150 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2020-020
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Determining the spatial distribution and abundance indices for Moreton Bay Bugs, Thenus parindicus and Thenus australiensis in Queensland to improve stock assessment and management

We report on the first comprehensive investigation into the spatial distribution of Moreton Bay Bugs within the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery. This research was a collaboration between the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and James Cook University, applying...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
SPECIES
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2005-063
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Development of an ecosystem approach to the monitoring and management of Western Australian fisheries

Diversity and ecosystem-based indicators were calculated for commercial finfish fisheries from 1976 to 2005 for the West Coast, South Coast, Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley bioregions. The ecosystem-based indices, which detect changes in the species composition of the food web within the ecosystem,...
ORGANISATION:
Murdoch University

A coordinated commercial fishing industry approach to the use of marine protected areas

Project number: 1999-163
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $295,399.02
Principal Investigator: Robert Kearney
Organisation: University of Canberra
Project start/end date: 25 Jul 1999 - 30 Apr 2003
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The numerous government initiatives related to resource access, mentioned in the Background to this application have, in the main, been prepared by groups of professionals working for months or years with the support of considerable government infrastructure. This is appropriate for issues of such significance. What is not appropriate is that draft policies are headed for finalisation without due input from the group most effected, the fishing industry.

The industry will of course respond most positively to proposals for conservation and management of resources which lead to greater certainty for healthy and prosperous fisheries resources and ecosystems which support them. But, to do so, all levels of industry need to understand the principles of these proposals and be convinced of the merit of the logic which underpins them. For issues as fundamental as access to fishing grounds extensive and intensive consultation and debate must be anticipated. For peak bodies to coordinate the compliance and support necessary for the cost-effective implementation of new management strategies the great majority of fishers must back the initiatives. For a new national initiative such as NRSMPA industry must be coordinated nationally.

Support from the majority of fishers will be dependent upon clear and unambiguous answers to questions which currently cloud understanding of the efficacy of using MPA’s as resource conservation and allocation tools.

Questions which researchers, and many resource managers would like answered include:

How do we accommodate series of isolated, closed areas within the broader context of the total ecosystem management (Total Catchment Management) necessary for efficient and cost effective resource conservation, utilisation and allocation?

Is the restriction of access by groups primarily a resource allocation (fisheries management by AFMA or State agencies) issue or biodiversity conservation (Environment Australia)?

What are the implications for further utilisation of the multiple-use model of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) for which Australia has received international acclaim?

Questions to which industry must have answers in order to deliver orderly harvest of our seafood resources include:

Is concern over access to protected areas (resource access) being confused by industry and Government with security of long-term access to maximum sustainable yields (resource security)?

Is the principle of (maximum) economic efficiency (AFMA) compromised by restriction of access to areas (MPA) closed for reasons other than efficient yield management?

Questions which industry itself must address if it is to fully understand the principles and then provide full support to the design, implementation, monitoring and adaptive management of a national system of MPA’s include:

What contribution can industry make to the selection of areas which justify categorisation as representative, or which may need some form of protection for other purposes? Can an area which is unique (such as the one spawning or nesting area) be “representative”? If not is there also a need for a series of “unique protected areas”?

What protection is required for each of these areas and what impact will such measures have on current and future seafood supplies and on activities of the fishing industry?

Will industry be required to meet totally, or contribute to, enforcement or other management costs associated with protected areas?

What data and/or other assistance can industry provide to help assess the effectiveness of protection, and the impact of protection on the ecosystem?

What measures are necessary within the industry to ensure understanding by all of the role of MPA’s, and to engender full cooperation and support for the appropriate use of MPA’s?

The numerous state and national peak bodies do not all have permanent staff with training and expertise to respond immediately and appropriately to the numerous Government initiatives which affect resource security and allocation. When shifts in Government policy are likely industry is compelled to employ consultants or submit project proposals to potential funding sources, such as FRDC. The latter process normally results in more considered and more professional outputs and therefore better quality advice to industry, but unfortunately requires several months lead time for submission of applications and often years to complete the task. Therefore with an issue as fundamental as the principles of access to areas of resource distribution, it is essential to take a national approach and to be given time to prepare a considered and positive response which has the support of at least the majority of fishers.

Access to the resource is of fundamental concern to both commercial and recreational users of this resource; the principles of restricted access to areas as a conservation or management tool are relevant to both groups. The common interest is acknowledged, however this project has arisen directly from state and national peak commercial industry bodies and has been designed to specifically assess policy impacts on commercial industries. It is proposed that the project proceed with commercial industry focus until at least the end of first year, at which time a major milestone report is envisaged. This would allow FRDC to consult with recreational fishing interests and then, if appropriate, negotiate including additional recreational perspectives with the Steering Committee.

Objectives

1. To assist national and State fishing industry bodies with the development of a positive response to Government initiatives to increase the use of marine protected areas (MPA) for conservation and management.
2. To compare the objectives and implementation strategies of the numerous Government policies on marine resource use and conservation and prepare an assessment of their collective impacts on fishing industries.
3. To provide a concise and easily understood summary of the advantages and disadvantages to commercial fishers of present and proposed policies on MPA’s.
4. To facilitate the development of a strategy to promote sustainable resource use as an objective of future use of MPA’s.
5. To assist with the development of a nationwide fishing industry strategy to identify areas which could be included in future resource management by the use of MPA’s.
6. To develop guidelines for industry involvement in monitoring the effectiveness of MPA’s.

Final report

ISBN: 0-9577-5875-8
Author: Robert Kearney
Final Report • 2002-02-27 • 1.10 MB
1999-163-DLD.pdf

Summary

Government agencies, NGO’s and local and international conservation groups are increasingly advocating the use of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for the conservation and management of Australia’s oceanic and estuarine resources.  In December 1998, the Australian Commonwealth Government launched its Oceans Policy, which included as a key component the acceleration of the establishment of a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA).

For industry to effectively and appropriately respond to a new national initiative such as the development of the NRSMPA requires a national approach.  However, State, Territory and national peak industry bodies do not always have the required resources and expertise to develop a national approach.  One of the major aims of the project was to assist industry in developing a nation-wide uniform understanding of, and consistent response to, the principles and tools used in developing MPAs in order to promote its participation in the process.  This requires first identification and acknowledgement of industry’s needs and concerns.

People
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-342
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Aquaculture genetics workshop

Aquaculture in Australia is a rapidly growing industry. More than 60 aquatic species including crustaceans, molluscs, finfish, crocodiles and microalgae are presently cultured in Australia, although less than ten species support around 80% of the total value of the industry. In 1995, a...
ORGANISATION:
Aquaculture Council Of Western Australia Inc
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 1997-361
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture Subprogram Project 1: implementation and coordination of research experiments conducted with farmed southern bluefin tuna to assess manufactured diets, feeding regimes and harvesting techniques

The Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT), Thunnus maccoyii, Aquaculture Industry has undergone rapid expansion since it commenced in 1990. In 2002/03 the industry was Australia’s third largest export fishing industry (ABARE, 2002) with most of its value coming from aquaculture. In this year the...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1997-139
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Mesoscale oceanographic data analysis and data assimilative modelling with application to Western Australian fisheries

The more that is understood about the factors controlling the abundance of an exploited fish stock, the more optimally it can be harvested for sustainable yield and profit. It has been known for some time that catches of western rock lobster are closely related to the number of larvae surviving...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2012-021
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Trial and validation of Respondent-Driven Sampling as a cost-effective method for obtaining representative catch, effort, social and economic data from recreational fisheries

The objective of FRDC project 2012/021, “Trial and validation of Respondent-Driven Sampling as a cost-effective method for obtaining representative catch, effort, social and economic data from recreational fisheries” was to trial and validate the chain referral sampling method,...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart

Tactical Research Fund: using industry expertise to build a national standard for grading of live mud crabs

Project number: 2011-225
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $65,620.00
Principal Investigator: Chris E. Calogeras
Organisation: C-AID Consultants
Project start/end date: 21 Sep 2011 - 31 Oct 2012
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Differing interpretations of grading standards for live mud crabs between fishers and buyers is highly emotive and greatly impacts industry revenue and relationships throughout the supply chain. Live mud crabs are the Sydney Fish Market’s second most valuable product and one of its most problematic, mainly due to grading issues. The urgent need for national grading standards is illustrated by the high level of confusion existing within all industry sectors.

This is compounded by the current environmental conditions that created an oversupply and low mud crab prices at market. Recent floods resulted in old crab with little meat content entering the market in higher than normal proportions, as well as an abundance of newly moulted ‘empty’ crab that are more susceptible to mortality within the supply chain and are lower priced. With newly adopted improved handling practices, harvesters are looking for new markets and experiencing various grading interpretations.

Lack of consumer confidence in purchasing a ‘full' crab impacts industry revenue. Having purchased a crab with poor meat content, consumers are unlikely to purchase again.

There is overwhelming Industry support to develop a universal, objective, agreed and workable standard. To achieve this national standards needs to be developed to ensure all harvesters, buyers and marketers agree on consistent grading standard for live mud crab. Many currently active industry members indicated they are unclear of grading parameters for live mud crab.

With the Qld crab-review in progress, the development of grading standards is timely and will assist the transition to any adjusted management regime.

As the catch of mud crab is a major component of the recreational fishery in many jurisdictions it is important to educate them on how to tell if a crab would be best returned to the water.

Objectives

1. To identify key industry representatives from the live mud crab supply chain across key states and territories to attend a forum
2. The forum to develop a universal, industry-driven, Australian grading standard for live mud crabs
3. Extend the agreed standard to all sectors
4. Evaluate adoption of standards
5. Production of professional media extension capturing outcomes from the workshop

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9871427-2-6
Author: Chris Calogeras
Final Report • 5.10 MB
2011-225-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project lead to a large number of outcomes that provided significant benefit to the Australian live mud crab industry supply chain. These include:

  • Agreement on an easy to use, national, industry-driven, grading scheme for live mud crabs (the Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme) and the development of a range of material to extend the scheme widely
  • Industry ownership and support for the grading scheme has been evident, with many sectors, individuals and groups taking the scheme on board, including the Sydney Fish Market (SFM) adopting the Australian Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme as part of its grading guidelines.
  • Improved revenue return to the supply chain through a reduction in downgraded live mud crab, resulting in maximum price per unit.  Even though not formally adopted until December 2012, data indicates up to a $1.40/kg increase in value for properly graded product at the SFM since the forum.
  • Supply chain partners have indicated greater consumer satisfaction and less disagreement due to the development of the extension material and easy to use grading scheme.  With the formal launch of the scheme on 3rd December 2012, in conjunction with the SFM, the linking with key sector sites and groups, and all of the material going live, it is anticipated that as consumers become better informed in their decision making process when choosing mud crab, there will be elevated consumer confidence to buy premium quality, live mud crab, engendering more frequent purchases.
  • The linking of project 2010/302 and this project has seen far greater utilisation of Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) resources along the supply chain.  Six trips were undertaken jointly to meet with key people and groups along the supply chain (NT x 2, NSW x 2, Vic x 1, Qld x 1), and the linking of best handling and grading became intertwined.  In addition, when work on either project has taken place by the individual project teams, the opportunity to cross reference the projects has allowed the combined knowledge of the projects to be further extended.
  • The forum methodology, which focused on providing optimal input from industry, was extremely well supported and can serve as a template for future whole of supply chain meetings.
  • The benefits of using professional media/design personnel as part of capturing outcomes from the workshop and developing extension material proved very successful and resulted in production of high quality, client focussed, targeted material.

Keywords: Mud crab, grading scheme, quality, facilitation, extension, industry, supply chain.

Project products

Fact Sheet • 1.52 MB
NT Code of Practice for the Mud Crab Fishery.pdf

Summary

The Northern Territory mud crab fishery is harvested and managed sustainably. In the interests of the stock, the industry and the wider community, the NT Mud Crab Licensee Committee fully supports continued management for the production of sustainable, quality Australian seafood.

In 2002 the NT mud crab fishery was assessed by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage as being ecologically sustainable for export, under Australian Government guidelines based on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. In 2007 the mud crab fishery was reassessed under the guidelines and accepted for further export approval.

Fact Sheet • 116.77 KB
Fact Sheet for Recovery Procedure.pdf

Summary

The Queensland Government has developed best practice guidelines for the handling and storage of live mud crabs from harvest to table. These guidelines were developed as a way to reduce the stress levels of muddies, decrease mortality after harvest and to increase the eating quality of the catch. 

This fact sheet provides information on a recovery step for live mud crabs. Mud crabs stored for more than five days are more likely to die. If they survive, these crabs are liable to be poor eating quality.  A recovery step can reduce mortalities and loss of quality by eliminating the crabs waste and toxins. 

Fact Sheet • 118.69 KB
Fact Sheet for Harvesters.pdf

Summary

The Queensland Government has developed best practice guidelines for the handling and storage of mud crabs from harvest to table. These guidelines were developed as a way to reduce the stress levels of muddies, decrease mortality after harvest and to increase the eating quality of the catch. 

This fact sheet provides key information on the handling, sorting and storage of live mud crabs for harvesters before transport. 

Fact Sheet • 339.73 KB
Fact Sheet for Consumers.pdf

Summary

The Queensland Government has developed best practice guidelines for the handling and storage of mud crabs from harvest to table. These guidelines were developed as a way to reduce the stress levels of muddies, decrease mortality after harvest and to increase the eating quality of the catch. 

This fact sheet provides information for consumers on choosing a live mud crab, preparing and cooking it for the table.

Fact Sheet • 181.99 KB
Fact Sheet for Meat Fullness.pdf

Summary

The Queensland Government, in conjunction with the National Mud Crab Industry Reference Group has developed guidelines for grading live mud crabs based on shell hardness and other signs of shell age. However, to provide greater certainty on whether the crab will be full of meat when cooked, a simple method of sampling the live mud crab’s blood can be used.

This fact sheet gives instructions on how to test a live crab’s blood for cooked meat yield.

Guide • 1.01 MB
Guide to Using the Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme.pdf

Summary

This booklet provides a step by step guide to assist you in making decisions about how to grade your live mud crabs in line with the Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme. It is designed to accompany and assist you when using the grading scheme flow chart.

The scheme was developed under a Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) project (2011-225) which brought together industry representatives from throughout the supply chain and across Australia.  This group, the National Mud Crab Industry Reference Group (NMCIRG), developed these industry-driven, objective and mutually-agreed Australian minimum standards for a national grading scheme for live mud crabs to provide a consistent grading process across the nation and supply chain.

Fact Sheet • 115.21 KB
Fact Sheet for Transport Recommendations.pdf

Summary

The Queensland Government has developed best practice guidelines for the handling and storage of mud crabs from harvest to table. These guidelines were developed as a way to reduce the stress levels of muddies, decrease mortality after harvest and to increase the eating quality of the catch. 

This fact sheet provides key information on packing and transporting live mud crabs to wholesalers, distributors and retailers.

Fact Sheet • 300.10 KB
Fact Sheet for Retailers.pdf

Summary

The Queensland Government with funding assistance from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation has developed best practice guidelines for the handling and storage of mud crabs, from harvest to table. These guidelines aim to help reduce the stress levels of crabs, decrease mortality after harvest and increase eating quality.

This fact sheet provides information on sorting and storage of live mud crab for retailers.

Fact Sheet • 85.46 KB
Fact Sheet For Tanking Recommendations.pdf

Summary

The Queensland Government has developed best practice guidelines for the handling and storage of mud crabs from harvest to table. These guidelines were developed as a way to reduce the stress levels of muddies, decrease mortality after harvest and to increase the eating quality of the catch. 

This fact sheet provides key information on holding live mud crabs in aquariums or tanks. 

Guide • 4.55 MB
Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme - Web.pdf

Summary

With the support of FRDC a forum was held to develop a national system to ensure catchers, buyers and marketers had a consistent, workable grading system for the entire industry - from trap to plate. The forum, "Using Industry Expertise to Build a National System for Grading of Live Mud Crabs" brought together people from throughout the supply chain and from across Australia to develop this industry-driven, objective and mutually-agreed Australian minimum standards for a national grading system for live mud crabs.

The decision chart developed by the group provides all people throughout the supply chain with an easy to use guide to the Australian Grading Scheme for live mud crabs.

Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2010-753
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Seafood CRC: improving hatchery production of Yellowtail Kingfish larvae and fingerlings

Clean Seas Tuna is the largest commercial hatchery producer of Yellowtail Kingfish fingerlings in Australia. Following three years of research (2007-2010) into larval rearing issues, the company still experienced variability in results between the two hatcheries, Port Augusta and Arno Bay, between...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2008-757
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Seafood CRC: Commercial production of all-female reproductively sterile triploid Giant Tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon): Assessing their commercial performance in ponds.

Several Australian companies currently have breeding programs producing domesticated and selective-bred Penaeus monodon lines. The most advanced of these lines have demonstrated high commercial pond performance over several generations. However, there is a risk for the breeding program companies,...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
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