Project number: 2019-003
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $124,230.90
Principal Investigator: Paul Exley
Organisation: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
Project start/end date: 7 Jul 2019 - 27 Jun 2021
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES

Need

Current practices for slaughter of farmed Barramundi use ice slurry. The sector has undertaken preliminary research to understand impacts of harvest and slaughter methods on stress, product quality and fish welfare.
Further investigation is needed into practical and cost-effective application of rested harvest on farms, together with understanding how practices can be improved, for example understanding optimal ice slurry amount, timing, and crowding; and determining impact on flesh quality indicators (e.g. flesh pH, blood glucose and lactate and blood pH). Complementary to harvest method protocols, is the need to investigate the impact on stress of direct transfer of fish into ice slurry as a slaughter method.

The project focus contributes directly to the National priority of:
Improving productivity and profitability of fishing and aquaculture, by increasing profitability through better supply-chain connections (FRDC RD&E plan, 2015-20).
Similarly, the project addresses the NPIRDEF, Working together: the National fishing and aquaculture RD&E Strategy, 2010 value chain outcome of:
Fisheries and aquaculture are prosperous and viable; strategic research themes – growth and profitability; maximising value from aquatic resources.

Objectives

1. Determine stress imposed on fish during harvest operations, and develop methods for stress reduction.
2. Evaluate methods of slaughter that minimise stress to fish, incorporating animal welfare best practice
3. Refine and adapt protocols on farm with Industry to ensure practicality and cost-effectiveness
4. Prepare guide material on effective protocols for Industry best practice in formats suitable for ready reference by Industry

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-6456352-0-1
Author: Paul Exley
Final Report • 2022-12-15 • 4.86 MB
2019-003-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Australian Barramundi Farmer's Association (ABFA) has learned how harvest teams on farms can take simple preparatory steps to ensure the quality and consistency of Australian farmed Barramundi reaching the market.  Scientists have worked with farmers that have nurtured their Barramundi for the last two years through the grow-out phase and have demonstrated through on-farm trials that the harvest phase is just as crucial.  Research undertaken with farmers has shown that it is important to keep water dissolved oxygen levels above 5.0 mg/L as the fish are concentrated together beside the pond bank for harvest, particularly at high water temperatures.  The next step is to have the correct number of ice slurry bins on hand to receive the tonnage the farm plans to harvest, with the correct ratio of fish, brine and ice to ensure rapid chill.  All data gained will serve as a baseline 'toolbox' to compare future harvest technologies that will be adopted to progress the pursuit of quality.

Related research

Industry
Industry
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-140
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Strengthening the ABFA Quality Framework

1. Industry quality standards for farmed Australian Barramundi are to be enhanced and implemented
ORGANISATION:
Australian Barramundi Farmers Association (ABFA)