There have been some significant advances in our knowledge of QX disease of Sydney rock oysters in recent years. The pathogen has been isolated from many farming areas without being accompanied by patent disease and the influence of host fitness together with environmental effectors are now being implicated as disease precursors. Nonetheless, the devastating oyster mortalities in the Hawkesbury River this year (2005) highlight our problems in devising intelligent management strategies to minimise the impact of this disease.
A key obstacle to developing knowledge on parameters that control whether a disease outbreak will occur or whether the pathogen remains in estuaries at or beneath detectable levels is the lack of an experimental model of infection. In turn, the development of such a model is predicated on identifying the alternate (i.e. intermediate) host in the lifecycle of QX disease, a stage which is required for the pathogen to viably cycle repeatedly through an estuary. Furthermore, if an experimental model could be identified and later developed, obvious benefit would flow to strategic programs of selective breeding for disease resistant oysters. For example, an experimental model of infection would then provide a consistent and quantifiable challenge to assess the level of resistance in selected stock. Equally, the interactions of oyster immuno-competence and environment could then be assessed in a controlled system without the risk of spatial and temporal variation in QX disease prevalence and intensity that occur in natural estuarine systems.
A successful outcome of this research would have major benefit to our understanding of the biology of QX disease and have direct application to parallel projects aimed at benefitting the industry in both Queensland and New South Wales.

Through existing farming practices it is apparent that there are several factors which may be limiting production and ultimately revenue.

Firstly, there is a need to identify an “ideal production strategy” to achieve forecast production levels. As temperature significantly affects YTK growth, feed conversion ratios and health, it is essential that the relationship between growth and temperature is investigated in fish of various sizes. This information will enable CST to make informed decisions on size and time of stocking YTK into sea cages. It is anticipated that this will improve production through shortening the production cycle and will reduce the standing biomass in the water, ultimately increasing farm profitability.

Secondly, maturation may be a constraining factor in YTK production, reducing somatic growth. There are also flesh quality concerns which threaten sales of YTK harvested in November-December, a period when males exhibit maturation. However preliminary analysis of work carried out in Seafood CRC project 2008/901 suggests that male maturity did not have a significant deleterious effect on the flesh quality at that time. Though there are numerous strategies to manage maturation it is initially necessary to characterise the occurrence of maturation and the factors controlling it. With this information, appropriate mitigation strategies can be introduced resulting in economic benefits to the YTK industry.

Lastly, as production is poised to increase, it is imperative that substantial markets are developed for YTK product. One way of increasing sales is to ensure product sold is consistently of the highest possible quality. By attaining knowledge on the quality attributes, shelf-life and nutritional content of the product, producers will be able to tailor a product to specific market requirements. Likewise, as processing techniques and cold chain supply routes are diverse, it is imperative that information is attained on how these influence the quality of the product.

The PDRS is expected to work on projects for which the industry expresses an interest (Cf. Sellfish TBP).

The SellFish theme contributes to both of the Australian Seafood CRC’s research programs "Value Chain Profitability Program (Program 1)" and 3Product Quality and Integrity Program (Program 2)". The Seafood CRC R&D Programs aim to deliver thirteen major outputs. Two of these desired outputs specifically require marketing research. They are Output 1.6 (Removal or reduction of barriers to seafood consumption) and Output 2.5 (Communication of consumer health benefits and risks).

Consumption of selected seafood products sold by Australian Seafood CRC participants will increase, through an increased of products satisfaction by existing customers and through the recruitment of new customers. The impact of activities carried out as part of this theme will be measured using an “omnibus” survey in one or more Australian cities where a selected cohort of consumers will be monitored over the life of the Seafood CRC. Additional consumer surveys and sales data will be used to assess the effectiveness of specific projects.

There are many general questions to be answered about barriers and drivers of seafood consumption, and it is expected that most CRC industry participants will find the answers useful. All seafood CRC industry participants will therefore be asked to cooperate in funding the necessary projects. These general questions will be considered in the early projects conducted by the CRC, thereby establishing a level of basic knowledge and common understanding in all CRC industry participants and research providers. These early projects will also be important in establishing relationships and credibility between industry participants and researchers. Much of the seafood produced by CRC participants is exported and it follows that market research should be conducted in those export markets.