70,572 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-012
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Investigating social acceptance for the wild catch commercial fishing industry of Southeast Queensland

This research project aimed to develop an engagement strategy that would assist the Southeast Queensland (SEQ) wild catch commercial fishing industry to gain social acceptance, or a Social Licence to Operate (SLO). SLO is needed to maintain access to the resource and market confidence. A scan of...
ORGANISATION:
University of the Sunshine Coast (USC)
TAGS
Wild Catch
Survey
Stakeholder
Resource Access And Allocation
Rac Qld
SPECIES
Tarwhine
Pikey Bream
Frypan Bream
Yellowfin Bream
Black Bream
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-010
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

A re-examination of underlying model assumptions and resulting abundance indices of the Fishery Independent Survey (FIS) in Australia’s SESSF

The model-based Fishery Independent Survey (FIS) for the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) was developed in the lead up to the first survey in 2008 and is unique in a fisheries context in that it differs from a random stratified design, thereby allowing considerable...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
TAGS
Survey
Stock Assessment
Rac Cmwth
Modelling
Fisheries Management
SPECIES
Gemfish
Jackass Morwong
Silver Trevally
John Dory
Mirror Dory
Environment
Environment

National Seafood Industry Leadership Program 2018 - 2021

Project number: 2017-003
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $933,988.00
Principal Investigator: Jill Briggs
Organisation: Affectus Pty Ltd
Project start/end date: 31 Dec 2017 - 30 Dec 2020
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Training
Rac Wa
Rac Vic
Rac Tas
Rac Sa

Need

FRDC has developed the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. The plan details the areas of investment for the industry and provides direction regarding the leadership requirements for the Australia seafood industry. Relevant sections of that document state the following:-
“All sectors of Australian fishing and aquaculture need strong, effective, connected leadership to respond well to the challenges and opportunities before them...Having strong leadership capacity will generate strong fishing and aquaculture communities that are productive, profitable and resilient to change, therefore people development remains an important focus for RD&E...projects include the National Seafood Industry Leadership Program"

The above indicates the ongoing need and support for the NSILP 2018-2020. Additionally, although the NSILP 2015-2017 project is yet to be fully evaluated, there is data indicating a significant increase industry need for the NSILP. This data includes 70 unsuccessful applicants over the course of the project time frame; applicant nominators requesting the reason for unsuccessful application responses and; extremely high caliber applicants who should be accepted into the NSILP being ‘rejected’ over two consecutive years. However, the greatest need remains the ongoing succession of the industry and the need for ongoing opportunity to skill-up and build the knowledge of the individuals who will step into leadership roles.

The NSILP 2018-2020 will address the needs discussed above through providing skill development in key leadership areas such as inter-personal communication, team building and strategy planning. The NSILP will also build industry sector understanding through ensuring an annual diverse participant cohort and seek guests and program speakers who reflect industry breadth and deliver addresses that reflect the range of the industry. The NSILP will raise the positive profile of the industry through building professionalism amongst the participants and through the delivery of a number of participant addresses to the industry.

Objectives

1. To update the current NSILP through a review and desktop research process
2. To provide NSILP learning materials reflecting the above updated program
3. To facilitate a NSILP application and selection process that results in a diverse cohort of program participants
4. To provide a professionally facilitated nine-day industry leadership program for the seafood community
5. To manage the support and development of (a minimum) fifteen (15) NSILP participants/graduates
6. To create strong networks and succession opportunities between the seafood community and NSILP participants/graduates
7. To create strong networks and succession opportunities between the seafood community and NSILP participants/graduates
Industry

Future oysters CRC-P: Species diversification to provide alternatives for commercial production

Project number: 2016-807
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $243,426.00
Principal Investigator: Xiaoxu Li
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 23 Apr 2017 - 29 Jun 2019
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Resource Access And Allocation
Population Dynamics
Mortality
Fisheries Management
Disease
SPECIES
Sydney Rock Oyster
Native Oyster
Pacific Oyster
Oysters

Need

The establishment of a new native oyster and/or western rock oyster aquaculture sectors in SA and the former in Tasmania will not only diversify the business risk of the existing Pacific oyster sector, but has the potential to become a multi-million dollar industry itself. As native oysters would be more suited to subtidal or low intertidal culture while western rock oysters are an ideal alternative species to mitigate POMS, the successful development of these aquaculture sectors will strengthen the confidence of existing/new growers and investors in Pacific, western rock and native oysters; thereby encouraging further expansion of the industry. In addition, supporting species diversification is one of the high strategic priorities in the Oysters Australia Strategic Plan 2014-2019.

Objectives

1. To develop Native Oyster on-farm growing methods that maximise survival and growth in South Australia and Tasmania
2. To compare the performance between Pacific Oysters and Native Oysters in South Australia
3. To establish a Native Oyster farmers network to share new techniques and knowledge
4. To develop translocation protocols for the safe translocation of Western Rock Oysters to South Australia
5. Trial Western Rock Oysters in the field in South Australia to assess their performance and viability of a potential industry if agreed by industry and regulators

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-8767007-45-4
Authors: Xiaoxu Li Penny Miller-Ezzy Christine Crawford Deborah Gardner Marty Deveney Jessica Buss Ben Diggles Kathryn Wiltshire
Final Report • 2023-05-01 • 3.61 MB
2016-807-DLD.pdf

Summary

Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS), the disease caused by OsHV-1 microvariant, results in high and rapid mortality in Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and has been responsible for significant economic loss to oyster industries in Australia and around the world. The diversification of commercial production into different oyster species (Native Oysters and Rock Oysters), that are not susceptible to POMS, has been proposed as a way to mitigate the risk of POMS in southern Australia. However, the Australia Native Oyster (Ostrea angasi) industry is still in its infancy, with knowledge gaps along the production chain. Additionally, there are no wild populations of Rock Oysters (Saccostrea sp.) in South Australia. Despite Rock Oyster aquaculture being well established in New South Wales and recently in Western Australia they have never been commercially produced in South er Australia and translocation policies to move them around the state are non-existent. This project aimed to improve on-farm production of Native Oysters and determine if Rock Oysters can be safely translocated to South Australia from Western Australia, to help Australian oyster growers to diversify into these species.
Final Report • 2023-05-01 • 3.61 MB
2016-807-DLD.pdf

Summary

Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS), the disease caused by OsHV-1 microvariant, results in high and rapid mortality in Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and has been responsible for significant economic loss to oyster industries in Australia and around the world. The diversification of commercial production into different oyster species (Native Oysters and Rock Oysters), that are not susceptible to POMS, has been proposed as a way to mitigate the risk of POMS in southern Australia. However, the Australia Native Oyster (Ostrea angasi) industry is still in its infancy, with knowledge gaps along the production chain. Additionally, there are no wild populations of Rock Oysters (Saccostrea sp.) in South Australia. Despite Rock Oyster aquaculture being well established in New South Wales and recently in Western Australia they have never been commercially produced in South er Australia and translocation policies to move them around the state are non-existent. This project aimed to improve on-farm production of Native Oysters and determine if Rock Oysters can be safely translocated to South Australia from Western Australia, to help Australian oyster growers to diversify into these species.
Final Report • 2023-05-01 • 3.61 MB
2016-807-DLD.pdf

Summary

Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS), the disease caused by OsHV-1 microvariant, results in high and rapid mortality in Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and has been responsible for significant economic loss to oyster industries in Australia and around the world. The diversification of commercial production into different oyster species (Native Oysters and Rock Oysters), that are not susceptible to POMS, has been proposed as a way to mitigate the risk of POMS in southern Australia. However, the Australia Native Oyster (Ostrea angasi) industry is still in its infancy, with knowledge gaps along the production chain. Additionally, there are no wild populations of Rock Oysters (Saccostrea sp.) in South Australia. Despite Rock Oyster aquaculture being well established in New South Wales and recently in Western Australia they have never been commercially produced in South er Australia and translocation policies to move them around the state are non-existent. This project aimed to improve on-farm production of Native Oysters and determine if Rock Oysters can be safely translocated to South Australia from Western Australia, to help Australian oyster growers to diversify into these species.

Future Oysters CRC-P: Advanced aquatic disease surveillance for known and undefined oyster pathogens

Project number: 2016-806
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $829,300.00
Principal Investigator: Marty R. Deveney
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 17 Apr 2017 - 29 Jul 2019
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Sydney Rock Oyster
Pacific Oyster

Need

During the February 2016 OsHV-1 outbreak in Tasmania, tracing activities in Tasmania and South Australia required substantial follow-up and surveillance to define diseased areas and prove that response measures had prevented entry of OsHV-1. This surveillance was expensive, and PIRSA and DPIPWE developed a strategy to decrease cost for future surveillance. Cost estimates for ongoing surveillance for early detection have been prohibitive, and both the Australian Pacific oyster aquaculture industries and State governments have expressed a need for more cost effective surveillance options for monitoring disease in affected areas and early detection in currently unaffected regions.

Winter mortality is a major cost impost on the Sydney Rock Oyster industry. Its current status as a syndrome of unknown cause prevents methods from being developed to minimise losses, and an improved understanding of its cause is required to begin to develop management strategies. Mitigating losses will increase profitability for the Sydney rock oyster industry.

SA oyster mortality syndrome (SAMS) is a sporadic, regionally concentrated occurrence of high mortality that is not associated with readily detectable pathogens. The use of the terms SAMS implies that these mortalities have commonalities but this is not proven. This project will aim to provide a focused approach to developing a case definition for SAMS and as a result help direct mitigation strategies to reduce or remove the problem. If a cause can be isolated, an on farm decision tool swill be developed to allow better ‘trigger point’ identification for when farm managers need to engage diagnosticians or instigate identified mitigations strategies.

Objectives

1. Winter mortality: causative agent investigation, case definition, management strategies, improved husbandry and validate WM resistance assessments for Sydney rock oysters
2. SA mortality syndrome: causative agent investigation, improved understanding of causes, case definition, improved diagnostic technologies and improved husbandry to maximise survival
3. POMS: improved surveillance methods for early detection, to manage spread and understand transmission, novel detection and enumeration method based on flow cytometry

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-876007-24-9
Author: Marty R Deveney & Kathryn H Wiltshire (Editors)
Final Report • 2020-03-01 • 12.34 MB
2016-806 DLD.pdf

Summary

This project improved understanding of methods for surveillance for several diseases of farmed oysters. Surveillance is a critical component of biosecurity and aquatic animal health activities.  Surveillance supports understanding health status of populations of animals, provides evidence to support claims of freedom or understanding prevalence and increases the likelihood that a new or emergent disease can be controlled.

Mollusc diseases are less well understood than terrestrial animal and many finfish diseases and this project sought to develop understanding of three oyster diseases of substantial economic impact in the Australilan edible oyster aquaculture industries:

Pacific Oyster mortality syndrome (POMS), South Australian mortality syndrome (SAMS), and winter mortality (WM). 

 
The project included activities with four main aims:
 - Improving understanding of tests for OsHV-1 and investigation of using these tests for area surveillance.
 - Development of a low-cost, rapid test for OsHV-1.
 - Refinement of the case definition and investigation of the cause of SAMS in Pacific Oysters.
 - Development of a case definition and improving understanding of the cause of Winter Mortality in Sydney Rock Oysters. 
Final Report • 2020-03-01 • 12.34 MB
2016-806 DLD.pdf

Summary

This project improved understanding of methods for surveillance for several diseases of farmed oysters. Surveillance is a critical component of biosecurity and aquatic animal health activities.  Surveillance supports understanding health status of populations of animals, provides evidence to support claims of freedom or understanding prevalence and increases the likelihood that a new or emergent disease can be controlled.

Mollusc diseases are less well understood than terrestrial animal and many finfish diseases and this project sought to develop understanding of three oyster diseases of substantial economic impact in the Australilan edible oyster aquaculture industries:

Pacific Oyster mortality syndrome (POMS), South Australian mortality syndrome (SAMS), and winter mortality (WM). 

 
The project included activities with four main aims:
 - Improving understanding of tests for OsHV-1 and investigation of using these tests for area surveillance.
 - Development of a low-cost, rapid test for OsHV-1.
 - Refinement of the case definition and investigation of the cause of SAMS in Pacific Oysters.
 - Development of a case definition and improving understanding of the cause of Winter Mortality in Sydney Rock Oysters. 
Final Report • 2020-03-01 • 12.34 MB
2016-806 DLD.pdf

Summary

This project improved understanding of methods for surveillance for several diseases of farmed oysters. Surveillance is a critical component of biosecurity and aquatic animal health activities.  Surveillance supports understanding health status of populations of animals, provides evidence to support claims of freedom or understanding prevalence and increases the likelihood that a new or emergent disease can be controlled.

Mollusc diseases are less well understood than terrestrial animal and many finfish diseases and this project sought to develop understanding of three oyster diseases of substantial economic impact in the Australilan edible oyster aquaculture industries:

Pacific Oyster mortality syndrome (POMS), South Australian mortality syndrome (SAMS), and winter mortality (WM). 

 
The project included activities with four main aims:
 - Improving understanding of tests for OsHV-1 and investigation of using these tests for area surveillance.
 - Development of a low-cost, rapid test for OsHV-1.
 - Refinement of the case definition and investigation of the cause of SAMS in Pacific Oysters.
 - Development of a case definition and improving understanding of the cause of Winter Mortality in Sydney Rock Oysters. 

Future oysters CRC-P: Polymicrobial involvement in OsHV outbreaks (and other diseases)

Project number: 2016-805
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $342,200.00
Principal Investigator: Justin Seymour
Organisation: University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Project start/end date: 30 Aug 2016 - 30 Aug 2019
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Disease
Biosecurity
SPECIES
Sydney Rock Oyster
Pacific Oyster

Need

During the last two decades a number of disease outbreaks have led to mass oyster mortalities and the closure of several oyster-harvesting regions, resulting in multi-million dollar losses. These outbreaks mirror a global pattern of increased aquaculture disease, with disease emergence potentially linked to environmental degradation (pollution) and climate change related processes, such as rising seawater temperature. Within NSW estuaries, multiple microbiological agents have been implicated in oyster diseases, but a clear understanding of the ecological and environmental drivers of disease outbreaks has remained elusive. This means we cannot predict when outbreaks will occur, making it very difficult to manage infection events and develop strategies to mitigate future oyster disease events.

Since 2008, Pacific Oyster fisheries in several parts of the world have been decimated by the influence of Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS), resulting in high (>95%) rates of juvenile oyster mortality. Recent evidence indicates that POMS is a polymicrobial syndrome, that is not only caused by the OsHV-1 virus, but includes the involvement of pathogenic bacteria from the Vibrio genus, a bacterial group comprising species that cause disease in a diverse range of marine animals and which is responsible for significant mortality in a variety of aquaculture industries. However, our understanding of this complex interaction is limited.

This project will provide valuable insights into the microbial communities associated with oysters, how those communities vary and how they might influence the course of other diseases. The project will also indicate whether breeding influences the microbial communities associated with oysters and whether this is influencing the impact diseases like OsHV is having on different Pacific oyster families.

Objectives

1. Define microbial communities associated with oysters and identify threats
2. Link changes in environmental conditions to changing microbial communities
3. Better understand the association between microbial communities and disease

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-80891-8
Authors: Justin R. Seymour Maurizio Labbate Wayne O’Connor William King Viet Khue Nguyen Nahshon Siboni Mike Dove Cheryl Jenkins
Final Report • 2019-07-01 • 12.82 MB
2016-805-DLD.pdf

Summary

The principal goal of this research was to provide a detailed characterisation of the oyster microbiome and identify links between specific features of the microbiome and oyster disease and mortality events. The conceptual framework for this work is based upon: (i) increasing evidence, across a broad range of species, that the nature of a host organism’s microbiome exerts a fundamental control on host physiology and health, and (ii) the critical paucity in knowledge on the factors contributing to oyster health and the triggers for oyster mortality events and disease outbreaks. The research reported here involved a collaboration between the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), whereby the UTS members of the team provided expertise in molecular microbial ecology and the DPI team members provided expertise and support in oyster physiology and ecology and aquaculture. The research involved a large-scale screening of the microbiomes of both Pacific Oysters and Sydney Rock Oysters using high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, providing a characterisation of the microbial communities associated with oysters. The outcomes of this analysis revealed that for both Pacific Oysters and Sydney Rock Oysters, the oyster microbiome is remarkably variable among different oyster families, and over space and time, indicating that both intrinsic physiological features of the oyster host and environmental factors play a role in governing the oyster microbiome. Notably, despite this heterogeneity, a small sub-set of the microbiome was shown to be conserved across oysters within a species, pointing to the existence of a core group of microbes with intrinsic links to oyster ecology and condition. Similarly, a small group of microbes, including members of the Vibrio genus, were consistently associated with diseased or susceptible oysters, indicating a potentially antagonistic role of these microbes. These observations support the hypothesis that the oyster microbiome plays a role in defining oyster health, but also reveal substantial complexities related to the marked heterogeneity of the oyster microbiome over space and time. Appropriately considering this microbiome heterogeneity, while also sharpening focus on the few core microbiome members identified in this research, will be important requisites for
future efforts hoping to employ the oyster microbiome for diagnostic purposes. 
Final Report • 2019-07-01 • 12.82 MB
2016-805-DLD.pdf

Summary

The principal goal of this research was to provide a detailed characterisation of the oyster microbiome and identify links between specific features of the microbiome and oyster disease and mortality events. The conceptual framework for this work is based upon: (i) increasing evidence, across a broad range of species, that the nature of a host organism’s microbiome exerts a fundamental control on host physiology and health, and (ii) the critical paucity in knowledge on the factors contributing to oyster health and the triggers for oyster mortality events and disease outbreaks. The research reported here involved a collaboration between the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), whereby the UTS members of the team provided expertise in molecular microbial ecology and the DPI team members provided expertise and support in oyster physiology and ecology and aquaculture. The research involved a large-scale screening of the microbiomes of both Pacific Oysters and Sydney Rock Oysters using high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, providing a characterisation of the microbial communities associated with oysters. The outcomes of this analysis revealed that for both Pacific Oysters and Sydney Rock Oysters, the oyster microbiome is remarkably variable among different oyster families, and over space and time, indicating that both intrinsic physiological features of the oyster host and environmental factors play a role in governing the oyster microbiome. Notably, despite this heterogeneity, a small sub-set of the microbiome was shown to be conserved across oysters within a species, pointing to the existence of a core group of microbes with intrinsic links to oyster ecology and condition. Similarly, a small group of microbes, including members of the Vibrio genus, were consistently associated with diseased or susceptible oysters, indicating a potentially antagonistic role of these microbes. These observations support the hypothesis that the oyster microbiome plays a role in defining oyster health, but also reveal substantial complexities related to the marked heterogeneity of the oyster microbiome over space and time. Appropriately considering this microbiome heterogeneity, while also sharpening focus on the few core microbiome members identified in this research, will be important requisites for
future efforts hoping to employ the oyster microbiome for diagnostic purposes. 
Final Report • 2019-07-01 • 12.82 MB
2016-805-DLD.pdf

Summary

The principal goal of this research was to provide a detailed characterisation of the oyster microbiome and identify links between specific features of the microbiome and oyster disease and mortality events. The conceptual framework for this work is based upon: (i) increasing evidence, across a broad range of species, that the nature of a host organism’s microbiome exerts a fundamental control on host physiology and health, and (ii) the critical paucity in knowledge on the factors contributing to oyster health and the triggers for oyster mortality events and disease outbreaks. The research reported here involved a collaboration between the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), whereby the UTS members of the team provided expertise in molecular microbial ecology and the DPI team members provided expertise and support in oyster physiology and ecology and aquaculture. The research involved a large-scale screening of the microbiomes of both Pacific Oysters and Sydney Rock Oysters using high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, providing a characterisation of the microbial communities associated with oysters. The outcomes of this analysis revealed that for both Pacific Oysters and Sydney Rock Oysters, the oyster microbiome is remarkably variable among different oyster families, and over space and time, indicating that both intrinsic physiological features of the oyster host and environmental factors play a role in governing the oyster microbiome. Notably, despite this heterogeneity, a small sub-set of the microbiome was shown to be conserved across oysters within a species, pointing to the existence of a core group of microbes with intrinsic links to oyster ecology and condition. Similarly, a small group of microbes, including members of the Vibrio genus, were consistently associated with diseased or susceptible oysters, indicating a potentially antagonistic role of these microbes. These observations support the hypothesis that the oyster microbiome plays a role in defining oyster health, but also reveal substantial complexities related to the marked heterogeneity of the oyster microbiome over space and time. Appropriately considering this microbiome heterogeneity, while also sharpening focus on the few core microbiome members identified in this research, will be important requisites for
future efforts hoping to employ the oyster microbiome for diagnostic purposes. 

Future oysters CRC-P: Advanced understanding of POMS to guide farm management decisions in Tasmania

Project number: 2016-804
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $694,773.00
Principal Investigator: Christine D. Crawford
Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date: 2 Jan 2017 - 29 Jun 2019
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Pacific Oyster

Need

The OsHv-1 virus was first detected in Tasmanian oysters in January 2016 with massive mortality of oysters on farms in several major oyster growing areas, including Pittwater, Pipeclay Lagoon, Blackman Bay and Little Swanport. In other regions such as Bruny Island and Great Swanport the virus was found in oysters but mortalities were low. Reasons for these differences between oyster growing areas are unknown and there is an urgent need for Tasmanian oyster farmers to have region and site specific information on the period of infection of the virus in Tasmania and to better understand the POMS virus dynamics, leading to the development of a predictive framework and early warning for oyster farmers of POMS disease outbreaks. Oyster farmers in Tasmania also desperately need support to develop farm management techniques that enable them to operate successfully in POMS infected areas, especially during the next few years while selective breeding for POMS resistance is being developed.

Objectives

1. To determine i) the periodicity of infection of OsHV-1 virus in Tasmania, ii) advance the understanding of the drivers of POMS disease outbreaks, and iii) develop a predictive framework that allows the Tasmanian oyster industry to forecast danger periods for POMS.
2. To develop farm husbandry and handling protocols to maximise oyster production in POMS infected growing areas by investigating oyster survival in relation to: i) subtidal versus intertidal culture, ii) high water flow areas compared with low flow, iii) reduced handling, iv) size and timing of spat onto growout farms, and v) stocking density.
3. To enhance commercial production of Pacific oysters in a POMS infected area through analysis of past farm production and management records, and a contemporary study of farm production systems and oyster survival.

Final report

ISBN: Print: 978-1-922352-09-5 Electronic: 978-1-922352-10-1
Authors: Christine Crawford Sarah Ugalde
Final Report • 2019-08-01 • 4.07 MB
2016-804-DLD.pdf

Summary

The objectives of our research have been to determine the high-risk periods for POMS infection and to develop a predictive framework so that the farmers can forecast danger periods for POMS. This includes developing a better understanding of where the virus exists in the environment and the factors that drive POMS disease outbreaks. We also aimed to work with the oyster industry to develop farm husbandry and handling protocols that maximise oyster production in POMS infected growing areas. Additionally, we surveyed the oyster farmers affected by POMS to get an overall view of the impact of POMS, especially socio-economic aspects.
 
Our research supports other studies that warm water temperature is a major driver of POMS outbreaks, with temperatures in south-eastern Tasmanian growing areas of 19 °C and above for around one week providing a high risk for a disease event to occur. The risk period for POMS disease outbreaks ranges from mid-November to late March. Other environmental factors likely to be important include water movements and density of infected oysters in a water body. Growing areas with extensive intertidal flats and poor water circulation, such as Pittwater, or with a high biomass of farmed and feral oysters in a relatively small area, such as Pipe Clay Lagoon, have shown to be more susceptible to POMS disease than the other farming areas. As feral oysters in Pipe Clay had a relatively high prevalence of OsHV-1, they may be contributing to the reservoir host of the virus.
 
Studies on farming practices conducted in close collaboration with oyster growers suggest that density of oysters in culture containers has limited effect on mortality rates, and that some
handling is required during the POMS season to reduce biofouling and maintain stocking densities conducive to good growth and survival. Younger and smaller oysters are more susceptible to infection that larger and older juvenile and adult oysters. For oysters of the same age cohort, fast growers had higher mortalities than slow growers.
 
The surveys of oyster growers on the impacts of POMS on their farming operations has shown that mortalities from POMS have rapidly declined from an average of 67% of stock in 2016 to 9% in 2018/19. Changes to farming practices that have occurred during this time include a large increase in stock selectively bred for POMS disease resistance, reduced and more careful handling of oysters during the summer POMS season, selling a higher percentage of stock before the POMS high risk period, and purchasing spat when temperatures are declining.
Final Report • 2019-08-01 • 4.07 MB
2016-804-DLD.pdf

Summary

The objectives of our research have been to determine the high-risk periods for POMS infection and to develop a predictive framework so that the farmers can forecast danger periods for POMS. This includes developing a better understanding of where the virus exists in the environment and the factors that drive POMS disease outbreaks. We also aimed to work with the oyster industry to develop farm husbandry and handling protocols that maximise oyster production in POMS infected growing areas. Additionally, we surveyed the oyster farmers affected by POMS to get an overall view of the impact of POMS, especially socio-economic aspects.
 
Our research supports other studies that warm water temperature is a major driver of POMS outbreaks, with temperatures in south-eastern Tasmanian growing areas of 19 °C and above for around one week providing a high risk for a disease event to occur. The risk period for POMS disease outbreaks ranges from mid-November to late March. Other environmental factors likely to be important include water movements and density of infected oysters in a water body. Growing areas with extensive intertidal flats and poor water circulation, such as Pittwater, or with a high biomass of farmed and feral oysters in a relatively small area, such as Pipe Clay Lagoon, have shown to be more susceptible to POMS disease than the other farming areas. As feral oysters in Pipe Clay had a relatively high prevalence of OsHV-1, they may be contributing to the reservoir host of the virus.
 
Studies on farming practices conducted in close collaboration with oyster growers suggest that density of oysters in culture containers has limited effect on mortality rates, and that some
handling is required during the POMS season to reduce biofouling and maintain stocking densities conducive to good growth and survival. Younger and smaller oysters are more susceptible to infection that larger and older juvenile and adult oysters. For oysters of the same age cohort, fast growers had higher mortalities than slow growers.
 
The surveys of oyster growers on the impacts of POMS on their farming operations has shown that mortalities from POMS have rapidly declined from an average of 67% of stock in 2016 to 9% in 2018/19. Changes to farming practices that have occurred during this time include a large increase in stock selectively bred for POMS disease resistance, reduced and more careful handling of oysters during the summer POMS season, selling a higher percentage of stock before the POMS high risk period, and purchasing spat when temperatures are declining.
Final Report • 2019-08-01 • 4.07 MB
2016-804-DLD.pdf

Summary

The objectives of our research have been to determine the high-risk periods for POMS infection and to develop a predictive framework so that the farmers can forecast danger periods for POMS. This includes developing a better understanding of where the virus exists in the environment and the factors that drive POMS disease outbreaks. We also aimed to work with the oyster industry to develop farm husbandry and handling protocols that maximise oyster production in POMS infected growing areas. Additionally, we surveyed the oyster farmers affected by POMS to get an overall view of the impact of POMS, especially socio-economic aspects.
 
Our research supports other studies that warm water temperature is a major driver of POMS outbreaks, with temperatures in south-eastern Tasmanian growing areas of 19 °C and above for around one week providing a high risk for a disease event to occur. The risk period for POMS disease outbreaks ranges from mid-November to late March. Other environmental factors likely to be important include water movements and density of infected oysters in a water body. Growing areas with extensive intertidal flats and poor water circulation, such as Pittwater, or with a high biomass of farmed and feral oysters in a relatively small area, such as Pipe Clay Lagoon, have shown to be more susceptible to POMS disease than the other farming areas. As feral oysters in Pipe Clay had a relatively high prevalence of OsHV-1, they may be contributing to the reservoir host of the virus.
 
Studies on farming practices conducted in close collaboration with oyster growers suggest that density of oysters in culture containers has limited effect on mortality rates, and that some
handling is required during the POMS season to reduce biofouling and maintain stocking densities conducive to good growth and survival. Younger and smaller oysters are more susceptible to infection that larger and older juvenile and adult oysters. For oysters of the same age cohort, fast growers had higher mortalities than slow growers.
 
The surveys of oyster growers on the impacts of POMS on their farming operations has shown that mortalities from POMS have rapidly declined from an average of 67% of stock in 2016 to 9% in 2018/19. Changes to farming practices that have occurred during this time include a large increase in stock selectively bred for POMS disease resistance, reduced and more careful handling of oysters during the summer POMS season, selling a higher percentage of stock before the POMS high risk period, and purchasing spat when temperatures are declining.
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