Development of an algal bloom monitoring buoy for the Australian aquaculture industry: proof of concept
Final report
A prototype of an automatic algal monitoring buoy was developed for unattended operation in shellfish and finfish farm waters. The instrument employs novel antifouling and self-calibration strategies (subject to a provisional patent ) based on a battery-powered actuator extending into the seawater medium at 15 min intervals both a light source and a solid state sensor from a protective PVC cylinder. The optical sensor measures both ambient light and the signal from a high intensity LED light source, with separate readings being taken after travelling through an optical fibre reference path (internal standard) and after travelling through a 60 cm horizontal path of natural seawater. The optical system is suspended at 1 m depth (can be varied) from a float with the systems control and data acquisition system located above water.
Financial constraints ($20,000 FRDC budget) prevented us to also implement a radiomodem link to laboratory computer as originally planned. We are now seeking further funds to develop the instrument to a commercial stage (estimated market value per unit Aus $10,000) and extensively test its field performance under a range of environmental and algal bloom conditions.
Linking habitat mapping with fisheries assessment in key commercial fishing grounds
The need for strategic R&D in the mapping of coastal seabed habitats supporting fisheries and linking fisheries assessments with such mapping has been identified through several Commonwealth (FRDC - 95/055, 98/223 94/040 and 94/037) and in the Tasmanian Marine Environment Strategic Research Plan (1999-2004.
These needs are reflected in this proposal that aims to provide spatial information on abalone habitats in several key fishing blocks relevant to both site specific fishery independent abundance surveys and stock assessments at the block scale.
The need for fishery independent abundance surveys and assessment of physical and species interactions for abalone in Tasmania are high priority issues in the Tasmanian Abalone Strategic Research Plan and a review of abalone research needs (FRDC project 98/170). This is reflected in the current abalone FRDC project (2001/074) and ongoing abalone abundance surveys. The project proposed here will significantly contribute to this research by providing fine-scale maps of the biological and physical structure of abalone habitats which will help to optimise abalone abundance and population studies by having better criteria on which to select survey sites. It will also further improve abalone assessments by providing estimates of reef habitat for several key blocks and assisting in the correlation of environmental and habitat variables on catch rates and population parameters. In particular, there is a need to examine the structure of reef habitats in north-east Tasmania where many areas have become ‘unproductive’ for abalone in recent years and there are considerable urchin barrens present, the of which is required through detailed mapping.
In addition, further R&D is needed in the area of cost-effective acoustic and video assessment techniques. This project aims to advance this R&D and continue the transfer of technology to other agencies that TAFI has been progressing. The increase in coastal mapping in Australia also requires a framework and consistency for classifying habitats at a range of hierarchical scales. This is being progressed in the FRDC project 2002/097 ‘Development of national habitat classification framework’, which will require a significant input from mapping projects such as proposed here for the classification scheme to be comprehensive and representative.
Final report
Seafood CRC: quantifying physiological and behavioural responses of cultured abalone to stress events
Vulnerability of the endangered Maugean Skate population to degraded environmental conditions in Macquarie Harbour
SCRC: CoolFish - Traceability and product sensor technologies to manage seafood cool chains APPROVAL FOR PHASE 1 ONLY FOR $14,600
There is a need to integrate both traceability and freshness technologies into a single platform, so that all pertinent information can be collected as the product moves through the supply chain from processing to wholesale/retail, and to remedy unnecessary costly project rejection. Real research developments are occurring in the integration of sensor technology (which has a microbiological focus, and includes developments in food hygiene indexes for predicting the degree of seafood spoilage on the basis of time-temperature data), and traceability technology (which has a spatial focus and includes developments in geographic information systems).
The real questions for seafood producers, processors and sellers are ones of data management – what does an operator do with the data generated by devices such as temperature loggers and global traceability devices? The linkage between this information and protocols, guidelines and standards for seafood export, food safety or authenticity is not yet fully developed or tested.
Final report
This report constitutes the completion of Phase 1 of the CoolFish Project. The overall objective of the CoolFish project is to utilise commercial traceability and product sensor technologies to address current business impediments and business opportunities in cool chains to support increased sustainability and profitability in seafood supply chains. Phase 1 provides information to support the decision-making process on progress of the CoolFish Project into Phases 2 and 3.
This project provides a baseline information about logistics issues and challenges in Tasmanian salmon cool chains. Reviews were established and commercially available traceability and sensor technologies with the most potential for deployment in Phases 2 and 3 of the CoolFish project were identified.