Development of cost effective diets for prawn grow-out using local ingredients
Microencapsulation techniques for prawn feed formulation
Final report
Pathogenic viruses of cultured prawns
Final report
Parasites as indicators of orange roughy biology
Diseases of abalone
Final report
In 1985 and 1986 many greenlip abalone Haliotis laevigata near Edithburg in the St Vincent Gulf died. The protozoan parasite, Perkinsus olseni, was suspected to be the cause. We showed that Perkinsus olseni was seasonally abundant in greenlip from the edge of the die-back area. It was also common in three other species of abalone, H. rubra, H. cyclobates and H. scalaris, and was recovered from 4 species of bivalves from the same area (Barbatia pistachio, Chlamys bifrons, Katylesia rhytiphora and Pinna bicolor).
In July 1987, 140 healthy abalone were transplanted from Hardwicke Bay to Stansbury at the centre of the die-off in an attempt to recolonize the area. This was done with the help of commercial abalone divers. In the following October, a subsample indicated the transplants were uninfected and were growing well. However, by March 1998, many of the abalone had recently died and the remainder were heavily infected.
In July 1989, 195 greenlip from Tipara Reef were tagged and transplanted to the same site. A subsample the following March indicated that there was good growth, very little infection, and no sign of recent deaths. The epizootic had evidently passed and these abalone were successfully recolonising the area. However, a follow-up sample a year later - in April, 1992 - indicated that many of the animals had become infected though there was no sign of recent deaths.
The die-back area is near the northern limit for greenlip abalone in the Gulf of St Vincent. Laboratory experiments showed that abalone infected with Perkinsus died more frequently than uninfected abalone and that stress such as high temperature may predispose the abalone to disease. The time of the original die-back corresponded to warm winters on the Yorke Peninsula.
Laboratory and field observations suggest that the parasite is common in greenlip in late summer. During winter abalone are able to contain and eliminate the infection. We conclude that the parasite is widespread around the Yorke Peninsula in hosts other than greenlip, and that greenlip near the upper limit of their temperature range are likely to contract fatal infections.
Diseases of prawns in aquaculture: to develop procedures to detect pathogens of prawns shipped interstate
Final report
This project found and described a baculovirus similar to Monodon Baculovirus (MBV) that was called Plebejus Baculovirus (PBV) as it was in eastern king prawns (Penaeus plebejus). It later found it in Australian cultured Penaeus monodon.
The project investigated other conditions, particularly Hepatopancreatic Parvolike Virus (HPV) and Shann Bodies. Results were published in the scientific literature and presented at industry meetings. It was recommended that prawns be screened for the known virus infections in Australian prawns by subsamples of 25 prawns examined in H. and E. sections without stressing prawns for viral enhancement. Prawns were screened to be moved interstate for the governments of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and many examinations were carried out for individual prawn farmers. 4 papers and 7 reviews on prawn diseases were published.
Seasonal and moult-induced muscle atrophy in the spanner crab, Ranina ranina
Identification of deep water trawl fish stocks using parasites as markers
Final report
Orange roughy are a relatively sedentary species with little movement between fish management zones. This is the conclusion of our analysis of the numbers of parasites in the gut wall of 1251 orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus from eight areas off southern Australia and three areas off New Zealand.
Two manuscripts were submitted for publication: Stock discrimination of orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus by parasite analysis by R.J.G. Lester, K.B. Sewell, A. Barnes and K. Evans, and The numbers of selected parasites in Australian and New Zealand samples of orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus, 1983 to 1986, by K.B. Sewell and R.J.G. Lester