The hatchery sector for SRO is still developing and any assistance with its underlying operating challenges or potential increases to its seed market significantly improve the prospects for its continued development.

Tetraploid SRO: Triploid SRO can grow up to 30% faster than normal SRO and commonly have a significantly longer marketability window. Accordingly, many framers have eagerly awaited the supply of more triploid seed. In order for this to occur new techniques that overcome the shortcomings of direct induction are required - techniques that don't involve the direct application of harmful chemicals to what will eventually be a foodstuff.

Gamete preservation: Currently techniques for strip spawning SRO gametes typically results in the destruction of valuable broodstock and the collection of many more gametes than are required immediately. The capacity to simply and cheaply store gametes for relatively short periods of time offers a number of advantages. Once the hatchery operator is satisfied with the performance of gametes (usually apparent within hours to days) gametes could be shared with other hatcheries. This is particularly valuable where brood stock are scarce because of time of year or they are from a limited population in a breeding program. If problems occur, stored gametes could be used to commence a second batch without the need to continue to hold and feed broodstock, or to recreate a particular cross (or new crosses) within a breeding program.

Maturation: SRO broodstock can take up to 10 weeks to bring into condition within a hatchery and can consume up to 80% of the algae required for a hatchery production run - this is both time consuming and expensive. Technology that accelerates reproductive condition and then stimulates spawning on demand could significantly reduce these costs.

Relatively few major disease events have occurred within the NSW aquaculture industries, and as a result there has not been an integrated multi-agency approach developed. To date, emergencies have been dealt with on an ad hoc basis and no large scale eradication programs have been undertaken with respect to aquatic animal diseases. It follows that relatively little experience in handling such emergencies currently exists within the department of NSW Fisheries. In the absence of a real-life emergency to provide “on-the-job” training, simulation exercises provide a practical alternative to expose and train staff in the management of aquatic disease emergencies.

The need can be summarised as follows:

1. Both government and industries have relatively little experience with real emergencies.
2. Currently within NSW there is no cohesive management strategy setting out the roles and responsibilities of individuals and agencies involved. NSW Fisheries and NSW Agriculture are jointly examining ways of applying the NSW disaster plan to cover aquatic emergencies.
3. The limited number of previous disease emergencies has led to some industry complacency about the risks of disease introduction and the potentially devastating effects.
4. A lack of experience amongst the agencies that have jurisdiction over the management of aquatic animals may lead to a delayed or inadequate response to a disease emergency. This delay may allow greater spread of disease, loss of Australia’s disease free trading status and potentially disastrous effects on wild fisheries and ecosystems.

The Oyster Farmers Association of NSW, NSW Farmers’ Association Oyster Section, National Aquaculture Council, Queensland Oyster Growers’ Association previously provided letters of support. Members from each of these industry groups will participate in the development of this project and the exercise itself. Safefood have expressed an interest to provide advice to appropriately address any human health issues. Selected QDPI staff will attend.