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Seaweed National Hatchery Network (NHN) – Tropical Research Hub for Asparagopsis taxiformis

Project number: 2023-078
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $767,545.00
Principal Investigator: Mark D. Cyrus
Organisation: James Cook University (JCU)
Project start/end date: 29 Sep 2023 - 30 Mar 2025
:
TAGS
Seaweed
Aquaculture

Need

This project provides the resources for JCU to establish and operate the Tropical Research Hub for the National Hatchery Network in collaboration with ASSA researchers for 18 months (until 31 March 2025) which is the stipulated grant duration.

This FRDC project will provide the funding for JCU to engage key technical capability needed to support the Hub and establish the facilities for exclusive and continuous use for the project over the grant period, as well as provide the facilities and services of the ASSA employees (~2) working at this Hub.

The core objectives of the Research Hub will be to:
1. Establish facilities and equipment required for the development of the Tropical Seaweed Research Hub
2. Deliver a focused research program to close the life cycle, of Asparagopsis taxiformis, with the goal of being able to produce spores and seedlings.
3. Develop biological contamination management techniques for seed production.
4. Collect and maintain a clean broodstock culture collection.
5. Develop hatchery technology and equipment needs through experimentation.
6. Contribute to the development of a Hatchery Manual and knowledge sharing and dissemination.

The establishment of foundational seaweed hatchery capabilities at a strategic location in the Tropics, alongside the accelerated availability of seedstock and the provision of guidance in hatchery design and techniques marks a pivotal advancement in the journey of the seaweed industry in Australia. The Tropical Research Hub at JCU will help ensure sustainable industry growth by addressing the emerging R&D challenges surrounding hatchery techniques, strain selection, and seed production of Asparagopsis taxifomis. Moreover, it will foster a collaborative relationship between industry stakeholders, governments, and research institutions, promoting the development and progress of seaweed cultivation.

Objectives

1. Establish facilities and equipment required for the development of the Tropical Seaweed Research Hub as well as maintain the facilities, equipment, and consumables. There by providing research capacity for the development of robust and repeatable hatchery production techniques.
2. Deliver a focused research program to close the life cycle, of Asparagopsis taxiformis, with the goal of being able to produce spores and seedlings. Undertaking R&D to fast track the life-stage process through life cycle manipulation and understanding the eco-physiology of the species.
3. Develop biological contamination management techniques for seed production.
4. Collect and maintain a clean broodstock culture collection. For use in current and future projects.
5. Develop hatchery technology and equipment needs through experimentation.
6. Contribute to the development of a Hatchery Manual and knowledge sharing and dissemination. Collect and collate relevant information to be stored on a grant provided databases available to interested industry people and researchers. Provide milestone reporting of technical and financial progress to FRDC against plans, identifying achievements and challenges, and budgets. Contribute stakeholder engagement activities associated with the Tropical Research Hub. Contribute to training and knowledge sharing activities (extension).
Industry

Seaweed National Hatchery Network (NHN) – Temperate Research Hub for Asparagopsis armata

Project number: 2023-081
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $1,329,525.00
Principal Investigator: Sasi Nayar
Organisation: Flinders University
Project start/end date: 30 Mar 2024 - 29 Apr 2025
:
TAGS
Seaweed
Aquaculture

Need

This project provides the resources for SARDI to establish and operate the Temperate Research Hub for the National Hatchery Network for 18 months (until 25 March 2025) which is the stipulated grant duration.

The FRDC project will provide the funding for SARDI to engage key technical capability needed to support the Hub and establish the facilities for exclusive and continuous use for the project. SARDI will provide facilities and services for up to two ASSA employees working at this Hub for the conduct of this project.

The key components of the project include:
1. Establish facilities and equipment required for the development of the temperate hub of the National Seaweed Hatchery Network
2. Deliver a focused research program to close the life cycle, of Asparagopsis armata, with the goal of being able to produce carpospores, tetrasporophytes, tetraspores and gametophytes.
3. Develop management systems to control contamination in the Asparagopsis armata hatchery.
4. Collect and maintain a clean broodstock culture collection.
5. Develop hatchery technology and equipment needs through experimentation.
6. Contribute to the development of a Hatchery Manual and knowledge sharing and dissemination.

Objectives

1. Establish and maintain the facilities, equipment and consumables for the Temperate Research Hub relating to Asparagopsis armata.
2. Provide research capacity, including staff, for undertaking robust and repeatable hatchery, nursery production and ‘inoculum’ transport techniques for A. armata.
3. Work with the ASSA technical team to further develop hatchery and sporulation techniques and technology for A. armata, undertake further R&D to close any gaps in hatchery technology including ecophysiology to close the lifecycle of this taxa, and develop biological contamination management techniques for seed production and maintenance of a ‘clean’ broodstock culture collection for future industry use.
4. Contribute to the development of a comprehensive hatchery manual addressing wild collection to production and transport of ‘seed’ for onshore and in sea grow out based on protocols and techniques developed from R&D at the research hub for A. armata, with the aim to assist seaweed aquaculturists to be self-sufficient in developing their own hatchery for commercial scale seedstock production.
5. Contribute to the development of standard design drawings for hatchery design for A. armata, incorporating best practice biosecurity procedures to be incorporated in the manual(s).
6. Establish base performance standards for the culture of A. armata to enable others to replicate protocols established in the hatchery manual and compare their level of success.
7. Phylogenetic cataloguing of the strains of A. armata from the viewpoint of assessing strain rigor for selective breeding and biosecurity. This will be made available as a publicly accessible database.
8. Contribute to training and knowledge sharing activities (extension).
9. Contribute to necessary finance, HR, communications, and stakeholder engagement activities associated with the Temperate Research Hub.
10. Provide milestone reporting of technical and financial progress to FRDC against plans, identifying achievements and challenges, and budgets.
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