Project number: 2020-106
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $500,000.00
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Blair
Organisation: CRC for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA)
Project start/end date: 18 Apr 2021 - 30 Aug 2024
Contact:
FRDC

Need

This project will undertake the critical science required for the next step of closed-cycle Tropical Rock Lobster production, the grow-out of hatchery-produced juvenile lobsters in sea raft enclosures, with research trials in the pristine waters of northern Western Australia. There are multiple gaps in knowledge that must be investigated to support the development and evaluation of this production technology to meet market demands. The project partners bring expertise across the production-to-market pipeline and we will focus on six research areas: environment; raft design; translocation, lobster health and biosecurity; feeding strategies; lobster growth performance; and, premium diverse market acceptability. We will evaluate production systems, comparing sea raft productivity with onshore culture, to de-risk and attract quality investment in a brand-new grow-out aquaculture industry by current and new aquaculture businesses.

All aspects of the production research will include training of personnel and documentation of procedures that will be made available to new lobster grow-out producers in Australia through project participants. The project team will regularly communicate progress with stakeholders, including government (national, state and territory, local), jurisdiction agencies, Traditional Owners in research trial areas, community, aquaculture producers, training and research providers. At the end of the project a Field Day event will share the current status and production models for consideration by existing and new businesses. Industry value of $160 million is projected by 2030, with future potential of over $500 million p.a. that creates 1,000 direct jobs, 900 of those in Northern Australia, for people in feed manufacture, grow-out, downstream processing/distribution and marketing.

The project outcomes are directly aligned with the Food & Agribusiness Growth Centre’s (Food Innovation Australia Limited-FIAL) vision to grow the share of Australian food in the global marketplace – as it captures a unique opportunity for growing tomorrow’s food and contributing to the $200 billion possibility for Australian agri-businesses by 2030.

Objectives

1. Successfully translocate hatchery-produced tropical rock lobster juveniles from northern QLD to northern WA
2. Evaluate an innovative sea raft grow-out production system for lobsters suited to the environment in northern WA
3. Develop production techniques including feeding strategy, stocking density and biofouling management for sea raft culture of lobsters in WA
4. Compare performance, quality and market acceptance of lobsters in sea raft systems in WA and onshore culture in QLD
5. Create production models for industry scaling and Indigenous-led business engagement, including contract growing and supply services

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-922437-52-5
Author: S. Infante Villamil and J. Blair
Final Report • 2024-09-26 • 1.85 MB
2020-106-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Tropical Rock Lobster, Panulirus ornatus, demonstrates promise as a valuable addition to the aquaculture sector in Northern Australia, offering both economic and environmental sustainability benefits. Advancements in hatchery and nursery technology have made it feasible to produce juvenile lobsters in land-based commercial scale systems. Hatchery-produced juveniles reduce reliance on wild-caught stocks and alleviate fishing pressure on natural populations. The ability of Ornatas to cultivate Tropical Rock Lobster (TRL) in controlled environments provides the opportunity to optimise growth conditions, leading to higher yields and optimal product quality. Additionally, the establishment of a Tropical Rock Lobster aquaculture industry  has the potential to create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth, particularly in regions where suitable farming conditions exist.
The project has delivered critical information about production systems, lobster performance, health risks, and demonstrated high quality lobster product from the first production cycle. Based on the results of this research, commercial development and research is continuing in Tropical Rock Lobster aquaculture in land-based raft systems in North Queensland. An industry value of $160 million p.a. and volume of 1,100 tonnes is projected by 2033, employing 120 people in feed manufacture, grow-out, downstream processing/distribution and marketing.