16 results
People
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-212
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Determination of the disease status of Western Australian commercial prawn stocks

There is little published information on the disease status of the prawns on the north-west shelf, yet these prawns (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, Metapenaeus endeavouri, Penaeus esculentus and Melicertus latisulcatus) form the basis of a commercial fishery worth in excess of A$42 million in...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
SPECIES
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2002-668
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: enhancing the emergency disease response capability of Department of Fisheries and industry bodies associated with non-maxima oyster culture

A two day disease emergency response workshop was held at Geraldton, Western Australia, in October 2002. The objective of the exercise was to test the industry and government response to a disease emergency among non-maxima pearl farms at the Abrolhos Islands. The exercise was...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 1987-081
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Developing on-growing techniques and disease prevention husbandry of pearl oysters in WA

Infection by marine Vlbrlo bacteria is still considered to be the major opportunistic cause of mass mortalities of pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima} on farm lease sites in the north west of Western Australia. Vibriosis of P. maxima was found to occur following some form of stressful husbandry...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Environment
Environment

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: development of a national translocation policy using abalone and prawns as templates for other aquatic species

Project number: 2004-080
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $24,391.00
Principal Investigator: Brian Jones
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 30 May 2004 - 15 Jan 2007
:

Need

To maximize gains from the breeding programs they need to cross best performing stock. Where the stock is located in different States, there is a need to move the animals across state borders - preferably as animal or seed, but the ability to move gametes or larvae would be viewed as significant progress towards achieving the objectives of the program. The project leaders are also requesting that the business of selling genetically enhanced stock not be restricted to customers within state borders as this limit would make the program economically unviable.

This need for national translocation policies is becoming urgent with the steady but unpublicized increase in the number of aquatic animal hatcheries across Australia. To make the hatcheries viable, sales across jurisdictions in some industries are essential in some industries. Considering all aquatic animal species, not just abalone, Western Australia alone has in excess of seventeen aquaculture production hatcheries (as at August 2003) and this pattern is similar in other jurisdictions.

Objectives

1. To develop a single consistent translocation policy document for live temperate abalone, involving Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, which is based on scientific risk assessment principles
recognizes that the disease status of wild abalone populations is still unclear
may recognize different zones of “risk” and is consistent with Australia’s international obligations.
2. To develop a single consistent translocation policy document for live prawns, involving Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia, which is based on scientific risk assessment principles
recognizes that the disease status of wild prawn populations is still unclear
may recognize different zones of “risk” and is consistent with Australia’s international obligations.
3. To indicate how these policies can be a template for other translocation issues.

Final report

ISBN: 1-877098-95-7
Author: Brian Jones
Final Report • 2008-07-11 • 1.06 MB
2004-080-DLD.pdf

Summary

The use of scientifically based hazard identification, risk analysis and risk management is fundamental to managing unwanted effects.  Hazards, such as quarantine incursions, will continue to occur despite the use of risk assessment methodologies but the frequency and severity of their occurrence will be reduced.

This was recognised by the Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture in 1999 when they published the “National policy for the translocation of live aquatic organisms”. 

This FRDC project provides a simple risk assessment methodology based on the Australian Standard for Risk Management (AS/NZS 4360: 2004) and one that is consistent with the Ministerial Council policies.  It was trialled in a workshop situation involving stakeholders to derive scores for likelihood and consequences associated with identified hazards.  From these scores a risk rating can be obtained that will indicate whether risk management measures need be applied.  At the workshop a number of management measures were suggested for reducing risks associated with abalone and prawn translocations and these are documented. However, the application of management measures is an issue for individual jurisdictions who assess the risk in terms of their own acceptable level of risk and then adopt appropriate management measures.  For example, the risks associated with translocation of trout in Tasmania have far greater consequences to that state than the same risks would in Western Australia.

Overall, and for both abalone and prawns, the known risks associated with translocation of selected lines of juvenile stock bred in high health hatcheries and of known disease status, to onshore grow out facilities should prove to be manageable in terms of risk. Examples of translocation management measures adopted in Western Australia and Queensland are provided as appendices.  Translocation of animals of known disease status into open water or semi-open water culture situations is more problematic and is likely to be influenced by genetic issues as well as disease issues. 

The risk assessment methodology used is readily adaptable to other species and to risks associated with the environment or genetic issues, though, with the exception of fouling organisms on abalone, these were not specifically addressed during the workshop. 

Domestic trade is governed by the Commonwealth Government’s Mutual Recognition Act 1992 and complementary legislation.  This ensures that consistency with World Trade Organisation and sanitary and phytosanitary principles extends to trade between States and Territories. It is probable that States and Territories will adopt differing entry requirements due to differing assessments of risk based on individual assessments of likelihood and consequence, and variations between acceptable levels of risk between jurisdictions. However, the measures adopted and the reasons for their adoption must be documented and they must be science based. 

Keywords: Abalone, aquaculture, prawns, shrimp, translocation, risk assessment.

Environment
Environment
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 1976-025
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

To further development of aquaculture of marron by testing a specially designed pond sited in the most climatically favourable location in Western Australia

Extensive research has been conducted on the growth cycle of marron, a type of freshwater crayfish. in Western Australia. The research suggests that the most favorable area for marron is near Cape Leeuwin. People interested in setting up an aquaculture facility for marron are advised to seek a pond...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
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