPA: The Australian Aquatic Animal Health and Vaccine Centre: First Phase to Establish Atlantic Salmon Biosecure Fish Facility Capabilities and Develop Strategy for an Australian Centre of Excellence

Project number: 2013-051
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $1,694,600.00
Principal Investigator: Jeremy Carson
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 23 Feb 2014 - 1 Aug 2015
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Vaccine
SPECIES
Atlantic Salmon
Trouts

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence

TSGA IPA: Establishing viral diagnostics for salmonid aquaculture in Tasmania: characterisation and identification of Salmon Orthomyxo-like virus (SOMV) and associated pathology in Atlantic Salmon

Project number: 2013-033
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $497,382.00
Principal Investigator: Jeremy Carson
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 18 Nov 2013 - 17 Nov 2016
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Atlantic Salmon
Trouts

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence

Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram: assessment of Orthomyxo-like virus pathogenicity in Atlantic salmon

Project number: 2012-053
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $93,233.00
Principal Investigator: Richard Morrison
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 28 Feb 2013 - 31 Aug 2013
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Atlantic Salmon
Trouts

Need

Key Stakeholder Relevance
Since the inception of marine salmonid aquaculture in Tasmania during the 1980’s, a number of pathogens have emerged. The industry and DPIPWE have collaborated in developing/commercialising vaccines for several of these pathogens. This successful, ongoing strategy is used to mitigate disease in a practical, cost-effective and sustainable manner. These vaccines are effective however for known pathogens; the emergence of new pathogens presents the industry with an entirely new set of challenges. Viral pathogens, such as the Orthomyxo-like virus, are of particular concern to industry as there are no therapeutic agents available to treat virally-infected fish. This project was instigated on behalf of the Tasmanian salmon growers and the project aims to inform the salmonid aquaculture industry and government as to the potential for the virus to cause disease in Atlantic salmon.

Emerging Diseases: Data Provides Context
Little is known about the Orthomyxo-like virus associated with farmed Atlantic salmon. Investigation/analysis is hampered by a lack of information about the pathogenic capability of the Orthomyxo-like virus and limited histopathology description Orthomyxo-like virus infected fish. The proposed pathogenicity trial will determine if the Orthomyxo-like virus can act as a primary pathogen of Atlantic salmon in the absence of confounding external stressors. If the virus is shown to be pathogenic it will provide context for industry & government stakeholders to develop management, control and surveillance strategies.

The Proposed Project is Aligned with R&D Plans
This project is directly aligned with the following strategic plans;
•DPIPWE Corporate Plan 2011-14
•FRDC’s Strategic Priority Areas
oProgram 1: Environment
oTheme 1: Biosecurity, aquatic animal health
oProgram 2: Industry
oTheme 7: Production, growth, profitability
•FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram
oKey research areas
oNature of disease and host-pathogen interaction
oKnowledge about new/emerging infectious diseases
oAquatic animal health management

Objectives

1. Establish if the Orthomyxo-like virus can act as a primary pathogen and cause disease in Atlantic salmon.
2. Determine the stability of the Orthomyxo-like virus under varying environmental conditions.

Final report

Authors: R.N. Morrison J. Carson G. Knowles
Final Report • 2013-08-01
2012-053.pdf

Aquareovirus (TSRV) vaccine development for the Tasmanian salmonid aquaculture industry

Project number: 2011-224
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $1,530,308.40
Principal Investigator: Richard Morrison
Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
Project start/end date: 11 Jun 2012 - 19 Dec 2019
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Atlantic Salmon
Trouts

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence
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