Program 1 (Production Innovation) Yellowtail Kingfish Research Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007/707 - Improvements to the production of Yellowtail Kingfish

2007/718 - Yellowtail Kingfish juvenile quality - Identify timing and nature of jaw deformities in Yellowtail Kingfish
and scope the likely causes of this condition

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Improvements to the Production of Yellowtail Kingfish

Project Number - 2007/707

Start Date - 1st July 2007

End Date - 30th June 2010

Principal Investigator - Dr Craig Foster

Research Provider - SA Research and Development Institute

CRC Research End User - Clean Seas Tuna Ltd

 

About the Project

The work proposed in the Yellowtail Kingfish production areas are critical issues that need to be resolved to enable the
further accelerated development of the Yellowtail Kingfish aquaculture industries nationally.  This industry is predicted to be worth $100m by 2020. 


Project Objectives

1. Reduce deformity rates to less than ten percent before hatchery grading.

2. To improve average growth rates compared to established current models, by better feeds and feed management.

3. To reduce costs of Yellowtail Kingfish production through refining of feeds and feed management that lower FCR from 2:1 to 1.7:1.

4. Reduce production costs through improved fish health management and disease control.

5. Develop a range of options for genetic improvement of cultured stocks and implement cost effective strategies that will achieve efficiency, productivity and market gains.

6. Establish a post harvest capability to take advantage of market driven cost effective value adding opportunities to increase profitability of propagated Yellowtail Kingfish businesses.

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Yellowtail Kingfish Juvenile Quality - Identify
Timing and Nature of Jaw Deformities in
Yellowtail Kingfish and Scope the Likely Causes
of This Condition

Project Number - 2007/718

Start Date - 10th September 2007

End Date - 31st August 2008

Principal Investigator - Dr Stephen Battaglene

Research Provider - University of Tasmania

CRC Research End User - Cleans Seas Tuna Ltd

 

About the Project

Jaw malformations are a continuing problem in the production of Yellowtail Kingfish and can effect up to 50% of cultured fish. There is high variability in the rate and severity of deformities among production runs and between commercial hatcheries. Clean Seas Aquaculture Company operates two Kingfish hatcheries at Arno Bay and Port Augusta in South Australia and malformations are estimated to cost the company greater than $A 1million per annum.

Project Objectives

1. To evaluate variation in the quality of Yellowtail Kingfish eggs.

2. To assess the use of ozone disinfection of Yellowtail Kingfish embryos.

3. To assess the quality of live feeds used in the production of Yellowtail Kingfish.

4. To determine the onset and severity of malformations in cultured Yellowtail Kingfish.

5. To train hatchery staff in the identification of larval malformations and in ozone disinfection.

6. To identify potential factors influencing malformations and propose a plan for future research.

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larval kingfish

Addressing the Key Aquatic Animal Health Issues Limiting the Production of Australian Yellowtail Kingfish and Hatchery Reared Southern Bluefin Tuna Industries

Project Number - 2008/711

Start Date - 1st March 2008

End Date - 21st February 2008

Principal Investigator - To be advised

Research Provider - SA Research and Development Institute

CRC Research End User - Clean Seas Tuna Ltd

 

About the Project

Controlling the flukes on Yellowtail Kingfish is a major cost for producers and the industry has identified improving the treatment of flukes asone of the top research priorities. The project aims to develop palatable feeds containing medication that will significantly reduce the burden of flukes.

This project will also address the issue of changing biofouled nets, addressing the issue of increased salinity and whether this slows Yellowtail Kingfish growth first in summer and if not, then in winter.

Health issues will also be addressed through development of healthy protocols and a surveillance program.

Project Objectives

1. Review literature to establish best candidate in-feed medications and the dosages for the treatment of flukes and then test efficacy of selected in-feed medications in reducing the burden of gill and skin flukes on Yellowtail Kingfish in tank trials and in pilot scale field trials.

2. Determine whether betting treated with antifoulants reduces the number of larval flukes settling on Yellowtail Kingfish and determine whether the fish absorb and retain residues of the most promising antifouling compounds.

3. Establish program for 12 months of routine monitoring of gill and gut pathology of Yellowtail Kingfish and determine the impact of a special diet on winter gut syndrome.

4. Over the range of salinities, experimentaly in the Spencer Gulf, quantify the effects on performance (growth rates and apparent food conversion efficiency) and blood osmolality of Yellowtail Kingfish.

5. Develop a health protocol for hatchery reared larval Southern Bluefin Tuna and preserve samples for future archival diagnostic analysis.

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The Development of a Genetic Management and Improvement Strategy for Temperate Marine Finfish

Project Number - 2008/723

Start Date - 1st November 2007

End Date - 30th April 2008

Principal Investigator - Dr Graham Mair

Research Provider - Flinders University

CRC Research End User - Cleanseas Ltd

 

About the Project

Yellowtail Kingfish, Mulloway and propagated Southern Bluefin Tuna are all considered as key species for the emerging sector of marine finfish aquaculture. Whilst Southern Bluefin Tuna propagation has yet to commence, both Yellowtail Kingfish and Mulloway have been bred in captivity for years but production remains dependent on seed from wild caught broodfish.

It is recognised that this industry sector needs to move forward and capture the advantages from domestication of the key species and implement a genetic management and, as appropriate, genetic improvement strategy to significantly enhance profitability of production over that possible producing what are essentially wild animal which are in no way genetically adapted to the captive environment. Domestication selection and subsequent genetic improvement will address some of the key constraints to the expansion of this industry sector.

Project Objectives

1. Develop a range of options for genetic improvement of cultured stocks and implement cost effective strategies that will achieve efficiency, productivity and market gains.

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Improvements in Yellowtail Kingfish Larval and Juvenile Survival and Quality

Project Number - 2008/746

Start Date - 15th July 2008

End Date - 30th September 2010

Principal Investigator - Dr Mike Thomson

Research Provider - University of Tasmania, SA R&D Institute and Flinders University

CRC Research End User - Cleanseas Ltd

 

About the Project

Survival of Yellowtail Kingfish juveniles in Australian marine hatcheries is very low in comparison to many other marine species such as Sea Bass and Bream produced in larger more mature industries, for example in Europe.  Of particular note, several skeletal malformations have been reported in Australia
and New Zealand, although few are well documented.

There is also high variability in hatchery survival rates and the rate and severity of deformities among production runs and commercial hatcheries. 

By way of illustration, the direct benefit to Clean Seas Tuna Ltd. of reducing malformations in Yellowtail Kingfish is estimated to be $A1 million per annum.  A reduction in malformations from 40% to 20% could produce a further 400,000 good quality juveniles at a market value of $A1 million.


Project Objectives

1. To identify improvements to be made to commercial scale Yellowtal Kingfish larval and juvenile rearing systems and procedures resulting in higher survival (> 25% by end 2010), better growth, reduced levels (<5% by end 2010) and severity of malformations and more cost efficient juvenile production.

2. To assess the suitability of some novel larval and juvenile rearing techniques for Yellowtail Kingfish: recirculating
intensive larval rearing system with semi-automatic feeding, artificial light, algal paste, small rotifer, high prey density and early weaning.

3. To test a range of key biotic and abiotic factors and rearing strategies on Yellowtail Kingfish larvae and juveniles in
replicated tanks and identify optimal regimes for adoption in commercial scale hatcheries.

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This page was last updated: 3rd October 2008