Seafood CRC: new product development for low value, high volume species - WA Sardines
Sardines have traditionally been an undervalued species in WA, with the majority of product going for
angler bait and tuna aquaculture feed at an average price of around $1.20/kg. It has been
recognised that there are opportunities in the human consumption market for this fish due to the
relatively high volumes of sustainable production and the perceived health benefits as an oily fish. As a
result some research has focused on increasing the value of sardines in WA, and indeed some
product development and consumer survey work has been undertaken and various value added
products produced (FRDC Project Report 95/142). Generally, however, these products have not had
long term success , partly due to the reduction in supply after the ‘pilchard kills’ of the 1990’s and partly to a disconnect in the production, processing and marketing chain. This project, using methods developed in the accelerated product development project CRC 2010/706, will increase the chance of producing products with market longevity by developing products and an aligned supply chain to meet a specific and pre-identified market opportunity.
To be successful, selling sardines for human consumption needs the expertise of project partners, through the whole chain to identify and exploit new market opportunities for Western Australian sardines. These potential partnerships are in place with this project encompassing producer, processor and distribution channel. Pilot production and market trials, encompassing through chain partnerships and agreed product development practices, protocols and specifications from catch to market are thus able to undertaken, improving the likelihood of market success from the value added sardine products prior to large scale production.
Seafood CRC: new opportunities for underutilised species
Approximately 25,000 tonnes of finfish is not harvested in Australia each year, even though operators are licensed to do so. This is because the fish have a low market value (leatherjacket), are difficult to process (Boarfish), are very fragile and require an exacting supply chain to reach the market in satisfactory condition (sardines, Australian Salmon) or are harvested from remote areas with inadequate support infrastructure. Additional tonnage is harvested but directed to low value products such as pet food, bait and aquaculture feed (sardines, mackerel, silver warehou, bonito tuna). There are also areas (e.g. Western Deep Trawl) where little is know about the fishery resource and potential
for commercialization. And there are also fish discarded after being caught due to low market value or insufficient space for storage. Each of these under-utilised species can be used to produce high quality, fresh and processed products that could help meet the increasing demand for seafood.
Final report
Project products
Intensive cultivation of a calanoid copepod for live food in fish culture
Final report
The aim of this study was to develop a system for the cultivation of a calanoid copepod which occurs in estuaries in the southwest of Western Australia. This copepod, Gladioferens imparipes, seemed suitable for use in marine fish aquaculture; it can tolerate a wide salinity range, including sea water, has planktonic nauplius larvae and is sufficiently robust to grow well in cultivation. The objectives of the study were to develop a scale of culture which would be realistic for use in aquaculture, develop a system to automate routine procedures in the copepod culture to minimise labour and to investigate the effectiveness of using copepod nauplii from intensive cultures to enhance the survival, health and growth of fish larvae. A final objective was to provide a manual of operations to assist people to develop, maintain and use cultures of G. imparipes for use in aquaculture. This manual is available as a separate appendix to this report.
Workshop to implement a National Approach to Australian Salmon Market Development and Supply
SCRC: Seafood CRC Post Doctoral Scientist: Integrated value chain performance benchmarking studies (economics, logistics and product quality).
This project is aimed at increasing the capacity to provide Australian seafood businesses with assistance in analysing and improving their supply chains and thus improve their profitability and ability to meet and respond to their customer's needs.
The need for building this capacity has been identified by the CRC and is relected in the OzSeaValue Theme Business Plan which outlines the CRC's framework for investment in this area (including the develpment of the Australian Seafood Productivity Improvement Centre). Similarly WAFIC, ACA, ACPF, APFA, Oyster Consortium, Simplot, SFM and other CRC participants have developed or are developing supply chain projects that will need a coordinated and multi disciplinary research response. The CRC has funded two supply chain mapping and benchmarking projects and has had to engage a private consultant to undertake the work due to lack of capacity within CRC research providers. This lack of capacity was recognised by Curtin University and WAFIC and a supply chain performance research theme was incorporated into the recently funded Centre of Excellence for Seafood Science and Health.
The Post Doc position will work nationally with CRC participants and help to develop a national and international network of expertise and collaborative effort to meet the supply chain performance needs of the companies involved. Opportunities to involve higher education degree students will be vigorously pursued, further enhancing capacity in supply chain performance research and services for industry.
It is anticipated that once the capacity is developed that the demand for services will enable the continued and ongoing funding for supply chain research support within the Centre.
Final report
At the commencement of the Seafood CRC in 2007, CRC participants identified the need to improve competitiveness and profitability through improved supply chain management as one of their highest priorities. However, a lack of research capacity in whole of seafood supply chain monitoring and management was also identified. As a result the CRC decided to fund a post-doctoral position in integrated value chain performance benchmarking studies (incorporating economics, logistics and product quality) to build research capacity in this area.
As a result of the project, generic methods/frameworks have been developed for a range of supply and value chain analyses and these frameworks have been tested in case studies. A large group of staff and students from national research institutions have been trained in seafood supply and value chain analysis techniques. Videos describing some of the methods were also produced for industry extension. As well, more than 10 separate projects have been CRC funded with specific industry partners to undertake supply and value chain analysis, with concomitant recommendation, implementation and evaluation of interventions to improve individual supply chain performance. These project results were the basis for >10 presentations to various industry groups and conferences explaining the techniques and the results of the projects. A number of peer reviewed journal articles have also been published/submitted.