| Program 1A Research Projects |
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Abalone projects 2005/029 - Factors limiting the resilience and recovery of fishing abalone populations Atlantic Salmon Projects Oyster Projects 2003/209 - Sydney Rock Oysters: Overcoming constraints to production (completed project) 2006/226 - Securing and enhancing the Sydney Rock 2006/227 - Enhancement of the Pacific Oyster Selective Prawn projects 2007/716 - Passion for prawns benchmarking performance Southern Bluefin Tuna Projects 2007/717 - Southern Bluefin Tuna maturation and sexing - 2008/712 - Second generation tuna feeds 2008/718 - Southern Bluefin Tuna larval/juvenile rearing Southern Rocklobster Projects Yellowtail Kingfish Projects General Research Projects 2007/720 - Inland saline aquaculture commercialistion ______________________________________________ |
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Sydney Rock Oysters: Overcoming Constraints to Commercial Scale Hatchery and Nursery Production Completed Project - Check out the Seafood CRC Bookshop!
Project Number - 2003/209 (adopted project from the FRDC) Start Date - 1st July 2003 End Date - 31st December 2007 Principal Investigator - Dr Wayne O'Connor Research Provider - NSW Deptartment of Primary Industries CRC Research End User - CRC Oyster Consortium
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 Project Number - 2005/209 (adopted project from the FRDC) Start Date - 1st July 2005 End Date - 1st December 2007 Principal Investigator - Mr Ray Tynan Research Provider - Select Oyster Company Pty Ltd CRC Research End User - CRC Oyster Consortium
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. ____________________________________________________ Factors Limiting the Resilience and Recovery of Fishing Abalone Populations Project Number - 2005/029 (adopted project from the FRDC) Start Date - 1st July 2005 End Date - 30th June 2008 Principal Investigator - Dr Craig Mundy Research Provider - University of Tasmania CRC Research End User - Abalone Council of Australia
About the Project As abalone management is becoming increasingly more focused on varying finer spatial scales, the effects of localised depletion, varying growth rates between reef systems and the accuracy of mimimum legal lengths are increasing in importance. More recently, the impacts associated with the abalone virus on wild abalone populations has put further pressure on the management of stocks and the need for stock rebuilding strategies. This project has successfully translocated abalone between sites in Tasmania and has also begun undertaking larval dispersion analysis. Translocation, if feasible may provide one mechanism to enhance previously depleted reef. The use of hatchery produced larvae as a re-seeding technology has previously been shown to be problematic and dependent on an understanding of the habitat type, existing abalone density, environmental conditions and the deployment methodology. The project has commenced assessment of larvae as a possible cheaper option. Larval technology offers a method that could be used for large scale dispersion. Project Objectives 1. To identify key ecological processes that limit standard recovery. 2. To quantify the scale of spillover benefit from translocated populations. 3. Cost benefit analysis of rehabilitated habitat. ____________________________________________________ |
 Oyster histology |
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Spatial Management of Southern Rocklobster Project Number - 2006/220 (adopted project) Start Date - 18th August 2006 End Date - 31st March 2010 Principal Investigator - Dr Caleb Gardner Research Provider - University of Tasmania CRC Research End User - University of Tasmania and SARDI
About the Project Adjusting harvest strategies to take account of spatial patterns in the biology of lobsters and patterns in the fleet has the potential to substantially increase yield, value and sustainability of the fishery. Shifting effort into deeper water by means such as specific deep-water quota would be expected ro increase yield given that these stocks are currently under exploited. Translocating lobsters from slow to high growth leads to increased productivity and also higher beach price per lobster due to improved colour. Project Objectives 1. To conduct field experiments and sampling to provide additional data required for alernative harvest strategy evaluation (fisher catch sampling, translocation release survival, release movement, translocation growth transition, effects of translocation on maturity and egg production parameters and density dependent growth). 2. To conduct field experiments on translocation to provide additional data required for economic evaluation (change in colour, tail width, condition and ability to survive transport). 3. To determine the extent of ecological community change in deep water reef habitats in response to increased harvest rates of lobsters. 4. To enable assessment reporting of trends in biomass and egg production by depth (model fitting). 5. To evaluate alternative spatial management options (deep-water quota, translocation, size limits) in respect to yield and egg production (biological projection). 6. To evaluate alternative spatial management options (deep-water quota, translocation, size limits) by economic analysis. 7. To develop functional management and monitoring recommendations to apply outcomes. |
 The Mighty Southern Rocklobster |
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Securing and Enhancing the Sydney Rock Project Number - 2006/226 (adopted project) Start Date - 1st July 2006 End Date - 31st December 2009 Principal Investigator - Dr Wayne O'Connor Research Provider - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries CRC Research End User - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
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. back to top >__________________________________________________ |
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Enhancement of the Pacific Oyster Selective Project Number - 2006/227 (adopted project) Start Date - 1st July 2006 End Date - 30th June 2009 Principal Investigator - Mr Barry Ryan Research Provider - Australian Seafood Industries CRC Research End User - CRC Oyster Consortium
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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Amoebic Gill Disease Vaccine Phase II - Sea-Based Trials, Vaccine Refinement and Commercialisation Project Number - 2007/234 Start Date - 1st July 2007 End Date - 30th June 2011 Principal Investigator - Dr Mathew Cook Research Provider - CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research CRC Research End User - Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association
About the Project In Tasmania, amoebic gill disease (AGD) is the main health concern that affects the salmon mariculture industry. It is also a major production cost (>$A15M) in terms of treatment and subsequent lost production. Outbreaks of AGD are most prevalent during the spring/summer and are associated with high salinity and high water temperature. Currently, freshwater bathing is the only effective treatment for AGD but it is very labour intensive, time-consuming, stressful to the fish and expensive. Given the increased demand for freshwater and the high costs associated with fresh-water bathing, it is not viewed as a sustainable treatment option in the long-term. Vaccine development is part of a multifaceted research and development approach by the industry and research partners to develop short, medium and long-term solutions to the control of AGD. The intent of the collaborative research and development is to develop a set of strategies and tools to provide the salmon industry with a substantial reduction to the impact of AGD in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. The development of a sub-unit DNA vaccine being the most ambitious long-term approach of the overall research strategy. Project Objectives 1. Determine whether vaccination success against AGD in the controlled small-scale laboratory environment can be translated to the commercial environment. 2. Refine the experimental vaccine and produce the most effective commercial vaccine formulation. 3. Review the pertinent legislative requirements for the commercialisation of the vaccine, and undertake the required research to adequately address any concerns. 4. Identify a suitable partner and develop an agreement for the delivery of an efficient and effective commercial vaccine against AGD for the Tasmanian industry. ___________________________________________________ Increasing the Profitability of Penaeus monodon Farms via the Use of Low Water Exchange and Microbial Floc Production Project Number - 2007/716 (adopted project from the FRDC) Start Date - 1st October 2007 End Date - 30th June 2008 Principal Investigator - Mr David Smith Research Provider - CSIRO Marine Atmospheric Research CRC Research End User - Australian Prawn Farmers Assoc
About the Project The aim of the project is to increase the profitability of P. monodon farms by significantly reducting production costs whilst ensuring environmental sustainability. Project Objectives 1. evaluate the effectiveness of different carbon sources for microbial floc formation in commercial ponds. 2. Determine the nutritional benefits of microbial flocs to P. monodon reared in ponds and quantify the associated reduction in feed costs. 3. Quantify the effects of low water exchange, microbial floc production systems on the reduction in farm nutrient discharge and overall effects on farm profitability. |
 AGD Lesions (note the white patches on the gills) |
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Passion for Prawns - Benchmarking Performance Project Number - 2007/716 Start Date - 1st October 2007 End Date - 30th June 2008 Principal Investigator - Ms Helen Jenkins Research Provider - Australian Prawn Farmers Association CRC Research End User - Australian Prawn Farmers Assoc
About the Project The "Passion for Prawns" initiative will deliver investments across a range of activities all linked together with the shared goal of improving market value. By increasing the market value of farmed prawns the industry will significantly grow its value from its exisiting operational base. Project Objectives 1. Identification of key business performance indicators to enable measured evaluation of returns on investment in the industries development. 2. Measurement of the Australian prawn farmers varying performance against those key business performance indicators. 3. Identification of the key drivers of variation in performance across the farms against those key business performance indicators. 4. Establishment of recommended actions to overcome the variability and improve performance against the business performance indicators identified in objective 3. 5. Extension of the actions to the next generation of industry leaders |
 Prawn - Aquaculture |
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Southern Bluefin Tuna Maturation and Sexing - Develop and Apply New Technologies Project Number - 2007/717 Start Date - 1st November 2007 End Date - 30th June 2010 Principal Investigator - Dr Craig Foster Research Provider - Flinders University and University of the Sunshine Coast CRC Research End User - Cleans Seas Tuna Ltd
About the Project The closing of the lifecycle of tuna requires that reproductively mature broodstock are available and will spawn naturally or in response to environmental manipulations and/or hormonal manipulations. Currently Clean Seas Tuna Ltd have Southern Bluefin Tuna in a temperature and light controlled broodstock facility. The tuna demonstrated spawning activity in the stock and the release of milt in the male tuna and spawning activity in the females. This project will develop capabilities and tools to enhance the prospects of tuna propagation. Project Objectives 1. Develop sedation, handling and sampling techniques for Southern Bluefin Tuna. 2. Develop and apply tools for the characterisation of reproductive development and sex determination of captive Southern Bluefin Tuna. 3. Manipulate reproductive development of Southern Bluefin Tuna using environmental and hormonal interventions. |
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Yellowtail Kingfish Juvenile Quality - Identify 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. ___________________________________________________ Review of Available Tools that can be Used to Support Selective Breeding Programs in the Seafood CRC Project Number - 2008/704 Start Date - 31st January 2008 End Date - 28th February 2008 Principal Investigator - Dr Nick Robinson Research Provider - SA Research and Development Institute CRC Research End User - Australian Seafood CRC
About the Project The Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre is developing a theme business plan to support a coordinated, cooperative approach to aquaculture genetics research in the CRC. One of the needs identified in the development of this plan is the provision of tools and technologies to facilitate the planning and implementation of selective breeding programs. This is already a target for the oyster industry and other aquaculture production sectors. A common requirement for selective breeding programs is good software management tools to keep track of individuals and important information relative to them (e.g. pedigree, treatment, trait, make information, estimated breeding values) and to streamline genetic analysis and decision making. project Objectives 1. To assist the Seafood CRC in the development of the Breeding for Profit theme business plan by reviewing available software tools that can be used to support selective breeding programs in the Seafood CRC. _____________________________________________________ |
 larval kingfish |
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Inland Saline Aquaculture Commercialistion Project Number - 2007/720 Start Date - 1st December 2007 End Date - 30th June 2007 Principal Investigator - Mr Jim Blackburn Research Provider - NSW Dept of Primary Industries CRC Research End User - Lonsec Ltd
About the Project This project seeks to increase production of seafood in Australia by using inland saline groundwater that is pumped to the surface in large saline groundwater interception schemes and then disposed of in evaporation basins. There are sufficient saline groundwater resources to provide thousands of tonnes of additional seafood production but research and development is needed to ensure the aquaculture technology is appropriate and economically viable. This project will develop and validate cost-effective production technology for inland saline aquaculture and drive expansion of this new aquaculture production system as a component of other exisiting or planned groundwater interception and evaporation schemes. This will be accomplished by providing a commercial-scale demonstration inland saline trout farm and directly assisting new operations to develop customised aquaculture business development plans. Project Objectives 1. Develop and operate a commercial-scale, demonstration farm for Rainbow Trout using saline groundwater from the Wakool-Tullakool Subsurface Drainage Scheme (WTSSDS). 2. Develop production methods that optimise production from farms constructed in association with groundwater interception and evaporation schemes and that optimise management of saline groundwater using those schemes. 3. Develop a training and extension program for inland saline aquaculture. 4. Extend commercial inland saline aquaculture of trout. 5. Coordinate national research and development on inland saline aquaculture. ____________________________________________________ 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. ____________________________________________________ Second Generation Tuna Feeds Project Number - 2008/712 Start Date - 1st January 2008 End Date - 30th June 2009 Principal Investigator - Dr Craig Foster Research Provider - SARDI and Clean Seas Tuna Ltd CRC Research End User - Clean Seas Tuna Ltd
About the Project The aim of this project is to develop a food supply for rearing tuna fingerlings to growout. Feed supply both in the larval rearing and juvenile area is one of the success limiting factors and this project will concentrate on developing a feed supply for juveniles. Project Objectives 1. The availability of a viable manufactured feed supply in Australia to support the propagated tuna industry and the Southern Bluefin Tuna wild caught farming industry. 2. To compare the best practice marine larval and nursery rearing techniques across a range of leading Australian marine finfish hatcheries with propagated Southern Bluefin Tuna eggs and larvae. 3. To define a successful set of larval rearing protocols, weaning strategies and nursery rearing techniques for Southern Bluefin Tuna in a commercial hatchery situation. _____________________________________________________ Scope and Economic Analysis of Options for a Nationally Unified Breeding Program that Provides Significant Economic Benefit to the Australian Abalone Aquaculture Industry
Project Number - 2008/722 Start Date - 1st March 2008 End Date - 31st August 2008 Principal Investigator - Dr Nick Robinson Research Provider - SA Research and Development Institute CRC Research End User - Australian Abalone Growers Assoc
About the Project The major limitation to the economic profitability and growth of the industry has been the long production time of abalone to reach market size. This project will assist in the development of a coordinated national breeding program for cultured Australian abalone. The industry sees selective breeding as offering the greatest return on investment. Project Objectives 1. To model the Tasmanian GW program(s) and alternative mainland strategies and determine the optimal strategy for a unified coordinated program. 2. To identify the areas of collaboration for adding value to each program and the standardisation of procedures needed to ensure collaboration is achieved. 3. To identify key researchable constraints to the implementation of the breeding program, prioritise the research objectives and identify funding options. 4. The cooperative breeding program that develops will aim to achieve the objectives of the Australian Abalone Growers Association. _____________________________________________________ Southern Bluefin Tuna Larval/Juvenile Rearing Project Number - 2008/718 Start Date - 20th February 2008 End Date - 30th September 2008 Principal Investigator - To be advised Research Provider - SARDI and Flinders University CRC Research End User - Clean Seas Tuna
About the Project This project aims to establish protocols and methods for the commercial production of Southern Bluefin Tuna juveniles to support a propagated tuna aquaculture industry. Project Objectives 1. To produce a small batch of healthy Southern Bluefin Tuna juveniles ready for transfer to sea cages. 2. To compare best practice marine larval and nursery rearing techniques across a range of leading Australian marine finfish hatcheries with propagated Southern Bluefin Tuna eggs and larvae. 3. To define a successful set of larval rearing protocols, weaning strategies and nursery rearing techniques for Southern Bluefin Tuna in a commercial hatchery situation. ____________________________________________________ |
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The Development of a Genetic Management 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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