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Where should I farm my oysters? Does natural Cadmium distribution restrict oyster farm site selection in the Northern Territory?
RD&E that addresses critical hurdles to Aboriginal capacity and enterprise development (e.g. quality assurance strategies) have been identified as priority areas of the NT RAC and the Indigenous Reference Group (IRG). NT Fisheries has been conducting research to support Aboriginal aspirations to establish tropical oyster farms in the Northern Territory (NT).
Heavy metals have been a longstanding concern as an impediment to the development of a tropical oyster industry. Cadmium (Cd) bioaccumulates in the tissue of oysters, and unlike E. coli or toxic algae, has a long depuration period. As a result Cd levels are a major determining factor on the saleability of farmed tropical oysters. McConchie, D.M & Lawrance, L.M (1991) and FRDC Project 2012-223 identified high Cd concentrations, which varied considerably across locations and water depth, in blacklip oysters (Saccostrea echinata) at location in Shark Bay, WA and South Goulburn Island, NT respectively. Following these projects naturally occurring heavy metals have been a presumed barrier to the establishment of an oyster industry in the NT, due predominantly to the exceedance of Cd trigger levels in the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).
However, recent testing on market sized oysters farmed on long line trials at Pirlangimpi on Tiwi Islands have not shown high heavy metal concentrations and complied with the FSANZ. This suggests that Cd exceedance may not be an issue in all locations. We propose a multi-location survey of blacklip oyster (Saccostrea echinata) heavy metal concentrations across the NT to identify the best locations for commercialisation of this emerging aquaculture species. With the aim of identifying locations, like Pirlangimpi, that could produce oysters that comply with the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). The results are needed to inform the development of a NT tropical oyster industry and the establishment of a NT shellfish quality assurance program.
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Food safety validation of storage/transport temperatures for live Australian oyster species
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National tropical oyster aquaculture workshop - Darwin 2018
Contextualising shellfish food safety in Northern Australia
The emerging edible oyster industry in northern Australia involves Aboriginal communities, industry and governments and is working towards improvements in productions systems, biosecurity and capacity development. Initial volumes produced by this developing industry are likely to be small scale, targeting local markets, however there is significant potential to expand overtime to service the broader Australian and international markets.
To enable industry access to supply these markets there is a need to ensure appropriate food safety. Preliminary shellfish quality assurance assessments have been conducted at oyster farming trials in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. However, there remains a gap in the knowledge of shellfish food safety risks and the most appropriate way to administer a shellfish food safety program in Northern Australia.
Information on the specific food safety risks in tropical Australia to inform the application or contextualise ASQAP in Northern Australia remains a gap. There is also a further need to consider how ASQAP can be applied to a developing industry in a remote context. Tropical Australia has unique challenges of temperature, environment, limited infrastructure and remoteness. The emerging tropical oyster industry requires an assessment of the risks and options to manage the sale of an initial small-scale production of farmed bivalve shellfish produced in Northern Australia.
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