226 results

SCRC: SCRC RTG 1.6 – Research training, National Institute of Health Sciences, Japan (Damian May, SARDI)

Project number: 2011-708
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $0.00
Principal Investigator: Damian May
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 20 Mar 2011 - 30 Jul 2011
Contact:
FRDC

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-925982-48-0
Author: Damian May
Final Report • 2011-07-31 • 307.95 KB
2011-708-DLD-RTG.pdf

Summary

International limits for Vibrios in seafood are increasingly being mandated. This means that Australian seafood will be subjected to increased testing regimes to meet market access requirements. Furthermore, the FAO/WHO are currently in the process of deciding on what methods are suitable for this purpose. Professor Mitsuaki Nishibuchi is an integral part of this process within Codex. Currently in Australia there is significant expertise and capability for microbial modelling in seafood. However, technical method development expertise to assist Australian producers to meet future changes to national and international regulations is lacking.

The objective of this travel was to visit and learn from Professor Mitsuaki Nishibuchi at Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. The information gathered will be useful across a range of projects funded by the Australian Seafood CRC . In particular, the use of immuno-magnetic separation (IMS) and Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) for the sensitive detection of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood products was demonstrated and practised. Professor Nishibuchi has also kindly offered to provide various V. parahaemolyticus isolates and a novel natural food sanitiser for use in CRC projects. This contribution will be beneficial for both current and future CRC projects into V. parahaemolyticus in Australian seafood..

Tactical Research Fund: optimisation of treatment of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in farmed trout

Project number: 2011-255
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $61,141.00
Principal Investigator: Marty R. Deveney
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 30 Apr 2012 - 15 Nov 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Massive losses of farmed trout and native fish occurred due to Ichthyophthirius multifilis in 2012. The losses have not only had substantial impacts on commercial aquaculture operations and limited the availability of trout and native fish for the public water stocking programs of the Victorian and New South Wales governments. The timing of this work is critical, to develop and implement with key farmers new health management methods and reduce mortalities before next summer.

Ichthyophthirius multifilis has a direct lifecycle with an adult in the cells of the fish’s surface and asexual reproduction in the environment. In aquaculture systems heavy infections develop rapidly. A previous project DPI Victoria-funded project identified I. multifilis as the highest priority health issue in the Victorian trout industry and developed permits for access to new treatments for trout and other freshwater finfish aquaculture industries.

Treatment for I. multifilis centres on husbandry and strategic chemical control, but treatment dose and timing have not been optimised. Treatments include formalin, chloramine-T, or hydrogen peroxide, which are applied to the water. These products target only the environmental life cycle stages. Strategic treatment aims to kill all environmental stages, with a second dose to kill newly emerged stages after the previous treatment. The relationship between parasite lifecycle, temperature, parasite strain and water quality is currently unknown.

Growers assume that the dose is the same as the concentration applied to the system, but concentrations of these compounds are altered by water quality. This reduces efficacy and can make approved label doses ineffective. Treatments are also stressful to fish; treatments can cause substantial gill damage. Strategies for managing dose to balance efficacy and optimum fish performance need to be developed.

Better management of I. multifilis will decrease mortality, increase growth and quality and decrease husbandry costs in affected industries.

Objectives

1. Understanding lifecycle parameters in identified Australian strains of I. multifilis
2. Using lifecycle information to inform treatment timing
3. Optimising doses of relevant veterinary products under different environmental conditions
4. Assess relationships between product exposure and impacts on skin and gills of treated fish

Tactical Research Fund: Shark Futures - Using molecular techniques to improve the ecologically sustainable fisheries management of shortfin makos (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Australasian region

Project number: 2011-077
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $68,976.00
Principal Investigator: Paul J. Rogers
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 14 Jun 2012 - 29 Jul 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Please consider this proposal under Theme 1. Demonstrating Sustainability: Evidence based and low-risk management for Shark-Associated Fisheries.

Information on the genetic population structure of shortfin makos was identified as a research priority at the recent FRDC-funded Australasian Mako Shark Workshop. A support letter was provided by the PI of the workshop, Barry Bruce of CSIRO, Hobart (find attached).

At the workshop it was highlighted that:
1) completion of the current population structure study was a high priority,
2) further sampling resolution was required for the Indian Ocean.

Declines in shortfin mako populations in the Northern Hemisphere led to the listing of this species as ‘Vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The CMS listing led to the nomination under the Australian Commonwealth Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act (EPBC Act, 1999). The listing was debated by stakeholders and was later amended.

A representative from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority indicated that information on the abundance of shortfin makos was a priority for management of Commonwealth fisheries. This proposal addresses this priority for shortfin makos in the Australasian region.

There is limited evidence that shortfin makos make cross-equatorial migrations. Satellite tracking of juveniles by the PI showed restricted northward movements. This suggests that the Southern Hemisphere may comprise one or more independent stocks. This has important implications for management.

Outcomes will be used to inform decisions on whether to manage shortfin mako stocks at ocean basin and/or cross ocean-basin scales, or as discrete spatial units within smaller regions. This will greatly enhance our capability to make recommendations to State and Commonwealth government agencies chartered with managing pelagic fisheries, as well as during the development of fishery risk assessments and Threatened Species Recovery Plans in the future.

Objectives

1. To use new genetic data to assess the patterns of population structure of shortfin makos within the Australasian region
2. To compare the geographic scale of genetic connectivity with migration patterns determined from satellite tags deployed on juveniles
3. To incorporate our dataset within a larger global study and elucidate the degree of cross-equatorial dispersal of shortfin makos
4. To use the data to determine the genetic effective population size of identified spatially discrete stocks
5. To provide advice regarding the appropriate spatial scales for management of fisheries that interact with shortfin makos in the Australasian region.

SRL IPA: assessing the feasibility of spatial management in the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery

Project number: 2011-072
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $75,000.00
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 31 Mar 2012 - 31 Mar 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The primary needs in relation to this work are:
1. To assess the level of stock abundance in regions outside the main fishery areas, in deep water and the far west regions of the fishery.
2. To assess the economic feasibility of fishing in these areas.
3. To assess the biological characteristics of lobsters taken in deep water and the far west, including maturity of females and length frequency.
4. To assess the survival and condition of lobsters taken, in processing and transport.

Objectives

1. Attain estimates of lobster abundance in deep water and far west areas of the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery
2. Estimate size-of-maturity and length frequencies of these populations
3. Estimate survival rates of these lobsters held in wells on-board, corfs, and processing plants
4. Evaluate the economics of fishing outlying areas within the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921563-65-2
Author: Dr Adrian Linnane
Final Report • 2015-01-21 • 1.72 MB
2011-072-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Northern Zone rock lobster fishery of South Australia is extensive covering an area of approximately 207,000 km2. As a result, number of spatial management options are currently being considered which focus on the far-west and deep-water regions of the fishery. Currently, levels of commercial exploitation in both these areas are low compared to eastern and inshore areas. For example, in the 2011/12 fishing season only 12 t (4%) of the 307 t total catch came from the far-west, while just 29 t (9%) came from >90 m depth.

Despite low levels of total catch, catch rates (kg of legal lobster/potlift) in both regions are high compared to eastern and inshore areas. In the far-west at least, this is influenced by a larger mean lobster size compared to eastern regions, presumable due to faster growth rates. While higher, catch rates trends from 1970-2011 in both far-west and deep-water regions are comparable to other regions in the fishery. In particular, catch rates in both areas declined simultaneously with eastern regions from 1999 to 2008 suggesting that the abundance of lobsters in the far-west and deep-water is driven by common recruitment patterns to the rest of the zone.

The far-west region is close to the western limit of Jasus edwardsii distribution within Australia with pre-recruit (undersized) abundances in this area the lowest in the zone suggesting that the region is recruitment limited. The size of maturity in far-west regions is substantially higher than the minimum legal size which again reflects faster growth rates. This is offset somewhat by the fact that few lobsters close to legal size are found within the commercial catch. However, if exploitation rates are increased in far-west regions, given that size limits are set in part to protect immature females, higher size limits may need to be considered under a spatial management regime. Alternatively, a male only fishery may be considered during specific months in line with management rules for J. edwardsii fisheries in Victoria and Tasmania. Data to estimate size of maturity in deep-water sites are limited in South Australia.

Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2011-062
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Tactical Research Fund: a reporting framework for ecosystem based assessment of Australian prawn trawl fisheries

This Tactical Research Fund Project has been undertaken by SARDI Aquatic Sciences in response to the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery’s (SGPF) need for an ecosystem-based reporting framework to support ongoing Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. We reviewed the relevant literature to...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation

Monitoring the relative abundance and biomass of South Australia's iconic giant cuttlefish breeding population

Project number: 2011-054
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $74,162.00
Principal Investigator: Mike A. Steer
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 28 Sep 2011 - 27 Feb 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

A large spawning aggregation of giant Australian cuttlefish (Sepia apama) usually occurs on a discrete area of rocky reef adjacent to Pt Lowly in northern Spencer Gulf. This is the only known dense aggregation of spawning cuttlefish in the world and it is highly valued by local residents, the tourism industry, and recreational divers. A cephalopod fishing closure was established in the spawning area in 1998 due to a rapid increase in catches in the area and concerns about the sustainability of the resource.

A series of anecdotal reports, filtered through various media sources, has indicated that this year’s (2011) spawning aggregation appears significantly reduced. There is considerable speculation as to why breeding cuttlefish have “failed to turn up” on the Point Lowly Peninsula spawning grounds, ranging from natural variation in their population dynamics, localised pollution by coastal industrial development, and environmental irregularities. In order to effectively respond to this decline, it is important to determine whether it is an ongoing trend, and if so, what its cause is. Structured cuttlefish surveys, where the data have been made publically available, have not occurred since 2005 (see Steer and Hall, 2005), therefore, it is has not possible to ascertain the magnitude of the annual variation in cuttlefish abundance and biomass. Furthermore, there has not been any structured environmental monitoring within the broader northern Spencer Gulf area to investigate any potential casual links between local environmental conditions and cuttlefish aggregative behaviour. Clearly there is a need to develop an on-going monitoring program that quantifies the abundance and biomass of cuttlefish on the spawning grounds, coupled with a structured environmental monitoring program. This is of particular importance as the spawning grounds are located in close proximity to coastal industry and proposed further infrastructure development.

Objectives

1. To develop a ‘standard’ methodology that can be used in the on-going monitoring and assessment of the unique cuttlefish population and the environment in which they aggregate to spawn.
2. To develop a preliminary understanding of whether there have been declines in abundance of the spawning aggregation, and the causes of any decline observed.

Seafood CRC: research, develop and trial new Australian wild caught abalone products in China

Project number: 2010-776
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $36,700.97
Principal Investigator: Karen McNaughton
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 30 Apr 2011 - 1 Nov 2012
Contact:
FRDC

Need

This project has been developed following the discovery of a number of issues in the direct supply of the product to the China market during the progress of current project 2009/723. These, if not addressed, pose a risk to the sustainable success of this market development initiative. However, the scope to fix these problems is outside the scope of the current project.

The specific issues that need addressing are:
1. The current wild caught abalone product being supplied to the trial restaurants of the program is not always presented to support the premium positioning. There appear to be issues with current processes and packaging that affect the product quality that have been seen by the project team during market reviews in China. Inconsistency in product quality heightens regulatory and customer scrutiny of quality and safety parameters.
- The project will provide technical expertise and experimental support to assist current suppliers in optimising raw materials, labour, equipment and packaging and to develop a quality criteria system to supply product that meets the premium positioning in the current project.

2. There is currently a low level of engagement between the importers and the end user and consumer (restaurants and their customers). As the current project builds customer relationships, we have the opportunity to work closely with them to:
- supply the technical requirements to ensure that authentic, safe quality products (current and new) are available through the direct supply channel to China.
- develop new products variants based on direct end user feedback on what are required for the market. Development of new products and a market for them will help remove the price volatility and supply issues associated with a mainly live market and overcome one of the barriers to having Australian wild caught abalone on premium restaurant menus.

Objectives

1. To identify and implement optimised post-harvest value-added processes with current suppliers of project 2009/723 to ensure product meets the premium positioning and product compliance.
2. To develop, trial and evaluate a range of new Australian wild caught abalone products (from concept to test market), with current suppliers to end users in project 2009/723.
3. To provide technical support to supply products (existing and new) through the direct supply channel to China that meets all regulatory requirements..

Seafood CRC: successful sardines - post-harvest optimisation and new product development for human consumption

Project number: 2010-774
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $81,906.84
Principal Investigator: Karen McNaughton
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 31 Mar 2011 - 31 Mar 2012
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES

Need

Sardines are an undervalued species in South Australia, with the majority of the catch going for tuna feed for an average price of $0.72/kg. The industry has recognised the need to increase the value of the fishery, and that more of the catch has to be turned into value-added products for human consumption. In order to achieve this aim, it has targeted to use at least 10% of the TACC for value-adding.

Three of the licence holders have invested in equipment and processes to produce value-added products. However, individually these businesses are having limited success, struggling to adopt the technical and operational practices that are required to deliver safe, profitable products for human consumption markets both domestically and abroad. This project will provide technical expertise and experimental support to assist them in optimising raw materials, labour and equipment and to develop new products specifically for these markets.

There has been limited success in value-adding sardine products for human consumption in sardine fisheries in Australia. As a result, research has focussed on increasing the value of sardines but has not resulted in products being successfully test marketed/commercialised and evaluated. This is perhaps due to a disconnect in the supply chain between consumers, markets, distribution and processing. We now have the consumer/market intelligence to understand the barriers to sardine acceptability. We can develop products that will overcome these barriers and with the businesses already supplying into the human consumption markets, we have an identified route to market to commercialise and evaluate the success of these new products.

The project offers the opportunity for the three businesses to work together to achieve more than could be individually. They will benefit from the economies of scale that business partnerships have to ultimately deliver safe, profitable products to market for human consumption.

Objectives

1. To identify and implement optimised post-harvest value-added processes (from raw material receipt to final product dispatch)
2. To develop, trial and evaluate a range of new products (from concept to test market) for human consumption
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