Seafood CRC: addressing roadblocks to the adoption of economics in fisheries policy (2013/748.20 Communal)
Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram: a national survey of diseases of commercially exploited abalone species to support trade and translocation issues and the development of health surveillance programs
Abalone Growers Associations in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have given their support for the establishment of health monitoring programs of their farm’s stock, and are willing to contribute financially for establishing these and for ongoing monitoring. They see such programs as putting them in a unique position to to enable them to prevent disease in their stock and of meeting future market expectations in relation to health accreditation. This process is threatened by inadequate data on diseases in wild stock, and in some states by limited experience in abalone diagnosis.
Similarly the wild harvest abalone industry recognises vulnerability from a lack of knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of diseases in Australian wild stocks, in a climate where interstate translocation and trade access and quality issues are increasing. They also seek assurances on the health of farmed stock and of stock used for reseeding operations. As a result, the wild abalone sector and fisheries and animal health authorities in these states also strongly support a baseline survey of diseases present in the exploited abalone species, and development of improved surveillance capability.
The project is to acquire this background data on abalone disease, by a health survey covering the natural range of the exploited temperate abalone species. It includes the abalone aquaculture industry and the wild fishery in SA, Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and WA. The project will incorporate associated initial training, permanent presentation on collated results in accessible electronic format (CD and the subprogram’s website), and an abalone disease symposium to develop a net-work of state-based resources for on-going diagnosis, health certification and other shellfish health related functions at reasonable cost to the industry.
Development of the on-going state-based surveillance programs for aquaculture will progress in conjunction with this (without cost to the project), and with consultation with wild fisheries industries and managers, who will also benefit from improved capability for diagnostic and surveillance services.
Final report
Aboriginal fisheries in New South Wales: determining catch, cultural significance of species and traditional fishing knowledge needs
Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram: strategic planning, project management and adoption
Tactical Research Fund: trial of an industry implemented, spatially discrete eradication/control program for Centrostephanus rodgersii in Tasmania
Seafood CRC: Extending biotoxin capability and research in Australia through development of an experimental biotoxin contamination facility to target industry relevant issues
Food safety validation of storage/transport temperatures for live Australian oyster species
Industry faces a range of regulatory requirements for storage and transport of live oysters, notably: ASQAP stipulates colder than 10°C after 24 hours;
· current AQIS Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Orders 2005 indicate that live oysters should be stored at 5°C UNLESS alternative storage arrangements can be validated and shown to not affect fitness for human consumption;
· NSW currently have a dispensation for colder than 25°C for 72 hours then colder than 15°C thereafter.
Final report
Apparent anomalies between the Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (ASQAP) and the Export Control Orders stimulated the submission of FRDC Application TM003: Microbiological validation of current storage and transport temperatures for Pacific oyster industries in Australia. The application was approved conditional on wider industry involvement. Subsequently, the New South Wales industry identified the above dispensation and asked that it be considered within the proposal.
A teleconference on Friday 23rd Feb with New South Wales, Tasmanian and South Australian industry representatives, NSW Food Authority and Seafood Services Australia considered a background paper canvassing the above issues; no representative of AQIS was available. The meeting determined that, as a prelude to deciding the scope of work designed to close information gaps on storage temperatures and times, a Hazard Identification be undertaken for Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata).