Streptococcus iniae causes streptococcosis, the most important bacterial disease affecting Australian farmed barramundi. Streptococcosis is a major limiting factor in production of barramundi in freshwater and marine systems. Economic loss occurs through high mortalities, loss of marketable product, lost feed costs and costs of treatment, control, prevention and cleanup. Eradication of the disease from the farm environment is not possible. Vaccination offers an inexpensive, reliable and safe method of preventing the disease; however, current strategies rely on autogenous vaccines, i.e., vaccines prepared from specific strains of the organisms causing disease on a particular farm. Provision for preventative vaccination of stock is currently hampered by the lack of a commercially licensed generic Streptococcus vaccine. Further, the use of autogenous vaccines does not protect the fish from disease caused by newly emergent strains and the reproduction of vaccines in response to each separate occurrence is time consuming. At least seven strains of S.iniae are recognised in Australia, with further strains likely to emerge. Current vaccines are strain specific and therefore cross protection against all isolates in all locations in Australia may not be afforded. It has been demonstrated on at least one occasion in Darwin that a vaccine developed against one strain was ineffective against another. A need exists to: Understand the underlying molecular mechanisms whereby new strains of S.iniae evolve; develop technologies that will provide rapid typing of existing or new strains of S.iniae and; provide a strategy for rapid incorporation of new strains into a polyvalent vaccine for national industry use.

This projects aims to introduce new aging methodology to fisheries science. It will be particularly relevant to (1) invertebrate fisheries where there is no straightforward method of measuring individual growth rates, (2) teleost fisheries where it may augment otolith aging methods, and (3) species of high conservation status where the animal cannot be sacrificed.
Accurately aging and evaluating fish populations is important in the FRDC Research and Development Plan (2005-2010) under strategy challenge #1 'Natural Resource Sustainability'. The Queensland Fishing Industry Research Advisory Committee and the NT Fisheries Advisory Board regard the development of innovative methods for stock assessment as an important component of their research and development strategy.

Improving the accuracy of fisheries stock assessments is an important R&D priority for both commercial and recreational fisheries. For example, it is essential that reliable estimates of growth rate in spanner crabs are produced because age at recruitment is critical to the successful development of age-based stock assessment models. By developing telomeric aging technology, we are likely to see an increase in the speed, accuracy and certainty of aging estimates over current methodologies.

This project was also designed around state and national government R&D plans. Queensland's Research and Development Priorities include #1 'Enabling Technologies' which specifies the use of biotechnology to improve the sustainability and economic viability of regional and rural communities (1.2). Priority #2 is 'Environmentally Sustainable Queensland', whose goals include support for research that facilitates the ecologically sustainable development of coast zones. The Federal Government's National Research priority goals include the sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity (5.0) that promotes the more comprehensive understanding of natural systems.

The barramundi farming industry is entering a new phase of cooperation. Increasingly growers appreciate the benefits of working closely together. In order to capitalise on the many opportunities now open to the industry it is timely that a formal planning process is undertaken.

Most in the industry recognise that there is more to gain from cooperation than destructive competition, and that other domestic growers do not pose a threat (nor does the wild caught sector) but rather an opportunity to capitalise on mutual advantages.

Also, there is a recognition of the need to build on existing strengths and improve farm efficiency through technology and innovation and build a market reputation based on quality products.

In order to take full advantage of the opportunities facing the industry it is important that a well coordinated strategic approach is adopted and documented.