Seafood CRC: Southern Rock Lobster clean Green Business Framework
Final report
This project was established to assist Southern Rocklobster Ltd complete a Clean Green business framework that could be the basis for an ongoing, financially sustainable, not for profit business activity. A business framework was prepared which is designed to enable Clean Green to achieve the following:
- Operate with a self-sufficient financial model with no external funds required for management, promotions and auditing,
- Ensure the majority of the harvest sector are participating in the program,
- Access funding for extension and training activities (where required),
- Gain recognition by regulators and other government agencies that Clean Green is the premier product standard,
- Gain recognition for a Skills Set or qualification associated with the program for industry operators, and
- Engage with the complete Rocklobster supply chain
Seafood CRC: China trade project officer
The consultants selected to deliver the projects (KGA for project 2012/704 and China Policy for project 2012/705) do not currently have existing networks in the seafood export industry. This project is required to:
• Provide support to the consultants and assist with the two way transfer of knowledge between the industry and the consultants.
• Establish and provide ongoing support for an industry reference group as well as facilitate consultation the broader catching and export sector.
• Support communication and extension activity to borader SRL, WRL and ACA members.
Seafood CRC: genetic selection for resistance to Pacific oyster mortality syndrome
Seafood CRC: increase sustainable use of crab fisheries resources by recovering revenue from crabs currently rejected at market
As outlined in the background section, there is an economic and sustainability imperative to maximise the utilisation of the crab resources being sold through SFM. To achieve this it is felt that the following steps should be taken;
To investigate the potential for the development and introduction of a mud crab recovery step at SFM for recovering slow mud crabs.
To develop strategies to reduce the rejection / mortality of mud crabs in the SFM supply chain, especially from suppliers with greater than average rejection / mortality rates. (The rejection rate at SFM in a recent assessment ranged from 0.6% - 15.9%). This will include assessing temperature management issues and determining the most appropriate product packout methods.
To investigate whether the losses in the spanner crab supply chain can be reduced.
Recognition of the ability to redress wastage of mud crab resource was gained by QLD DPI through research within the Northern Territory fishery (FRDC project 2003-240) which identified the best practice handling method of minimising stress in mud crabs through incorporating a recovery step in the handling chain. An outcome of follow on work communicating best practice handling to the mud crab industry (FRDC 2010-302) was identification of the potential opportunity to adopt this practice at the SFM where rejected crabs incur large economic losses as outlined above.
Final report
Financial losses on the live mud and spanner crab supply chain into Sydney Fish Market are significant. An analysis of data from the 2010/11 financial year demonstrated that:
- Mud crabs that were downgraded due to being slow represented 2.8% (around 11 tonne) of product supplied worth $71,238 pa.
- Mud crab rejections comprising mortalities and CUC (commercially unacceptable crabs) represented 5% (around 19 tonne) of product supplied worth $430,406 pa.
- Spanner crabs that were dead or slow represented 7% (6 tonne of product) supply and represented a loss of value of approx. $28,000 pa.
SFM is obviously keen to stem these losses and ensure the whole supply chain can redeem as much of this loss as is possible. To that end it has approached the QLD DPI seafood team to develop a research program to address this issue.
Seafood CRC: funding options for the Australian oyster industry
In Sept 2009 the industry completed a Discussion Paper regarding optional Governance Models as part if its move to "Oysters Australia." This paper identified a number of key issues:
1. LACK OF R&D INVESTMENT - the industry collects and invests a relatively small 0.22% of turnover in R&D,
2. UNCERTAINTY on R&D Spend - there is uncertainty at a number of levels about ongoing certainty of R&D funding at current levels. These concerns arise from: the effectively ‘voluntary’ nature of R&D collections from SA and Tasmania; potential legal risk regarding the collection mechanism in NSW; uncertainty regarding the long term retention of the current FRDC $ for $ funding gearing model; uncertainty about what will happen with R&D fund matching from the Seafood CRC beyond 2013/14; and industry feedback suggesting state based service models are not always meeting all growers' expectations.
3. LACK OF MARKETING & PROMOTION SPEND - industry relies solely on other organisations (SCRC, SEA and other private organisations) to promote oysters to consumers. Surveys highlight industry’s desire to better promote the oyster industry and its product. There is no mechanism in place that allows the industry to invest collectively and efficiently in marketing, industry promotion and other service (e.g. bio-security, training) activities.
4. LACK OF FUNDS to support a national full-time Executive Officer for OA.
Final report
Funding for industry development, operations, promotion and other industry services is increasingly important in every modern food production sector. This project sought to confirm an agreed national funding mechanism for joint R&D, marketing and promotion and administrative support for Oysters Australia (OA).
This project revealed the challenges and options that the Australian Oyster Industry faces. Oysters are losing market share even as the demands of domestic seafood consumers rise, global risks (biosecurity, genetic improvement, market competitiveness) are threatening local enterprise sustainability and viability, and growers struggle to communicate and find common approaches that invest in real responses.
The report has detailed existing funding mechanisms, related state cost impacts, and leverage options. Presentations at regional and state meetings in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania have opened the debate and highlighted Oysters Australia’s need to change its communication techniques so that growers are aware of its aims and achievements.
Seafood CRC: Aquaculture Production Innovation Hub: Phase II – communication, extension and opportunities
The Seafood CRC has made considerable investment in a diverse range of aquaculture production projects. The research has been prioritised and driven by industry needs, and it is critical to ensure the research outputs are communicated to industry. This is particularly the case where projects may be largely focussed on one species or one industry sector, yet have broader relevance and application among Seafood CRC participants. Selected key extension activities for the ‘Finfish’ and ‘Breeding for Profit’ Themes of the SfCRC Production Innovation Program have been built into this project.
Final report
This project was a continuation of the Aquaculture Innovation Hub (Project 2008/902). The Phase II Hub focussed on research extension activities in the finfish, crustacean and shellfish sectors and on increasing trans-Tasman communications among aquaculture producers and researchers.
The Phase II Hub conducted four workshops for national and international participants to communicate recent research findings and technology developments for marine hatcheries, enhance understanding of community engagement and discuss aquaculture spatial planning processes. Novel communication platforms were trialled with two editions of the What’s Hatching talking news and a webinar on social acceptability of the fishing industry and aquaculture.
The Hub supported technical exchanges for two shellfish industry representatives to improve understanding of hatchery operations and improved hatchery management practices in water treatment and larval feeds have been applied in shellfish, crustaceans and finfish as a result of Hub activities. New Zealand and Australian researchers and industry have refined approaches to understanding the social acceptance of aquaculture and community engagement through the trans-Tasman workshops and the network of aquaculture producers, research and regulators has been strengthened.
SCRC: Visiting Expert: Dr John Taylor visit to Tasmania
Final report
There is currently no research on triploidy in Atlantic Salmon being carried out in Australia, For Tasmanian growers, triploids are one of the poorer performing stock types but a necessary part of the strategy for producing the right sized harvest fish all year round. The growers hoped to achieve improved performance and quality of triploids through to harvest –faster growth, higher quality, lower deformities, higher survival, possibly enhanced breeding.
Dr John Taylor from the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling in the UK was invited to visit Tasmania to share his wealth of experience in the environmental control of fish physiology and nutritional regulation of deformity. His research is industry driven and practically orientated to ensure outputs are timely, current and with the highest industrial application and impact.
Dr Taylor spent a week visiting marine sites and hatcheries where he presented a review of results from a variety of studies over the last few years, many of which are as yet unpublished. This has resulted in early access to research findings. In addition the question and answer sessions with staff were very wide ranging and gave the companies an overview of recent results of trials concerning improved salmon and trout production.