Assessing the biosecurity risk of uncooked whole and eviscerated barramundi and grouper in relation to exotic viruses

Project number: 2019-126
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $69,279.00
Principal Investigator: Matthew A. Landos
Organisation: Future Fisheries Veterinary Service Pty Ltd (FFVS)
Project start/end date: 19 Apr 2020 - 28 Feb 2021
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Wild Catch
Trade
Supply Chain
Invasive Species
Indigenous

Need

The Australian farmed Barramundi is estimated at over $37.1 million AUD with a production of over 3,772 tonnes annually (Savage, 2015). The value of the wild-catch sector was estimated to be $9.9 million AUD with 1,073 tonnes produced (Savage, 2015). These sectors of the industry as well as recreational and Indigenous fishers, are all at risk of being exposed to hazards potentially introduced by imported Barramundi and grouper products, which could pose significant consequences. The Australian Federal Department of Agriculture does not consider there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the import conditions for uncooked barramundi do not effectively manage the risk of pests and diseases of concern arriving in Australia. Until further evidence is generated to demonstrate that importation of uncooked barramundi products poses a risk that exceeds Australia's Appropriate Level of Protection, then regulatory actions to mitigate these perceived biosecurity risks are unlikely to be implemented. Risk mitigation requirements for importation of whole farmed barramundi include that the exporting country must, among other things, declare it has in place health surveillance and monitoring and that the fish were not derived from a population slaughtered as an official disease control measure. However, this self-declaration is not supported by rigorous testing to ensure compliance. There are current and have been no previous protocols in place to test for the target iridoviruses in imported barramundi and grouper product, so the efficacy of the existing import controls has not been subject to assessment at retail level. Sampling at retail outlets of uncooked whole and eviscerated barramundi and grouper commodities is proposed in order to better assess the efficacy of import conditions. This project will focus on determining the presence or absence of exotic virus genetic material in imported uncooked potential high risk barramundi and grouper commodity. Should any positive genetic material be detected confirmatory re-testing will be performed in order to reduce the risk of a false positive PCR test result and a subsequent project will be prepared o

Objectives

1. To determine the presence of Red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus (ISKNV), Scale drop syndrome virus (SDSV) and Singapore Grouper Iridovirus (SGIV) in high risk imported uncooked barramundi and grouper collected from seafood retail outlets throughout Australia, using PCR.
2. Review of imported uncooked barramundi and grouper commodity types and relevance to current import risk assessment and published literature.

Final report

ISBN: 9781639441143
Authors: Matt A. Landos James Fensham Paul Hick Alison Tweedie Jo-Anne Ruscoe
Final Report • 2021-10-01 • 3.42 MB
2019-126-DLD.pdf

Summary

Presently, the Australian Barramundi farming industry enjoys freedom from numerous internationally significant diseases including all from the Megalocytivirus genus of iridoviruses. These diseases are known to be causing severe impacts on farmed Barramundi and other species in southeast Asia and elsewhere. Australia’s biosecurity system is the primary barrier to keep such disease risks offshore. The importation of Barramundi and other finfish commodities for human consumption from countries where these diseases have been reported had not been fully assessed as a risk pathway for disease incursion prior to this project.

Related research

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Refine the Southern Rock Lobster Cold Chain

Project number: 2018-176
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $213,979.00
Principal Investigator: Peter Liddell
Organisation: KPMG Australia Melbourne
Project start/end date: 4 Aug 2019 - 7 Nov 2019
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Trade
Supply Chain
Stakeholder
Market Opportunities
Audit
SPECIES
Southern Rock Lobster

Need

The majority of Southern Rock Lobster harvest is exported to Asian markets – 95% of Australia’s 2,986 tonne harvest lands in these countries. However, these lengthy supply chains require enhancement, to protect the sensitive and temperature-dependent product and ensure that the end consumer receives a premium product. With price directly correlated to quality of the lobster, ensuring that a high-quality product is received by the end consumer has direct financial outcomes for Southern Rock Lobster stakeholders back in Australia.

The lobster processor does not control the supply chain, and loses visibility when the product is delivered to the freight forwarder. Brand image and product quality are being impacted by the inconsistencies in the packing and transporting of product. Recent developments in technologies, logistics, techniques, and best practice could transform the cold chain to ensure greater visibility and consistency of Southern Rock Lobster supply to Asia. Understanding best practice cold chain practices from other industries is crucial to upgrading the supply chain for Southern Rock Lobster to ensure product flows quickly and remains under strict temperature control. Each leg and handover needs to controlled, consistent and focused on quality to the end consumer.

Therefore, this cold chain review has been commissioned to investigate ways to improve the integrity of the end to end cold chain and reduce time to market. A consistently fresher less spoiled product will earn higher prices and build brand reputation for all Southern Rock Lobster members. The review will consider the use of better technologies for fresh food transport and handling. The review will also advise on policies and regulations to drive conformance and compliance.

Objectives

1. Develop a full understanding of the supply chain for Southern Rock Lobster into export markets, to be able to pinpoint the key challenges faced in ensuring quality and maintaining temperature control.
2. Understand the range of options for improvements to the export cold chain, considering best practice, technologies and efficiencies. This will include opportunities for temperature control, regulatory reforms, and collaborative infrastructure.
3. Identify the innovations and initiatives likely to have the most significant impact on the quality of Southern Rock Lobster exports, and practically prioritise for these for future implementation.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0- 646-81746-0
Author: KPMG
Final Report • 2020-09-08 • 1.06 MB
2018-176-DLD.pdf

Summary

What the report is about? 
The report aims to assist the Southern Rock Lobster (SRL) industry with refining the live export supply chain to China. Research has identified issues relating to the cold chain, particularly at the domestic air freight stage, and practical solutions have then been proposed to address them.
 
The researchers spoke to and met with 29 stakeholders across the supply chain to conduct this analysis, including fishers, exporters, CTOs, freight forwarders and airlines. Desktop analysis was also completed.  This research was conducted over a period of 3 months. 
Background 
Project 2018-176 was commissioned in order to improve export outcomes for the SRL industry – with particular focus on exports to the Chinese market. Exporters have experienced increased issues relating to lobster mortality in the supply chain and maintaining effective temperature control, which has impacted upon returns to industry.   
 
Feedback from industry stakeholders engaged during the project identified the domestic supply chain and specifically air freight operations as critical areas of focus. This research therefore targeted understanding challenges and opportunities at this stage of the supply chain, and crucially, the ways in which the industry can collectively address the pain points and refine the live export supply chain.
 
Aims/objectives
There are three key objectives that the research team agreed with Southern Rocklobster Limited and the FRDC at the start of the project. These were: 
  • Develop a full understanding of the supply chain for Southern Rock Lobster into export markets, to be able to pinpoint the key challenges faced in ensuring quality and maintaining temperature control.
  • Understand the range of options for improvements to the export cold chain, considering best practice, technologies and efficiencies. This includes opportunities for temperature control, regulatory reform and collaborative infrastructure.
  • Identify the innovations and initiatives likely to have the most significant impact on the quality of Southern Rock Lobster exports, and practically prioritise these for future implementation.
Methodology
The research team followed four phases of work, designed to contribute to the project’s outcomes in a logical way.
  • The first phase (2 weeks) focused on kicking off the project with confirmation of the research focus and the goals of the research. A collaborative kick-off meeting was conducted, and a review of background information and contact lists for stakeholder consults.  
  • The second phase (5 weeks) focused on reviewing the current value chain, with the research team speaking to/visiting 29 stakeholders to uncover pain points experienced by SRL exporters across the supply chain, and then conducting additional analysis to verify and add detail to the identified issues.  
  • The third phase (4 weeks) formulated a range of solutions to address identified supply chain issues. Each solution was workshopped, discussed with industry stakeholders to verify suitability, and researched. 
  • The fourth and final phase (2 weeks) focused on creating an implementation plan for the proposed solutions, with timelines and activities listed for Southern Rocklobster Limited and other industry stakeholders to action. 
Results/key findings
Southern Rock Lobsters (SRLs) are a premium, high value product, where the end product quality is a key indication of the performance of the export supply chain. Catch quality by fishers and subsequent handling must be effectively managed throughout the supply chain as the product is highly sensitive to poor handling and temperature variation during transit.
 
The key findings of Project 2018-176 include the identification of key issues faced in the live export supply chain for SRLs, proposed solutions to address them, and implementation work packages to assist the industry with actioning the aforementioned solutions. 
Issues
The 14 issues identified are grouped into four main themes as illustrated below. Issues are explored in depth in the results section of this report. 
Solutions
To address the specific challenges and choke points identified in the current state export supply chain assessment, solutions have been formed which detail how Southern Rock Lobster Limited can support the industry through particular initiatives. These are structured within three classifications, which broadly align to how disruptive and innovative the solutions may be for the SRL industry. The solutions are explored in depth in the results section of this report.
Implementation work packages
Six programs of activity have been developed to support the SRL industry with implementing supply chain solutions that address the issues identified in the review. The timeframes, costs and complexity of each package varies. The formed work packages will facilitate the industry to work towards the incremental and innovative solutions through general industry engagement, stakeholder incentivisation and a combined program of activity. The fundamentally disruptive solutions are broken down from the significant projects into targeted activities. Work packages are explored in depth in the results section of this report. 
Implications for relevant stakeholders
The findings detailed within this report have implications for all stakeholders engaged across the SRL live export supply chain – particularly at the domestic end. SRL exporters in particular will need to action change if they are to realise the maximum benefits of the proposed solutions. This will range from minor initiatives such as AVE labelling, to significant endeavours such as fundamentally changing the way that supply chain transactions are managed and contracted.  
Cross-industry collaboration will be required if the industry is to progress these interests as a whole, meaning that Southern Rocklobster Limited will be required to take on a leadership and coordination role, whilst other supply chain stakeholders such as freight forwarders, CTOs and airlines will need to be incentivised and engaged for many of the solutions to be progressed.