32,933 results
Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram: investigating the immunology of stressed abalone (Haliotis species)
Project number:
2004-233
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$61,950.00
Principal Investigator:
Robert W. Day
Organisation:
University of Melbourne
Project start/end date:
29 Jun 2005
-
1 Dec 2009
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Disease is a significant issue for abalone aquaculture: significant mortalities result in substantial financial setbacks on some farms (Fleming, 2003). In South Australia, mass mortalities due to summer high temperatures are of serious concern. In all Australian farms some mortalities result during handling and transportation. Health is identified as a strategic research area required to develop a profitable industry in the Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram Strategic Plan. Particular needs identified were to “increase and apply knowledge of programs to survey the health status of stock on farms” and to “increase and apply knowledge of stress, its effect on production performance and strategies to minimise stress during production”. This project will contribute directly towards these aims, first by establishing normal ranges for many immunological parameters in abalone. This will allow future health monitoring programs to use these parameters. Second, we will assess the value of adding immunological parameters to the histological assessment used in the South African abalone monitoring program. Third, we will determine how stressors, nominated by farm managers as occurring in normal abalone farm processes affect the immune system. This should lead to specific recommendations for minimizing stress or maximizing health under stressful conditions.
This research will pave the way to improve health and productivity in Australian abalone aquaculture. By trialing various physiological and immunological assays we can find the most efficient and reliable set of parameters for future studies. We will also establish the natural variation in these, and thus provide the controls needed when investigating any aspect of abalone husbandry. Another goal of the FRDC subprogram strategic plan is “To improve the profitability of production”, through increased growth and survivorship. By testing the effects of genetics, environmental requirements, husbandry and nutrition on abalone immunity, we should be able to make recommendations for maximizing survivorship and productivity. Currently husbandry practices are monitored via mortality and poor growth. These are very crude measures of problems on the farm, and occur well after the event, which prevents any proactive response.
Reference:
Fleming, A. 2003. Final report of FRDC project no. 2000/200: Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram: Facilitation, administration and promotion. Appendix 1 in Proceedings of the 10th Annual Abalone Aquaculture Workshop, 19-21st November, 2003, Port Lincoln, Australia. Fleming, A.E. (Editor). Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, Australia.
1. Establish the normal range of variation in abalone hemolymph immunological parameters
including hemocyte counts, phagocytic ability, migratory activity, serum antibacterial activity, agglutination, intracellular and extracellular reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion production), lysozyme activity, and prophenoloxidase activity, as well as serum biochemistry tests which have been very effective in assessing health in other species
including levels of protein, glucose, iron, calcium, potassium, LDH, HCO3, sodium and chloride.
2. Determine the effects of a series of controlled stresses monitoring the immunologic and histologic changes. The stresses will include
temperature changes, anaesthetics of different concentrations, mechanical stress and time out of water.
3. Establish a list of repeatable laboratory tests on abalone hemolymph and see if these clinical pathology indices correlate with the development of histologic changes which have already been observed (Mouton's work).
Final report
Maximising revenue within the NT mud crab fishery by enhancing post-harvest survival of mud crabs
Project number:
2003-240
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$222,438.99
Principal Investigator:
Sue Poole
Organisation:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date:
29 Jun 2003
-
10 Dec 2008
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
The mud crab fishery in the northern half of Australia is a relatively low production fishery, with a high market value of product. There is little opportunity to increase catch volume for the resource to remain sustainable, hence full revenue potential from the fishery must be realised for the industry to remain successful.
The viability of the mud crab fishery depends solely on the live seafood market with dead or ‘slow’ crab unable to be sold. Currently, post-harvest mortalities of animals through the supply chain are limiting the sustainable use of the mud crab resource. Losses due to mortality can be unacceptably high, varying between 4-10% dependent on season and transport delays. This accounts for a loss in excess of 60 tonnes of crab annually with a value of $1 million. In extreme circumstances due to operational breakdowns, there have reportedly been post-harvest mortality rates of up to 35%. Such loss not only negates the viability of the vertical supply chain, but also confers perceptional lack of responsibility to the sustainable use of the resource by industry members.
High mortality rates in mud crab can be minimised through development of appropriate, practical and cost-effective post-handling procedures along the harvest-to-market supply chain. This project proposed here seeks to achieve this.
The NT Crab Fishermen’s Association has purported the urgency for this issue to be addressed for some years and the need for the work proposed is identified in the NT Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research and Development 2002 (Draft, section 5.2 Mud crabs, Fishery Resources - optimum utilisation). The project seeks to build on the Industry Code of Practice.
1. Analyse available industry data (including anecdotal information from commercial operators) for correlation between high mortality rates and specific environmental or conditional factors
2. Document current mortality data in specifically designed logs to capture all possible factors
3. Establish physiological factors and stress level indicators for harvested mud crabs
4. Determine stress contributed by current post-harvest practice
5. Advance strategies for through-chain product traceability to different crabs
6. Develop specific cost-effective handling procedures which minimise stress to crabs
7. Update industry of results through participation in trials
8. If appropriate, prepare submission for amendment of the NT mud crab fishery code of practice
Final report
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: a risk assessment of factors influencing the health of farmed southern bluefin
Project number:
2001-253
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$87,038.00
Principal Investigator:
Barbara Nowak
Organisation:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date:
30 Jan 2002
-
30 Jun 2003
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
While the economically valuable tuna aquaculture industry has not been affected by major disease outbreaks to date, further development and possible intensification of not only tuna aquaculture, but aquaculture in general in the tuna farming regions, will increase the risk of fish health problems in the future. Significant disease related mortality are best prevented by recognising and managing risks before they become a major issue.
At present there is a wide range of information from TBOASA SBT heath surveys and the provision of a diagnostic service to industry, however, this information has not previously been used to identify and reduce risks. Published scientific literature also contains reports on SBT fish health issues, as well as other finfish health risks relevant to SBT aquaculture and there is a clear need to review all the information available.
The economic value of this project is difficult to quantify, but the extensive tuna mortalities in April-May 1996 due to the effects of a storm, highlight the potential impact and cost of a serious disease outbreak. In 1996, 70% of the tuna held by the industry died within a few weeks, this equating to a 1999/2000 market value of $141 million. Such a loss would result in serious economic and job loss to a major regional area of South Australia, with flow on effects elsewhere.
1. To provide a qualitative fish health risk assessment for the tuna aquaculture industry in Australia.
2. To review tuna health information from the industry (including their database), research organisations and scientific literature.
3. To identify areas of highest risk and propose management control measures for the industry, as well as research priorities.
4. To disseminate the results of this SBT health risk assessment project.
Final report
ISBN:
1 86295 099 7
Author:
Barbara Nowak
Final Report
•
2003-07-24
•
3.42 MB
2001-253-DLD.pdf
The rapidly developing international tuna aquaculture industry started with a joint Japan/ Australia experiment in 1991. Since then it has grown into the largest finfish aquaculture in Australia with an export value of $290 million. It is based on the capture of wild fish and subsequent fattening of these fish in pontoons over a period of 3-6 months. Continuous husbandry improvements ensure very low mortality. This project was developed to review all available information on SBT health, assess current and potential risks in this area and provide the basis for future research and development in the area of SBT health.
ESD Reporting and Assessment subprogram: strategic planning, project management and adoption
Project number:
2001-082
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$170,703.00
Principal Investigator:
Warrick J. Fletcher
Organisation:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date:
13 Aug 2001
-
30 Jun 2007
Contact:
FRDC
A significant amount of work will be required over the next 3-5 years to incorporate ESD into ongoing fisheries management across Australia to complete this process. A number of studies are already in progress addressing some of the issues. These include the SCFA-FRDC study to develop the guidelines for reporting on ESD (FRDC 2000/145), the Seafood Services project (FRDC 2000/146) which is assisting fishers to develop EMS processes to improve their environmental standards. Moreover, a number of issues, such as those identified at the recent ESD case study workshop or in previous reviews, will require alterations to current studies but more generally the development of a suite of new projects. The issues to be addressed include:
developing relevant expertise to collect and interpret data for the social and economic components,
effective communication of the issues to all major stakeholder groups,
development of methods to ensure active participation of indigenous groups in the process,
developing the framework and the guidelines to enable the process to become a method of assessment, as well as a reporting system.
development of ecological indicators
testing of the robustness of currently used and proposed indicators
The effective coordination of all current and future ESD related projects will be essential if the ultimate aim of having a nationally agreed system is to be successful. Given that the majority of these projects are likely to be at least partly funded by FRDC provides the opportunity to supply the necessary coordination through the formation of an ESD “Sub-Program”.
Using the Sub-Program structure would result in all relevant projects being administered through a common system. Thus, their objectives and the appropriate elements of their methodology would be coordinated to ensure maximum effectiveness, efficiency and thereby minimising duplication. Having such a group would also provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences in a timely fashion which should greatly enhance the synergy and consequently the ultimate outputs from each project.
Such a sub-program would ideally utilise the SCFA Working Group in combination with the ESD ‘Reference Group’ as its steering committee. The Reference Group includes representatives from other relevant areas of government, commercial industry, indigenous interests, recreational fishing, aquaculture, FRDC and environmental groups.
1. Provide comments and feedback on the progress of current ESD Reporting and Assessment subpgrogram projects.
2. Assist in the identification of future directions for projects within the ESD Reporting and Assessment subprogram.
3. Provide comments on application submitted for funding through the ESD Reporting and Assessment subprogram.
4. Assist the flow of communication into and from the ESD Reporting and Assessment subprogram and their agency/industry group.
Final report
View Filter
