Seafood CRC: Understanding and reducing the risk of paralytic shellfish toxins in Southern Rock Lobster
As noted in the background section, Paralytic Shellfish Toxins pose a significant economic risk to the rock lobster industry, the Tasmanian algal bloom in 2012/2013 resulted in losses to the seafood industry in the vicinity of $20million AUD and scientific data is critically needed to assist in minimising losses in future years.
Knowledge on the how rock lobsters accumulate PSTs (e.g. trophic pathway) is crucial to underpin
future management strategies, including validating the use of species which may be more readily
gathered to indicate risk (e.g. the use of farmed or wild caught mussels). Additionally, there is limited
information on the elimination of PSTs from Jasus edwardsii. This data would assist industry in an
event where large volumes of product have been harvested and are being held in live-containment
facilities, particularly in Australia where animals can be held for several weeks in tanks. Information on
persistence in the wild will also underpin decisions on potential re-direction of fishing effort to non
contaminated areas.
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SCRC: ASCRC Sponsorship: 9th International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS), Sydney, 2013 and Industry Master Classes
The Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (ASQAAC)* saw and supported the need to host the international premier shellfish safety event, ICMSS, in Australia. ASQAAC aim to deliver a ‘cutting edge’ programme focussed on shellfish safety and related disciplines and encourages participation from a broad range of national and international experts and students. ICMSS is the principal shellfish safety event worldwide for industry, government regulators and researchers to share knowledge and experience on shellfish safety issues. ASQAAC won a bid in June 2009 at ICMSS, France 2009 to return the 9th ICMSS Conference to Sydney, Australia where it was initiated in 1994.
ASQAAC's aim is not to profiteer from hosting the conference but to include as many international experts, local industry and students as possible with the aim of;
• Limiting the health risks associated with microbiological, marine biotoxin and other chemical contamination of shellfish;
• Improvement of effective and efficient management procedures and detection tools to prevent and/or monitor shellfish contamination; and
• Promotion of international harmonisation of shellfish safety standards and regulations.
From a global perspective Australia has an admirably healthy marine environment with respect to potential seafood safety risks, this has resulted in ‘high quality safe-to-eat’ shellfish. The relatively low shellfish safety risk in Australia has promoted the uptake of risk-based shellfish safety management practices, pragmatic regulation and innovative approaches.
Hosting the ICMSS provides a unique opportunity to showcase Australia's point of difference, particularly in discussions of international program harmonisation, and promote the Australian shellfish safety sector as well as the Australian seafood industry in general.
* ASQAAC is a collaborative tripartite relationship between regulators, industry and researchers and is a national forum to identify and solve emerging food safety challenges and promote national consistency.
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The International Conference of Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS) is the principal shellfish safety event worldwide for industry, government regulators and researchers to share knowledge and experience on shellfish safety issues. Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (ASQAAC) won a bid in June 2009 at ICMSS, France to return the 9th ICMSS Conference to Sydney, Australia where it was initiated in 1994. ASQAAC aimed to deliver a ‘cutting edge’ programme focused on shellfish safety and related disciplines and encouraged participation from a broad range of national and international experts and students.
The conference aimed to assist the industry to respond to, and take advantage of, increased demand for seafood. Continued delivery of a quality product requires the industry to responsibly address latest shellfish safety information in the context of the Australian production environment.
Survey of Foodborne Viruses in Australian Oysters
Norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide, and is commonly associated with shellfish. Between 2001-2010 seventeen Australian cases of suspected shellfish related NoV outbreaks were reported in OzFoodNet (Knope, 2011). More recently (March 2013) 400 people were reportedly affected by NoV following consumption of contaminated oysters from Tasmania.
Virus contamination in food poses major concerns for consumers and can impact export trade. The WHO/FAO working group (2008) on food-borne viruses, and European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) opinion (2011) ranked bivalves among the highest risk food groups in terms of NoV and hepatitis A virus (HAV). In 2011 the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene ratified a draft guideline on viruses in foods, with a specific annex on bivalves. It recommends that countries monitor for NoV and HAV in bivalves following high risk pollution events. Additionally, in early 2012 EFSA recommended the introduction of an acceptable NoV limit in oysters and the EU Community Reference Laboratory (2012) recommended an ‘absence’ criterion be applied for HAV in bivalves. Because of these impending international regulations (noting that some importing nations already require NoV testing), the Australian oyster industry members have indicated that they would like a more comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of viruses in Australian oysters. There is little information on the baseline levels of NoV in Australian oysters. Although, a small pilot survey in oysters was conducted in production areas, more information is needed.
Recent developments made at SARDI in the use of molecular biology techniques for virus detection in foods would enable the occurrence of these viruses in bivalves to be determined through a virus prevalence survey. Similar surveys have been undertaken worldwide, including in the USA, UK, France and China, and might contribute to the development of market access strategies at the international level.
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Summer spawning patterns and preliminary Daily Egg Production Method survey of Jack Mackerel and Sardine off the East Coast
Knowledge of the summer spawning patterns of Jack 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.
Methods for estimating the population size of Jack Mackerel and Australian Sardine need be established to address community concerns regarding the potential ecological and social impacts of large scale fishing for small pelagic fishes off the East Coast.
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This study was undertaken collaboratively by fisheries scientists from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the University of Tasmania. It was the first dedicated application of the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) to Jack Mackerel, Trachurus declivis. It successfully collected large numbers of samples of eggs and adults concurrently from the key spawning area off eastern Australia during what has been previously identified as the main spawning period. The study established an effective method for sampling adult Jack Mackerel and provides the first estimates for this species of the adult reproductive parameters required for application of the DEPM. The spawning biomass of Jack Mackerel off eastern Australia during January 2014 was estimated to be approximately 157,805 t (95% CI = 59,570 358,731). Most of the estimates of spawning biomass obtained in sensitivity analyses were between approximately 95,000 t and 215,000 t. Plausible values for only two parameters provide estimates of spawning biomass that were outside that range; both of these parameters were estimated with a high degree of confidence in the present study.
This was also the first study to investigate the spawning habitat of Australian Sardine Sardinops sagax off eastern Australia during summer. It showed that during January 2014 spawning occurred between northern Tasmania and southern Victoria. The spawning biomass at this location during this period was approximately 10,962 t. This estimate should be treated with caution as adult samples were not collected during the study. It also is important to note that this not an estimate of the total adult biomass of Australian Sardine off eastern Australia. It is only an estimate of the portion of the population that was spawning in this southern part of the range during that period. The main spawning area of Australian Sardine off eastern Australia occurs off southern Queensland and northern NSW during late winter and early spring.
Keywords: Jack Mackerel, Trachurus declivis, Australian Sardine, Sardinops sagax, Daily Egg Production Method, Spawning Biomass, Small Pelagic Fishery, eastern Australia, Tasmania, Bass Strait.
PIRSA: Surveying, searching and promoting cuttlefish spawning activity in northern Spencer Gulf
Given the iconic nature of the Point Lowly cuttlefish population there is a need to provide a robust assessment of its annual status to inform management and the general public. Currently, management has initiated a spatial closure for upper Spencer Gulf (North of Wallaroo) as a precautionary measure to ensure that the cuttlefish population is not unnecessarily compromised by commercial and recreational fishing. Although, fishing has not been specifically identified to detrimentally affect the population it was the most amenable factor to control. It is therefore important to assess the relative status of the Point Lowly cuttlefish population to inform management and assist in the development of the most appropriate management strategies. Quantifying cuttlefish by-catch in association with this closure will provide greater resolution in regard to fishing pressure.
There is also a need to determine whether there are alternate spawning grounds for the Giant Australian cuttlefish in northern Spencer Gulf to determine the relative conservational significance of Point Lowly and whether other areas within the region may require additional management consideration. It is clear that cuttlefish aggregate on the reef fringing Point Lowly, however, the specific characteristics and preferred dimensions of their dens and spawning substrate is unknown. For example, the preferred orientation, surface texture, depth range and exposure of natural spawning dens is not understood. Also there is a requirement to understand whether coastal pollutants play a role in shaping the distribution and relative abundance of aggregating cuttlefish. This level of information is required prior to the development and deployment of artificial spawning habitat that may be required to either mitigate habitat loss in the future or promote spawning in other areas where the habitat may be limited.
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Protection Authority through combined State and Federal funding. There is a commitment by all levels of government to understand more about the biology and ecology of this species to assist in determining the future management actions required to ensure its sustainability. The specific focus of this study’s research related to determining the relative significance of the Point Lowly aggregation within Northern Spencer Gulf; the impact of commercial fishing and industrial pollution (heavy metals) within the area on the population; and if spawning activity could be promoted in other areas away from historic breeding grounds through the use of artificial spawning habitat. The scope of research was diverse, involving extensive diver-based and video-based surveys; design, construction and deployment of artificial habitat; broad-scale collection of biological samples; and close collaboration with the commercial fishing industry within northern Spencer Gulf throughout 2013 and 2014.
ASBTIA: Optimising the use of praziquantel to manage blood fluke infections in commercially ranched SBT
The Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association (ASBTIA) aims to obtain a Minor Use Permit (MUP) for praziquantel (PZQ) to treat blood fluke (Cardicola forsteri) infections in Southern bluefin tuna (SBT). Treatments to date have been undertaken under ministerial approvals pursuant to Regulation 11 of the Aquaculture Regulations 2005 (SA). The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) Fisheries and Aquaculture Division has indicated however, that Regulation 11 and off-label prescription is not appropriate for use of veterinary medicines used in large volumes and discharged to the marine environment. Approvals will not be continued indefinitely unless ASBTIA works towards obtaining a permit or product registration issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Without a ministerial approval, permit or product registration, it would be illegal to use PZQ to treat SBT for blood fluke infections.
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Assessment of the impacts of seal populations on the seafood industry in South Australia
The last 25 years have seen a 3.5 fold increase in the population size of New Zealand fur seals (NZFS) in SA, which now number over 85,000 individuals. This recovery may continue for a further 15-30 years, and the level at which populations may stabilise is unknown. New haul-out sites and breeding colonies are establishing across the State, some in close proximity to finfish aquaculture, and major commercial and recreational fishing areas. In addition, an Australian fur seal population has recently established in SA and has more than doubled in the last five years. There is also growing concern from the seafood and ecotourism (little penguins, giant cuttlefish) industries and the community that fur seals are overabundant and that their populations and impacts need to be managed. As a consequence of this broad industry and public concern, this project was listed as one of the priority areas for investment by the SAFRAB.
Most of the seals that interact with fisheries, aquaculture and ecotourism are juvenile and sub-adult males that restrict their feeding the shelf waters; however the diet and foraging behaviour of this part of the population is poorly understood. Little is also understood about the potential competitive interactions between the three species of seals that may be limiting the recovery of the threatened Australian sea lion. The project aims to investigate the diets and foraging distributions of seals in SA’s gulf and shelf waters to assess the importance of commercial fish and finfish aquaculture species in their diet. Trophic modelling will be used to assess the impact of consumption on current and future seafood production, and industry questionnaires and consultation will be used to assess the economic impact and the degree and nature of interactions between seals and finfish aquaculture, fisheries and marine ecotourism industries.
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SCRC: Seafood CRC Research Travel Grant: Attendance at the Marine and Freshwater Toxins, Third Joint Symposium and the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) Task Force Meeting andparticipation in the International training workshop on chemical based methods (LCMS/ MSMethods) for detecting diarrheic and other lipophillic toxins, Tacoma, Washington USA
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By Ian Stewart
Harmful algal toxins are a recognised hazard to seafood safety. Several toxin families are subject to regulatory oversight, so the topic of reliable and reproducible detection and quantification of this structurally and functionally diverse group of compounds is of paramount importance for export and domestic seafood industries and seafood consumers. State-of-the-art analytical competencies for harmful algal biotoxins are needed in order to fully support the Australian seafood industry's ability to comply with export requirements.
AOAC International's Pacific Northwest meeting in Tacoma represented an opportunity for the Seafood CRC to participate at an important gathering of global experts in the field of algal toxin analysis and research. This is a rapidly developing field, both in terms of a growing understanding of the public health and trade implications attributable to known and novel algal biotoxins, as well as advances in analytical capability through instrumentation and skills. AOAC International, the Association of Analytical Communities, is the focal agency for analytical method development, method validation and related knowledge dissemination.
The objectives of this visit to the US were to:
1. Update knowledge on algal and cyanobacterial biotoxins
2. Communicate with experts in the field from around the world
3. Contribute to the proceedings by presenting a paper.
4. Participate in training for advanced analytical techniques for lipophilic shellfish toxin measurement.