The Australian prawn farming industry is rapidly expanding and APFA has identified the need for assistance to manage the APFA/FRDC IPA as efficiently and effectively as possible to ensure full realisation of benefits for the RD&E investment by industry and the Board of FRDC.
Specifically a position is needed to undertake the following tasks needed by APFA:
• Where and when appropriate, fully expend APFA IPA funds annually to address highest priority R&D issues required by APFA members;
• Identifying additional sources of funding for research activities to maximise the leveraging of APFA IPA funds;
• Applying for additional grants and funding for research activities;
• Increasing people development through workshops/presentations;
• Coordinating successful research activities in a collaborative manner;
• Guiding and assisting the development of applications that align with APFA R&D strategic planning;
• Managing project milestones and inform the R&D committee;
• Managing communication and extension of R&D activities and outcomes to industry and to FRDC;
• Liaising with, and assisting, project stakeholders to ensure outcomes for the industry and FRDC;
• Ensuring the best use of resources and best practice;
• Ensuring effective and rapid dissemination, extension and update of the outcomes of RD&E;
• Assisting the APFA R&D committee to perform their duties through coordination of research applications to APFA and monitoring progress to ensure outcomes;
• Coordinating R&D committee meetings; and
• Developing an annual industry report for FRDC and industry.

The Clarence River Region is known for its high-quality prawn markets. The region was kept profitable during COVID restrictions due to a significant portion of the fisher directing its product to the highly profitable bait market. This diversification away from the consumer market has ensured stability for the region. Many fishing businesses pivoted their strategies to meet this new buyer to the region. The loss of the uncooked prawn market in the Clarence region will therefore destabilize the industry.
The restriction of uncooked prawn trade therefore must be addressed through market research, diversification and activation.
However, there is immediate need for alternative markets so an intense focused market activation and access is the key.
PFA has identified key market persons that can create links between industry and high-end chefs to:
1. Identify alternative market uses that fall within the quarantine requirements
2. Start immediate market trials and activation
3. Review online presence and build industry skills to improve online presence for sales
• It is intended that this will lead into immediate supply agreements to these alternative markets that will in turn remove burden on the existing cooked prawn market

Bacterial cultures from sick PL's from crashing hatchery tanks did not reveal a common pathogen across the multiple dying hatchery tanks.
Understanding the cause of the substantial hatchery PL mortality could be of value to all hatcheries across the prawn farming industry. Intermittent tank crashes are reported at most hatcheries over their history of operation.
With use of new diagnostic tools, such as next Generation sequencing, exploration for novel pathogens can be commenced using stored material from the hatchery outbreaks.
The further investigation of the hatchery and pond mortalities, offers the opportunity to better define the factors associated with the syndrome, thereby informing management measures for future seasons at this farm, and for the rest of the prawn farming industry.