Marine oils from Australian fish: characterisation and value added products
Final report
Fish contain an array of oils, which vary markedly between species. The waste, by-catch and byproducts from the Australian :fishing industry can therefore be value-added to yield a range of marine oils. It is estimated that 100 000 tonnes per annum of the Australian fish catch goes to waste. Research from this Project ( and its forerunner 91/77) has focused on oil from deep water and pelagic fish, and as a result of this work several companies have commenced production of marine oils for export and local use. Our research involved characterization of marine oils from Australian species, searching for new sources of commercially sought-after oils, development of new or refinement of existing processes suitable for Australian oils, and transfer of know-how to industry. Strong links exist with industry, giving an increased return for both the fishermen and oil processors, without increasing catch effort. Oils examined include: (i) wax esters derived from orange roughy, oreo dories and other fishes, (ii) shark liver oils containing squalene and diacylglycerol ethers, and (iii) triacylglycerol oils rich in essential omega-3 fatty acids. The oils are used as lubricants, in degreaser and hand cleaner products, in cosmetics and nutraceuticals.
The strengths of the Australian Marine Oils industry include: (i) relative sustainability of raw material (some countries show resources in decline), (ii) a clean and green image of the local resource, (iii) closeness to Asian markets, (iv) uniqueness of composition of several marine oils, (v) an increasing knowledge of marine oils and (vi) development of appropriate technologies. Opportunities exist based on these strengths and the Marine Oils industry has taken several products into the international market place. Together these features provide the Australian fishing and associated industries with the capacity to better utilize existing resources.
Cumulative impacts across fisheries in Australia's marine environment
Incorporating the effects of marine spatial closures in risk assessments and fisheries stock assessments
Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) - Marine oils from Australian fish: characterisation and value added products
Final report
Comparative evaluation of Integrated Coastal Marine Management in Australia - Workshop
There is widespread evidence, in Australia and internationally, of increased need for an improved, practical approach to integrated management (IM) of fisheries and other coastal marine activities that is able to fully embrace the social, economic and institutional aspects (the so-called ‘human dimensions), of management. Assessment and management systems traditionally neglect the human dimensions. Further, they treat sectors separately, often with different authorities managing diverse activities in different ways, resulting in inconsistencies in management across activities. The result is that there is almost no consideration of the cumulative social, economic or ecological impacts of multiple activities, and no way of informing trade-offs among activities in management decision-making.
Experience to date is that IM has been only partially successful. Management of multiple activities has been additive…squeezing one activity in among others (e.g aquaculture in light of others). While there are some examples of movement toward IM, these have resulted in partial or temporary success. There are examples where management has started toward IM, but progress has been stalled or has fallen back. In general, many preconditions exist, but it has been hypothesized that management is missing key aspects of intentional design that would allow IM to proceed.
The proposed workshop will bring together those with both the science knowledge and the operational knowledge of 8-10 Australian IM case studies and a few with international expertise, to evaluate and compare experience towards identifying key elements of success and failure of Integrated Management.