| Program 1 (Production Innovation) Oyster Research Projects |
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2003/209 - Sydney Rock Oysters: Overcoming constraints to production (completed) 2006/226 - Securing and enhancing the Sydney Rock 2006/227 - Enhancement of the Pacific Oyster Selective 2008/755 - Defining Oyster "condition" and reviewing techniques available for assessment (completed) _________________________________________ |
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COMPLETED PROJECT Sydney Rock Oysters: Overcoming Constraints to Commercial Scale Hatchery and Nursery Production
About the Project This project will provide a systematic program of research and development to enable reliable cost-effective hatchery production of Sydney Rock Oyster seed to allow demonstrated benefits of triploid oysters and advances in Sydney Rock Oyster selection for growth and disease resistance. Project Objectives 1. To establish protocols for improved broodstock conditioning and handling, particularly to permit out-of-season spawning of selected oyster stocks. 2. To determine the effects of the key autecological factors (temperature and salinity) and nutrition on Sydney Rock Oyster embryos and larvae, to evaluate early larval survival and late larval growth in commercial hatcheries. 3. To trial economical, low cost alternative techniques for algal and larval and spat rearing to enhance commercial Sydney Rock Oyster production. In particular, to establish alternative approaches for spat rearing including spat bubblers and field based nursery systems. 4. To systematically assess the major potential pathogenic or toxic factors that might contribute to larval and spat mortality. 5. To facilitate the establishment of a reliable commercial source of genetically improved Sydney Rock Oyster spat. _____________________________________________________ Industry Management and Commercialisation Plan
About the Project The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries established a breeding program in 1990 in Port Stephens and the Georges River with the aim of selecting Sydney Rock Oysters for faster growth. The program was later expanded to include selection for resistance to the new major diseases, winter mortality and QX. As a result, oysters breeding lines have been produced that are capable of reaching harvest size 11 months earlier, with others that are resistant to winter mortality or QX. Following these achievements and a Fisheries R&D corporation funded hachery production development program, the NSW oyster industry has actively sought the development of a commercial vehicle to take on the responsibility of breeding line management and distribution of resultant improved stock. Project Objectives 1. To survey industry breeding requirements and establish the economic values of different Sydney Rock Oyster traits in order to determine the market sustainability of developing and marketing multiple lines and to determine the optimum breeding objectives of different lines. 2. To evaluate alternative methods for selection for the most desirable traits, as identified by industry (faster growth, QX, disease resistance, winter mortality resistance etc.) 3. To review breeding program designs and apply the best approach to develop a new 10 year breeding strategy for Sydney Rock Oyster, in consultation with industry. 4. To develop a risk assessment and reduction model against the loss of broodstock. 5. To determine the best methods for use and protection of existing and future intellectual property for indsutry development. 6. To prepare a technical manual for the continued operation of a Sdney Rock Oyster breeding program. 7. To prepare fully costed options for funding a breeding program for the next ten years. 8. Review the genetic status of the current breeding lines by examining genetic variation. back to top >_____________________________________________________ |
 Oyster histology |
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Securing and Enhancing the Sydney Rock Oyster Breeding Program
About the Project The Sydney Rock Oyster industry has the potential to exploit new export initiatives and increase production. Integration of genetic markers and single pair mating into the hatchery-based breeding program will increase the efficiency of selection, and decrease the number of generations required to establish true breeding of resistant lines. Without marker assisted selection, the breeding program may not reach its full potential in time to prevent further losses. Project Objectives 1. To establish par mating protocols necessary for the development of selectively bred Oyster lines. 2. To confirm the association between PO and QX resistance using par matings and test the performance of PO-selected family lines in QX- prone estuaries. 3. To identify and characterise additional genetic markers of disease resistance. 4. To assess the value of cyropreservation to secure family lines for later use. 5. To assess the use of non-chemical means for the induction of triploidy in Sydney Rock Oysters. 6. To make the family lines produced in this research available to Select Oyster Company for incorporation in future breeding plans. _____________________________________________________ |
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Enhancement of the Pacific Oyster Selective Breeding Program
About the Project Australian Seafood Industries have identified that the only technology which can add value to their breeding program in the next five to six years is enhanced selective breeding. Project Objectives 1. To upgrade and refine the Australian Seafood Industries breeding program by developing a program that maximises economic gains and identifies the relative importance of traits known to be significant for the Australian Pacific oyster industry. 2. To upgrade and refine the Australian Seafood Industries breeding program by production of a spreadsheet to calculate the ecomonic values of traits for Pacific oysters enabling regular updates and customisation to individual regions. 3. To upgrade and refine the Australian Seafood Industries breeding program by determining the breeding strategy that delivers the best genetic gains for the Pacific oyster industry and fits within the resources available to Australian Seafood Industries. 4. To upgrade and refine the Australian Seafood Industries breeding program by documenting the genetic gains possible with different oyster selective breeding strategies and the relative ecomonic benefits of these different strategies. 5. To upgrade and refine the Australian Seafood Industries breeding program by developing specifications for a facility to produce the required number of families. 6. To upgrade and refine the Australian Seafood Industries breeding program by developing specifications for computer systems to support the breeding program (i.e. best mate allocation and genetic evaluation). 7. To upgrade and refine the Australian Seafood Industries breeding program by updating the Australian Seafood Industries database to accommodate the requirements of the revised breeding program. 8. The development of a model for data capture and processing for further development by Australian Seafood Industries and consideration by other aquaculture sectors. 9. To update Australian Seafood Industries' exisiting business plan on an annual basis, clearly outlining the future business case of Australian Seafood Industries and detailing the companies exit strategy from reliance on external funding. ______________________________________________________ |
Line 100 commercially produced |
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COMPLETED PROJECT Defining Oyster "Condition" and Reviewing Techniques Available for Assessment
About the Project This project is designed to define Oyster ‘condition’ and to review the techniques available for its assessment as a precursor to projects in the areas of genetics, market/supply chain and food safety. Project Objectives 1. To identify the characteristics which define ‘marketable condition’ in Sydney Rock and Pacific Oysters. 2. To review and identify existing and potential technologies for the rapid and efficient measure of marketable condition characteristics for use in the foreshadowed project “Incorporation of selection for condition/survival into a breeding strategy for Sydney Rock Oysters and Pacific Oysters.” 3. To provide an overview of the characteristics which define physiological/reproductive ‘condition’ in Pacific and Sydney Rock Oysters. back to top>_____________________________________________________ |
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| This page as last updated: 22nd December 2009 | ||
