Commercial production trial with high POMS tolerant triploid Pacific Oysters in approved NSW estuaries.
This project offers significant opportunity to accelerate the Australian Pacific Oyster industry to grow in production and value.
The NSW Pacific Oyster producers, especially those in POMS affect areas require both POMS resistant oysters that have all the benefits demonstrated through the ASI breeding program, and due to local regulatory requirements, and ease of management - triploid Pacific Oysters. Triploid oysters have an additional set of chromosomes (Triploid 3n vs Diploid 2n), and this provides for increased growth and better condition for extended periods compared with diploids that lose condition through reproductive activities including spawning. Triploid oysters are an important part of the broader Australian Industry, with producers incorporating them in production to ensure year round supply, especially in warmer climates such as NSW and SA where reproductive activity is enhanced.
Utilising the framework for research and development outlined below:
i) Proof of concept
ii) Proof of product
iii) Proof of markets
iv) Commercialisation
This project builds upon the the proof of concept that ASI selectively breed lines have enhanced resilience to POMS, this project addresses the second stage - Proof of product, delivering ASI breeding into a triploid product.
Final report
Future Oysters CRC-P Communication and Adoption
Future oysters CRC-P: Enhancing Pacific Oyster breeding to optimise national benefits
The introduction of POMS to Tasmania has resulted in an increased requirement for POMS resistant oysters nationally. The Tasmanian industry has an urgent requirement to allow the industry to rebuild towards sustainability for those areas currently affected by the disease and for protection for those areas which are currently free from it. The South Australian industry, whist free from the disease at this point, also requires POMS resistant oysters so that it can hopefully avoid the crippling losses suffered in Tasmania by having resistant oysters stocked onto their farms prior to any potential outbreaks. New South Wales like Tasmania has areas that have been affected and areas that are free from POMS. Biosecurity restrictions as a result of POMS incursions have added an extra layer of complexity to ensuring that the benefits of the selective breeding program are achieved nationally. As a result there is a requirement for further research to adapt the breeding program to the new paradigm of POMS in Tasmania and permit the industry to recover and be protected from the threat of further expansion of POMS into new areas.
Final report
The project was conducted across multiple areas that reflected the objectives of the project. Researchers worked collaboratively to conduct research across breeding strategy development, capacity building in SA, genetic improvement, laboratory and field challenges, accelerated maturation and developing an identification tool.