Aquafin CRC - Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture Subprogram: net fouling management to enhance water quality and southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) performance
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: investigation of the relationship between farming practices and southern bluefin tuna health
South Australia innovative solutions for aquaculture access and management initiative
1. The South Australian Government has clearly defined that the development of aquaculture, in particular finfish farming, is a high priority outcome. To ensure this happens it has identified outputs of defined specification to address the delivery of this outcome. This will be an ongoing program over many years that requires a novel program structure as opposed to the normal project structure undertaken by FRDC and PIRSA. The project will address this need by:
1.1 Providing the opportunity to improve the current level of management adoption of research within South Australia. This is consistent with the FRDC’s recent call for management to have a greater influence on the direction of research and development and an increased role in the management, adoption and execution of research and development;
1.2 Providing a framework for better management of State funds in the context of research and development and management to ensure timely delivery of results; and
1.3 Providing greater certainty in planning research and development in the future as it gives a quantifiable investment that will be put into a specific program. This means there is an obligation by all parties to ensure that they meet their financial commitment.
Innovative Solutions for Aquaculture: spatial impacts and carrying capacity - further developing, refining and validating existing models of environmental effects of finfish farming
Innovative Solutions for Aquaculture: potential for parasite interactions between wild and farmed kingfish, discrimination of farmed and wild fish and assessment of migratory behaviour
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: detection and management of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) health issues
A Yellowtail Kingfish Aquaculture Industry R&D Committee has been established which includes representatives of industry, State and Commonwealth Governments and the scientific community. The Committee has recognised disease management and disease risk identification as high priorities in a 2003-2008 draft Strategic R&D Plan, presently under development. These are in line with the research and development priorities for aquaculture identified by the South Australian Fisheries Research Advisory Board. Targeted priorities that this project will address within industrial development include, fish health, farm husbandry, and public perception. With regard to natural resource sustainability, this project will help in environmental protection and will contribute to the development of best environmental practices.
Prevention is the best and most cost-effective strategy for managing disease. Furthermore, Australia’s lack of vaccine and drug availability to aquaculture makes other forms of prevention the only viable option for Australia. There are four requirements that must be addressed in order to have an effective preventive program. First, one must be able to anticipate the problems one may face. A preliminary assessment of the risks of disease development and amplification is an important first step. Second, the knowledge of accurate identification of clinical symptoms and pathology by trained farm staff allows a mechanism for early detection and categorization of potential fish health problems. Third, the mechanism is an ongoing system of vigilant observation and recording in the form of action-based detection of emerging changes. Finally, one must identify actions that should be taken in response to laboratory and disease-related findings.
Before recommending the best disease management practices, one must first inventory the industry needs and identify the gaps in knowledge and infrastructure that limit capacity to achieve disease control objectives.
Final report
Since 1999, the kingfish (YTK, Seriola lalandi) aquaculture industry has been a significant investor in South Australia’s regional economy. Currently, the annual YTK production is 2,000 tonnes and is anticipated to approach 7,000 tonnes by 2008 with a retail value of $55 million. The industry provides both direct and indirect jobs for up to 1050 workers in regional communities. Although still in its infancy, this aquaculture industry has been a major success story in the expansion of the Australian seafood and food-animal industries, and there is tremendous potential for the continued development of a sustainable and economically successful Australian finfish aquaculture industry. However, international experience has shown that one of the most pervasive and persistent limits to the growth and viability of a new finfish sector is disease. To date, the YTK industry of South Australia has enjoyed limited losses due to disease, nevertheless, anticipating, preventing and dealing with future diseases is a priority of industry, government and researchers. Consequently, disease identification, risk analysis and health management were deemed key approaches for this FRDC project.
The literature review, risk analysis, guidelines to management and photographic pathology book have stimulated a much greater awareness of potential and future needs, opportunities and safeguards for the YTK aquaculture industry of South Australia for PIRSA, researchers and diagnostic service personnel. This project may form the basis for (or at least stimulate) further applied R&D and the development of tools to control diseases. The development of best management practices, integrated health management procedures, disease surveillance programs or amendments to current fish health regulations may also arise, provided industry and government bodies work as partners with mutual intentions.
Keywords: aquaculture, yellowtail, kingfish, Seriola lalandi, disease, fish health, risk analysis.