226 results

Seafood CRC: Southern Rock Lobster IPA: informing spatial and temporal management of the South Australian Northern Zone Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery

Project number: 2014-702
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $283,220.54
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 17 Jul 2014 - 29 Sep 2015
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The Northern Zone rock lobster fishery of South Australia is extensive covering an area of approximately 207,000 km2. The fishery has been managed under a total allowable commercial catch (TACC) since 2003. The current TACC is 345 tonnes, the majority of which is taken in inshore waters in the eastern region of the zone. The fishing season extends from November 1 to May 31 of the following year, with a closure from June to October inclusive. This project is an industry-led initiative that aims to explore alternative fishery management arrangements at both spatial and temporal scales.

From a spatial perspective, a number management of options are currently being considered for the fishery. Broadly, these options aim to encourage, through financial incentives, higher levels of exploitation in both western and offshore regions. Currently, estimates of biomass in the fishery are non-spatial. Fundamental to any spatial option is the need to generate spatial estimates of biomass to ensure that any increase in catch from peripheral regions is sustainable from a management perspective. This project aims to generate spatial biomass estimates based on historical logbook catch returns using the qR rock lobster fishery model which has been specifically developed for this fishery.

From a temporal viewpoint, industry wish to examine the possibility of an extended fishing season to enhance profitability by providing product during a period of low supply and higher prices. Currently, there are no available fishery or biological data from any of the four regions during the closed season from June to October. In particular, there is a need to attain information on the proportion of ovigerous (spawning females) in the catch during this period. Through a number of dedicated surveys, this project aims to provide a detailed catch breakdown in each fishery region during the current closed season.

Objectives

1. To provide spatial estimates of rock lobster biomass in the Northern Zone rock lobster fishery based on historical catch and effort data.
2. To provide a detailed breakdown of catch composition from dedicated surveys undertaken in the Northern Zone rock lobster fishery from June to October inclusive.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921563-89-8
Author: Adrian Linnane

Australia – New Zealand World Fisheries Congress 2020 development

Project number: 2014-506
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $51,615.53
Principal Investigator: Gavin Begg
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 22 Jun 2015 - 29 Jun 2016
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The World Fisheries Congress (WFC) is the key international fisheries conference held every 4 years to advance and promote international developments and cooperation in fisheries science, conservation and management. This includes encouraging sustainable management practices, inspiring excellence in fisheries research, and promoting the beneficial use of fishery resources. There is strong cross-jurisdictional agreement to bid for the 8th WFC to be held in Australia in 2020. An Australia-New Zealand bid team has been established and the Australian Society for Fish Biology and jurisdictions have agreed to support Adelaide as the host city. Hosting WFC 2020 will enable the strength and reputation of Australia-New Zealand in fisheries science and management to be showcased internationally, while domestically demonstrating the sustainability of our fisheries to the broader community.

Objectives

1. To develop the Australia-New Zealand bid for the 2020 World Fisheries Congress.

Egg distribution, reproductive parameters and spawning biomass of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor off the East Coast during late winter and early spring

Project number: 2014-033
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $247,000.00
Principal Investigator: Timothy M. Ward
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 9 Aug 2014 - 30 Oct 2015
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Knowledge of the winter/spring spawning patterns of Blue Mackerel and Australian Sardine is needed to underpin future assessment of these stocks and to underpin the ecologically sustainable development of pelagic fish resources off the East Coast of Australia.

Recent and robust estimates the population size of Blue Mackerel and Australian Sardine off the East Coast are needed to address community concerns regarding the potential ecological impacts of large scale fishing for small pelagic fishes off the East Coast.

Information on the egg distribution, reproductive parameters and spawning biomass of Tailor is needed to inform future management of this iconic recreational fishing species.

Objectives

1. Determine distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor off the East Coast during winter/spring.
2. Establish methods for estimating adult reproductive parameters of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor off the East Coast during winter/spring.
3. Produce preliminary estimates of the spawning biomass of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor of the East Coast during winter/spring.

Mud cockle (Katelysia spp.) stock enhancement/restoration: practical implementation and policy evaluation

Project number: 2014-028
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $250,432.00
Principal Investigator: Xiaoxu Li
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 16 Jul 2014 - 29 Jun 2017
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES

Need

Mud cockles have been an important resource to the seafood industry, recreational fishers and ecosystem of SA. These species are subject to episodic recruitment that is strongly influenced by the environment. For example, the combination of fishing and adverse environmental conditions at the Section Bank has resulted in PIRSA closing this area to fishing from 2011. As these difficulties could arise in any mud cockle fishery, e.g. a severe mud cockle mortality event occurred during December 2013 in Streaky Bay, there is a strong need to develop the capacity to recover the depleted stocks through reseeding. Section Bank is an ideal location for a case study because it has been closed to commercial and recreational fishing for more than three years.

While marine stock enhancement/restoration programs are variable in success, the approach seems well suited to cockle species, which in many countries are farmed by planting spat into the sandy substrate and harvesting them when they have reached market size. Stock enhancement/restoration also continues to advance with improved policies (e.g. PIRSA F&A Draft Policy for the Release of Aquatic Resources) and the “responsible approach” advocated by Lorenzen et al (2010) and Hart et al (2013) where methodologies are used to ensure that the genetic heterogeneity of natural populations is maintained and that hatchery stock is disease free before release.

Benefit cost analyses have shown very encouraging potential for stock enhancement in pipi and greenlip abalone. For example, a benefit cost ratio of 3.34:1 and a two year investment return were anticipated for pipi reseeding in NSW (Phelps et al 2008). Similar or greater levels of benefit can be predicted for mud cockle stock enhancement in SA by substituting the information for pipi with that for K. rhytiphora based on our findings in FRDC 2009/208 project.

Objectives

1. Develop optimal methodologies for transporting and planting hatchery produced mud cockle, K. scalarina, for stock enhancement/restoration at Section Bank.
2. Evaluate post-stocking performance of two hatchery produced mud cockle, K. scalarina and K. rhytiphora, at Section Bank.
3. Develop a monitoring program that can be incorporated within the existing industry mud cockle stock assessment program to determine the long-term success of stock enhancement/restoration.
4. Optimise mud cockle stock enhancement/restoration strategies for Section Bank through benefit cost evaluation of different options using the model developed in FRDC project 2008/071.
5. Transfer knowledge gained from this project to Government fisheries and aquaculture managers and policy makers, and cockle fishers in SA.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-876007-38-6
Authors: Miller-Ezzy P.A. Stone D.A.J. and Li X.
Final Report • 2021-08-01 • 1.59 MB
2014-028-DLD.pdf

Summary

This study was conducted to restore the Mud Cockle population in the Section Bank of Port River, South Australia, which had drastically decreased due to commercial fishing. Mud Cockles are important not only for commercial purposes but also for stabilizing sediment and reducing turbidity in the environment. The study developed procedures for transporting and planting hatchery-produced Mud Cockle seed into the field to optimize growth and survival. Pilot studies were undertaken to assess transportation and tagging procedures. Five trials were conducted at two different sites with different population sizes with the aims of testing planted Mud Cockle survival and growth across different seasons, sites, stocking densities, stocking size classes and predator protective methods. The study found that seasonal water temperature has the strongest influence on the apparent survival and growth of the re-seeded Mud Cockle spat. The results from the pilot studies indicated that Pacific Oyster spat transportation methods were suitable for Mud Cockle spat and painting one valve of the Mud Cockles with Rosario Pink paint was the most effective method for marking experimental spat. 
 
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-026
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Improving the precision of estimates of egg production and spawning biomass obtained using the Daily Egg Production Method

This project was undertaken to refine the application of the Daily Egg Production Method to Australia’s largest fishery, the South Australian Sardine Fishery and the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery. Key findings and outcomes from this study include: 1) a new generalised egg staging method...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation

Application of tracking technologies to understand space-time explicit patterns of movement, residency and habitat use of pelagic sharks in Spencer Gulf: resolving overlaps with key community activities and marine industries

Project number: 2014-020
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $382,063.00
Principal Investigator: Paul J. Rogers
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 31 May 2014 - 31 Jul 2016
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Following many expressions of public concern regarding the potential for finfish/tuna aquaculture to attract sharks to coastal areas, at both regional development and individual site applications, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture identified the need for an understanding of the factors that may explain associations between sharks and finfish/tuna aquaculture activities. This view was reinforced at meetings of the AAC (including a presentation from the PI on 22 Feb 2013), who are a legislated body under the Aquaculture Act 2001, advising the State Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries on matters relating to aquaculture development. As a consequence, this project was listed as a priority area for investment by the SAFRAB.

A previous FRDC funded workshop (2002/040) identified a need to understand factors that may explain interactions between pelagic sharks and aquaculture activities. Some of the findings highlighted during this workshop are now considered to be outdated. For example, anecdotal accounts from finfish farmers and commercial fishers suggest that white sharks sightings have increased in the past decade in Spencer Gulf and this may have implications for the frequency of interactions with the fishing and aquaculture industry. The provision of data to further inform the public’s current perception of the aquaculture industry represents a key priority in South Australia’s Fisheries and Aquaculture R&D Strategy. During the development of this project the need for this research was discussed with key industry representatives.
This proposal addresses key objectives of the Draft White Shark Recovery Plan, 2010 (2c, 7a, 9a and 9b).

Objectives

1. Determine if activities associated with finfish aquaculture correlate with spatial and temporal residency and migration patterns of pelagic sharks.
2. Assess and compare patterns of residency of pelagic sharks in ‘natural’ foraging areas, and any overlaps with community activities.
3. Develop a Code of Practice for removal and release of pelagic sharks from finfish aquaculture cages.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-876007-09-6
Author: Dr Paul Rogers
Final Report • 2018-09-01 • 5.12 MB
2014-020-DLD.pdf

Summary

The report focuses on the movement dynamics of two pelagic sharks, the White Shark (Carcharadon carcharias) and Bronze Whaler (Carcharinhus brachyurus), in South Australia. Specific aims were to: (1) determine if aquaculture activities correlated with patterns on fidelity and migration; and (2) assess and compare the use of natural foraging areas and areas used during human marine activities. Additional objectives included the development of: industry guidelines for removal and release of pelagic sharks from finfish aquaculture pontoons, and surveys to collect baseline information on perceptions of shark associations with aquaculture and other marine activities. 
Key outcomes of the project include provision of advice to marine policy-makers regarding overlaps between sharks, marine industries and areas used during community activities (including marine parks). This project addressed important research and management questions that existed for over a decade. 

Developing a fishery independent estimate of biomass for snapper

Project number: 2014-019
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $316,985.00
Principal Investigator: Mike A. Steer
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 13 Jul 2014 - 29 Jun 2016
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES

Need

Increased formalisation of harvest strategies for snapper across Australia’s four main jurisdictions (East Coast, Western Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia) was identified as a national priority (at the National Strategic Planning Workshop for Snapper Research – 1st March 2013). Two key processes were recognised as being fundamental to achieving this: 1. development of a snapper-specific integrated fishery model; and 2. integration of a fishery-independent estimate of abundance. Each jurisdiction is currently at a different level of advancement in their assessment and management capability, with WA leading the way. A snapper model is currently used to underpin the assessment of South Australia’s snapper resource, whereas Western Victoria is in the process of developing their own and the East Coast is yet to develop one. South Australia and Western Victoria are at a level where the development and integration of a DEPM, that would provide a fishery-independent estimate of biomass, would considerably enhance their respective stock assessment programs.

The need for a DEPM is more urgent for South Australia, as recent structural changes in the snapper fishery have compromised the integrity of the time series of fishery-dependent statistics that have been relied on to assess the resource in the past. Fishery-independent estimates of snapper biomass are required to feed into the existing stock assessment model to ensure that future assessments and harvest strategies are developed from unbiased information. This research direction has been unanimously supported by the relevant stakeholders in South Australia’s Snapper Fishery. The Western Victorian fishery is likely to encounter similar issues to South Australia, particularly as their fishery is dominated by the recreational sector where the routine collection of catch and effort data to integrate into the assessment process is often challenging.

Objectives

1. To develop a DEPM for snapper that provides the most accurate estimate of biomass and integrates with the on-going assessment and management of the resource.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921563-96-6
Authors: M.A. Steer R. McGarvey A. Oxley A.J. Fowler G. Grammer T.M Ward E. Westlake D. Matthews and J. Matthews
Final Report • 2017-07-01 • 2.08 MB
2014-019-DLD.pdf

Summary

This study was undertaken by the South Australia Research and Development Institute (SARDI). Through overcoming considerable technical challenges, this study was the first to successfully develop a relatively non-destructive molecular probe that can reliably identify Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) eggs and larvae in mixed ichthyoplankton samples. This highly-specific molecular probe targets Snapper ribosomal (r)RNA and when conjugated with a reactive molecule produces a highly visible blue colour in positive reactions. Snapper eggs are subsequently easily detected using a standard stereo dissecting microscope. This novel use of an established molecular technique has re-invigorated the capability of using the daily egg production method (DEPM) to provide a fishery-independent estimate of spawning biomass for Snapper and has also increased its applicability to other species where egg identification has been problematic. This research has reduced the need to exclusively rely on fishery-dependent catch and effort data to assess Snapper fisheries and has demonstrated that the incorporation of the DEPM into South Australia’s existing assessment program is relatively cost-effective and likely to benefit the management and industry. Adding the DEPM will contribute an extra unbiased source of information that can be synthesised with existing fishery-dependent data streams that will lead to more confident assessments of the stock and ensure the long term sustainability of the State’s Snapper resource.

Seafood CRC: optimising the size and quality of sardines through real-time harvest monitoring

Project number: 2013-746
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $134,910.00
Principal Investigator: Mark J. Doubell
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 31 Dec 2013 - 29 Mar 2015
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES

Need

Understanding the combined roles of fishing effort and environmental factors in determining the distribution and abundance of target-sized sardines is essential to the sustainable, ecological and economical, development of the fishery.

In response to recent fluctuations in fish size and quality, the SASF seeks to increase the productivity and profitability of the fishery through the development and implementation of an industry-led, real-time monitoring system for optimising the size, quality and quantity of sardines harvested.

To address these needs industry must: 1) establish the skills and systems required to conduct real-time monitoring of fish harvesting, 2) obtain advice on the key oceanographic factors affecting sardine size distributions, 3) gain ongoing access to information on oceanographic conditions in near real-time and, 4) develop systems for linking spatial fishery performance with oceanographic conditions to optimize the size and quality of fish harvested.

Objectives

1. To empower industry to conduct real-time monitoring of fish size and quality in relation to key environmental parameters.
2. To determine the key environmental factors influencing the spatial distribution and size of fish.
3. To establish a co-management system for optimising the size, quality and value of fish harvested by the SASF using industry collected data and near real-time map overlays of key environmental variables.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921563-82-9
Authors: Mark Doubell Tim Ward Paul Watson Charles James Jonathan Carroll and Ana Redondo Rodrigues
Final Report • 2015-08-01 • 1.89 MB
2013-746-DLD.pdf

Summary

In order to improve the commercial profitability and sustainability of the South Australian Sardine Fishery (SASF) there was a need to establish improved monitoring and harvest management practices based on an understanding of Sardine habitat preferences. In this project, the South Australian Sardine Industry Association Inc. (SASIA) was empowered with the resources to autonomously implement near real-time monitoring of fish movement in relation to changes in environmental conditions. As a part of the harvest management optimisation, an understanding of the environmental conditions which characterise the habitat preferences of juvenile, adult and spawning Sardines was investigated.

This project was developed at the request of SASIA and comprises two inter-related components with the common objectives of improving the economic value and ecological sustainability of the fishery.

Firstly, the SASIA was assisted in developing and implementing an autonomous near real-time harvest management system. The system is composed of three inter-connected components; fish measurement, data storage and spatial mapping. SASIA collected data on fish length (caudal- fork length) are efficiently measured and stored directly into a database using an electronic fish measurement board. The database has been designed to store and present information related to the location and size of the commercial catch from which sample measures of fish length are collected. Finally, GIS spatial mapping software is linked with the database to provide maps showing the spatial distribution of target and non-target sized fish. Maps detailing changes in the spatial distribution of target and non-target size are updated fortnightly and used by the SASIA to optimise the size of fish harvested.

Secondly, to augment the adopted real-time harvest management system, habitat suitability studies using generalised additive models (GAMs) were undertaken to understand the environmental conditions that explain the habitat preferences of juvenile and adult Sardines, as well as the summer-time spawning habitat. Historical datasets used in the modelling studies included 1) Sardine egg densities and coincident oceanographic measurements made during Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) surveys conducted since 2004, and 2) fish length measurements made by independent observers aboard commercial vessels since 2004 and corresponding satellite measures of sea surface temperature and surface chlorophyll a concentrations.

SCRC: Interactive seafood packaging masterclass

Project number: 2013-733
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $0.00
Principal Investigator: Tom Madigan
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 30 May 2013 - 30 Jul 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

There is an increasing trend for foods to be sold in a packaged format. These products are sold either as raw product, ready-to-cook (other food ingredients included) or ready-to eat. The explosion of packaged foods on supermarket shelves and other retail outlets has occured for a variety of reasons including consumer convenience, ability to engage the consumer and in some cases extensions in shelf-life. However, the packaging industry is a rapidly evolving area due to the development of new plastics and films, new machinery and changing consumer trends.

The seafood industry is interested in developing packaged seafood product. However, there is often poor information transfer to the seafood processors regarding developments in newer packaging technologies and machines. Seafood processors that are considering the introduction of packaged products or changing existing process lines need direct experience and knowledge of the types of equipment and packaging films that are available.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-96458-4
Author: Tom Madigan
Final Report • 2013-07-16 • 5.10 MB
2013-733-DLD.pdf

Summary

The packaging industry is a rapidly evolving area due to the development of new plastics and films, new machinery and changing consumer trends. There is an opportunity for the seafood industry to use these latest techniques when developing packaged seafood products to satisfy consumer and retailer demands. However, there is often poor information transfer to the seafood processors regarding developments in newer packaging technologies and machines. Seafood processors that are considering the introduction of packaged products or changing existing process lines need direct experience and knowledge of the types of equipment and packaging films that are available. This Master Class aimed to provide information to industry on the latest packaging techniques that are available and provide practical experience in using a variety of packaging equipment.

The Master Class was held in July 2013 at Multivac's state-of-the-art training facility in Melbourne. It involved a combination of Australian Seafood CRC researchers presenting in combination with Multivac representatives who explained the capability of their particular equipment. The workshop was well attended, with a total of 24 attendees from industry and also scientists from the South Australian Research and Development Institute, Curtin University and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

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