12 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-169
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Assessing the nutritional value of Australian Barramundi

Farmed Australian barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is a reasonably well-recognised fish product in the Australian marketplace, however, its nutritional value and health benefits compared to other animal protein and seafoods is not quantified and widely known by consumers. This study assessed the...
ORGANISATION:
James Cook University (JCU)
SPECIES

Assessment of novel gear designs to reduce interactions between species of conservation interest and commercial fishing nets

Project number: 2011-009
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $142,499.66
Principal Investigator: David Welch
Organisation: James Cook University (JCU)
Project start/end date: 4 Sep 2011 - 3 Sep 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The inshore gillnet fishery of Queensland operates in nearshore shallow, turbid waters of our coastline also shared with species of conservation interest (SOCI; eg. dugong, turtle, dolphin and large sharks. Interactions between nets and SOCI are inevitable and in the interest of conservation, safety and fishing efficiency there is a need to minimise these interactions.

Current construction of gillnets mean that very large animals often become entangled in the nets and are unable to break free. Where the animal breaks free or is cut free by the fisher, significant damage is caused to the fishing gear reducing fishery efficiency, productivity and profitability. More importantly, these interactions pose an unnecessary risk to the fisher and the vessel, often resulting in injury or mortality to the animal.

There is significant concern for the conservation of SOCI in northern Australia, particularly in the GBRMP; a World Heritage Area. Fishing, particularly the use of gillnets, is regarded as a major threat to SOCI. Assessing strategies for net fisheries that may minimise these interactions is seen as high priorities for research by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Queensland Fisheries and conservation groups such as the World Wildlife Fund. This project addresses these high priorities and also addresses one of the high priority research areas specified for inshore fisheries by the Queensland Fisheries Research Advisory Board for 2010. Effective mitigation using modified gear will minimise the need for urgent government intervention as seen in the Boyne River recently (http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=74570).

In Australia, the dugong is protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as a listed 'migratory species' and a listed 'marine species' and ‘vulnerable’ under Queensland’s Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006. The dugong is also listed as a 'protected species' under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983.

Objectives

1. Identify alternate net designs and fisheries to which they may apply through an expert panel/workshop.
2. Assess the effectiveness of alternate net designs to minimise interactions with Species of Conservation Interest.
3. Determine the impact of alternate net designs on "normal" fishery operation metrics for the Queensland east coast (eg. target species catch rates, net maintenance)
4. Develop an extension program to promote the project outcomes and ensure the uptake of project results through the increased use of alternate net designs.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9808178-3-6
Author: David Welch
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-170
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Real time monitoring of water quality and mechanisation of pond management to boost productivity and increase profit

Maintenance of adequate levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) are critical for the health and production of aquaculture species. In barramundi (Lates calcarifer) pond aquaculture the use of 24 hr/7 day mechanical aeration via paddlewheels represents a significant energy cost to companies,...
ORGANISATION:
James Cook University (JCU)
SPECIES
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-220
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Testing established methods of early prediction of genetic merit in abalone broodstock

This report provides an assessment of the utility of RNA/DNA ratio as a method for early prediction of high performing abalone broodstock. The study was carried out on farmed Greenlip Abalone (Haliotis laevigata) whereby families were produced and resulting progeny were reared using commercial...
ORGANISATION:
James Cook University (JCU)
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1994-087
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Application of ELISA/PCR tests developed in Japan to the detection of a barramundi Picorna-like virus in Australia

The history of BPLV in Australia is one in which mass mortalities have occurred repeatedly among cultured larvae almost completely without warning. There is no published data on where the virus comes from (i.e. its source or origin), or, in the case of stock being transferred interstate, the...
ORGANISATION:
James Cook University (JCU)
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