227 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2021-019
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Future proofing the northern Australia aquaculture industry need for skilled staff to 2050

The aquaculture industry in Northern Australia (NA) is undergoing a period of unprecedented growth, precipitating an increasing demand for skilled staff. To facilitate this growth, the industry requires an increasing stream of suitably skilled and qualified entrants to the industry workforce. Prior...
ORGANISATION:
James Cook University (JCU)
TAGS
Workforce
SPECIES
Black Tiger Prawn

Establishing a national end of life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system for Australia

Project number: 2023-124
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $273,080.00
Principal Investigator: Anissa Lawrence
Organisation: TierraMar Ltd trading as Ocean Earth Foundation
Project start/end date: 29 Sep 2024 - 29 Jun 2026
:
TAGS
Wild Catch
Recreational Fishing
Rac Wa
Marine Plastics
Environmental Impact

Need

Building on the circularity discussions and work being undertaken by FRDC and the industry, this project seeks to undertake the legwork required to establish a nationwide on-demand End of life (EOL) fishing gear recovery system for Australia and pilot it in key locations. The materials that many nets and ropes are made of are highly valuable and recyclable and in fact in many other countries, is already being recycled or remanufactured. Until now, having a national system has been cost prohibitive due to the large distances and need for economies of scale and limited local buyer interest. As a part of the national targets set by the Australian Government relating to plastics use and recycling, commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors have been exploring how to move to a circular economy model and reduce plastic inputs through a variety of projects run by FRDC and others. However, with fishing gear the biggest plastic polymer input, and contamination challenges, there has yet to be a suitable system established.

This project seeks to enable the opportunities that addressing EOL gear provides in Australia to the commercial fishing and aquaculture sector through the establishment of an effective EOL fishing gear recovery system for the country to reduce the landfill costs to industry. It seeks to build on the learnings from previous projects as well as the ten years of experience of our partner Bureo has in in operating an EOL fishing gear recovery program. Bureo currently have an EOL gear recovery system active in 9 countries.

The key objectives are:
● By the end of 2026 there is an effective end-of-life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system implemented across key fishing ports, and key aquaculture centres benefiting regional communities and fisheries conservation and assisting the Australian Government to address plastic recovery/recycling targets.
● By the end of 2024, the enabling environment for an effective and fit for purpose EOL fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system is in place within Australia, with commencement of recycling underway in key pilot locations.

Objectives

1. By March 2025 the feasibility of and logistical requirements are understood to establish a national end of life recovery system for commercial fishing and aquaculture gear in Australia and an enabling pathway for roll out created.
2. By the end of 2026 there is an effective end-of-life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system for Australia implemented across at least 5 key fishing ports, with measurable benefits being delivered to regional communities, industry, conservation, while contributing towards the Australian Government’s recycling targets.
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-087
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Maximising the value of the NSW Longfin Eel catch through a whole of supply chain approach - Stage 1

Following a dramatic drop in demand for live wild-caught eels (Longfin Eel, Anguilla Reinhardtii) to be exported from NSW to China, fishing efforts have significantly reduced, and the fishery is now classed as underutilised. At the same time, there is a global shortage of eels, with demand...
ORGANISATION:
Honey and Fox Pty Ltd
TAGS
Supply Chain
SPECIES
Longfin Eel
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-164
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Commercial production trial with high POMS tolerant triploid Pacific Oysters in approved NSW estuaries.

This report details a collaborative "proof of concept" project undertaken to investigate the opportunity to reinvigorate the triploid Pacific oyster farming industry in NSW estuaries affected by Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS). The participating organisations were Australian Seafood...
ORGANISATION:
Australian Seafood Industries Pty Ltd (ASI)
TAGS
Reproduction
SPECIES
Pacific Oyster
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2021-129
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Understanding of spatial extent, infection window and potential alternative hosts for the oyster disease QX in Port Stephens

This report details an investigation by the NSW Department of Primary Industries into QX disease in Sydney Rock Oysters (Saccostrea glomerata; SROs) in Port Stephens during the 2022. This followed from the first incursion of this disease in this estuary in August of 2021. QX disease has...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
TAGS
Rac Nsw
SPECIES
Sydney Rock Oyster
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2022-205
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Pathways and opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian prawn farming industry

This report provides an updated assessment of the carbon footprint of farmed prawns in Australia, building upon the foundation laid by previous projects (FRDC Project 2020-089), which focused on the overall carbon footprint of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. This project involves a...
ORGANISATION:
Blueshift Consulting
TAGS
Sustainability
SPECIES
Black Tiger Prawn

Ensuring market-focused value adding capabilities are available to SA Seafood companies today and through to 2030

Project number: 2022-137
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $61,500.00
Principal Investigator: Ewan A. Colquhoun
Organisation: Ridge Partners
Project start/end date: 18 May 2023 - 30 Aug 2023
:
TAGS
Market Opportunities
Commercial Species
Aquaculture

Need

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.

Objectives

Commercial in confidence

Final report

Author: Ewan Colquhoun and Catherine Sayer
Final Report • 2024-02-01 • 1.19 MB
2022-137-DLD.pdf

Summary

Context
Fresh premium seafood has long been the best pathway to a viable consumer. That remains true for premium SA wildcatch species (e.g., rock lobster, prawn, abalone) that are, and will continue to be, prosperous. But processing and value adding have never been more critical to attract retail consumers than they are today. Modern seafood consumers (retail, food service, or online) are informed and agile, and increasingly choosing retail offers that are consumer meals ready-to-eat. Fishers, farmers, and chain partners must engage in this reality if they are to remain competitive and viable.
 
The rising frequency of product recalls by SA seafood manufacturers prompted this review. A Preferred Investment Pathway offers direction to resolve gaps by 2030.
Globally and nationally, aquaculture is the largest seafood supplier, setting baseline prices for retail and online product formats. Its easy access, scalable supply, chain efficiency, and species control over yield and product format, can more easily attract investment. SA aquafarms and a few wildcatch fisheries (e.g., Jackets, Pipi) are approaching economic scale in supply and along integrated supply chains. Both are seeking to integrate or access technology and capability to value-add to tight national retail and food service client specifications. Efficient market-focused seafood value adding will build SA’s capability and retain investment and employment, particularly in regional communities.
 
Consultation
This review consulted widely (fishers, farmers, processors, value adders, investors, regulators) regarding processing and value adding capacity and capability that exists and is required to ensure SA’s successful market focused value adding by 2030. Unsurprisingly capacity gaps already exist and will grow (without clear heads) as supply increases 25,000 tonnes (32%) by 2030. Eighteen core issues and risks are identified.
Human capacity (skills, collaboration, leadership), Technology transfer (NPD, batch trials), and Markets (intelligence, unique selling points) are the most critical and challenging. Most new investment is by industry’s private account, but indirectly coinvestment by government will enable and leverage community outcomes.
Industry
Industry
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2019-207
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Developing a value proposition and future track for the National Aquaculture Council (NAC)

Following a decline in its membership, the board of the National Aquaculture Council (NAC) initiated this project to gain an understanding of the needs and expectations of industry stakeholders in terms of industry representation. The two core objectives being: 1. To determine the ideal value...
ORGANISATION:
National Aquaculture Council (NAC)
TAGS
Value Add
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Research

Category

Species

Organisation