SCRC: Propagation and sea-based growout of sea cucumber stocks in the Northern Territory
TSF holds all NT commercial sandfish licenses. TSF aims to double the current production of sea cucumbers through ranching/stock enhancement initiatives. This commitment is demonstrated by the history of investment by TSF over the past 5 years. Two millions dollars has been spent in developing commercial-scale hatchery capacity at the DAC and nursery capacity at a pond-based facility nearby. To ensure the commercial viability of this enterprise there are researchable constraints to be addressed. These are within the area of hatchery and nursery production efficiency and ranching methodologies.
Considerable work has been published on suitable methodologies for the hatchery production of sandfish (Agudo 2006). However, much of this work has been developed by hatcheries in the Asia-Pacific region where methods achieve 5-10% survival from egg to settlement.
TSF has conducted a series of semi-commercial production runs using methodologies developed in the Asia-Pacific and achieved only 5-10% survival. This poses a significant economic constraint to the company’s aim to develop the capacity to produce 300,000 juveniles annually for release programs. A target of 30% survival has been set.
Nursery production is currently a bottleneck and is labour intensive. The area required per juvenile for optimal growth means that an extensive methodology has been adopted in developing countries. This involves either holding animals in fine mesh pens that float in ponds or growing juveniles out in the larval tanks. Maintenance is labour intensive, difficult to monitor and survival is low. In addition, significant mortality occurs during the transfer of juveniles from hatchery to nursery. There is a need to develop a cost effective, efficient nursery production system and improve on methodologies.
The technical feasibility of ranching in Australian tropical conditions is also unknown. Research is needed to identify the best ranching practises to maximise survival, growth and retrieval rate.
Final report
Tasmanian Seafoods has identified stock enhancement as a means to improve the viability of sea cucumber harvesting operations in Northern Australia. Successful enhancement of the fishery has the potential increase catches, reduce harvesting time, and improve the operational efficiency and management of the sea cucumber harvesting business in the Northern Territory.
Considerable work has been published on suitable methodologies for the hatchery and nursery production of sandfish. However, much of this work has been developed by hatcheries in the Asia-Pacific region where there is extreme variability in survival and growth. While much research has been published recently on methods for scaling up the production of temperate species of sea cucumber, the development of technology for culturing tropical species has lagged. Developing improved hatchery and nursery production protocols will compliment a commercial stock enhancement operation through increasing survival rates, increasing production capacity, and ensuring continuity in production year round.
Seafood CRC: farmed prawns in Brisbane and Sydney - a consumer study
Seafood CRC: visiting scientist Dr Clive Talbot
SCRC: Visiting Expert Application: Dr Doug Tocher
SCRC: Compositional profiles of Australian seafood- Strategic analysis and method development.
The consultaive process with the CRC end-users identified a need for accurate, consistent and scientifically sound baseline compositional data of commercially traded seafood species. This information can be used to substantiate product label claims, including nutrition panel information and health claims; to promote the benefits of seafood and seafood consumption as part of a balanced diet, to inform dietary modelling activities and nutrition calculations, to gain and maintaining market access, to respond to bad publicity and to benchmark production processes.
In order to meet this identified need for reliable compositional data, industry participants have also identified an increasing need to have access to an expanded capacity of certified analysis. Phase 1 of the compositional profiles program will result in a strategic assessment of analytical capacity within the Seafood CRC and identify and prioritise methodology not currently available but required to meet current and emerging Australian seafood industry requirements for nutritional and compositional analyses. These certified methods can then be developed as part of this project, resulting in and meeting the need for an expanded capacity for the industry.
The Chemistry Centre as the oldest NATA accredited laboratory in Australia and the holder of widest NATA certified capacity of tests for food analysis in Australia is well placed to add seafood specific analytes to its capacity. Investment in establishment and expansion of seafood analytical capacity using the centre's existing infrastructure and diverse highly technical instrument base will expand Australian capacity in this key area for at least the next twenty years, leading to a long term efficient and competent resource for industry and academic research and development.
SCRC: Seafood CRC - commercial market development strategy leader
There is a need for someone with seafood industry and commercial market development expertise to assist the Program Manager (PM2) in
1. project design, development and implementation with CRC participants
2. communicating about Sellfish and Sellfish activities
3. planning and undertaking workshops, industry tours and other education and training activities related to Sellfish activities
4. creating links between the CRC and non CRC members who can assist achieving market development objectives
5. Developing and managing the proposed Retail Transformation suite of projects
6. Managing the Sellfish communal projects
Final report
In early 2009, the CRC identified that members had significant interest in constructing Commercial Market Development projects.
The CRC implemented this project specifically to assist members in the construction of these projects, with the additional objective of creating a large syndicate project that would transform the retailing of seafood in Australia.
As a market development and seafood industry expert, Market Strategy Ltd was contracted to deliver this work for the CRC.