Application Of A Machine Learning Approach For Effective Stock Management Of Farmed Abalone
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$115,649.00
Summary
Determining the number and size distribution of abalone present at various stages of production is critical information for effective stock management. Currently the Australian abalone aquaculture industry spends in the order of $25,000 per annum, per farm, gathering this information by hand. However, the resulting data is of mediocre quality, is limited in its scope, and collecting the data causes stress to the animals (as it is removed from the water) which can compromise growth and survival. ....Determining the number and size distribution of abalone present at various stages of production is critical information for effective stock management. Currently the Australian abalone aquaculture industry spends in the order of $25,000 per annum, per farm, gathering this information by hand. However, the resulting data is of mediocre quality, is limited in its scope, and collecting the data causes stress to the animals (as it is removed from the water) which can compromise growth and survival. Automated counting and measuring of abalone will increase farm efficiency and productivity in the short term and, in the longer term, will provide an advanced platform for further R & D improvements including accurate data collection during experimental trials (e.g. feeds, temperature). Artificial intelligence and machine learning has now matured to a point that accurately counting and measuring abalone is possible using this approach, however specific application to the abalone industry is yet to be achieved. This project would involve the development, training and validation of a machine learning model to identify, segment and measure quantitative abalone traits in production systems and, render the product data to be accessible and applicable for farmers. Objectives: 1. To develop and implement artificial intelligence as a method for accurately measuring and counting abalone at nursery, weaning and grow out. Read moreRead less
Condition And Its Assessment In The Southern Rock Lobster. Field Application Of The Techniques For Condition Assessment Developed In The Laboratory
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$249,591.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Obtain an understanding of variations in growth and recruitment through the establishment of the potential of selected indices to characterise temporal and spatial changes in condition of lobsters within the fishery.
ARDC: Food Security Data Challenges: Increasing Food Security Through Liberation Of Fishing And Aquaculture Data
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,001,708.12
Summary
The development of digital and data systems (DSS) across fisheries & aquaculture, as well as the agriculture sector more broadly is disparate. How data is collected, how it is stored, and how it can subsequently be used is greatly influenced by factors such as sector digital maturity, or available funding to develop (or upgrade) DSS.
This project seeks to develop a national fisheries and aquaculture data ingestion and storage system (Activity 1), ensuring that information derived from f ....The development of digital and data systems (DSS) across fisheries & aquaculture, as well as the agriculture sector more broadly is disparate. How data is collected, how it is stored, and how it can subsequently be used is greatly influenced by factors such as sector digital maturity, or available funding to develop (or upgrade) DSS.
This project seeks to develop a national fisheries and aquaculture data ingestion and storage system (Activity 1), ensuring that information derived from fisheries and aquaculture activities is findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). The ingestion and storage system will be bolstered by a complementary data catalogue (detailing the data sets available on the platform) (Activity 2) and analytical tools (able to gain insights without moving data outside the storage platform) (Activity 6). The platform will be underpinned by metadata (Activity 3) and a robust governance framework (Activity 4). Use of the system will be tested through 3 case studies, supporting capacity and capability improvement of the sector (Activity 5).
The production of and use of data cuts across industry and government, and covers activities throughout the fisheries supply chain (from pre-fishing quota management, to post-fishing processing and subsequent traceability). Consequently there is no one organisation across fishing and aquaculture that is best placed to co-ordinate and trial this technology. FRDC is capable to the leadership required to ensure a fit for purpose product for end users, additionally the leverage of Australia Research Data Commons investment will contribute to the development of a nationally coherent eResearch infrastructure
This project received investment from the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC). The ARDC is funded by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). Objectives: 1. Develop a new cloud-based fisheries data storage platform to enable ingestion, management, and sharing of datasets 2. Develop a CKAN-based data catalogue, a searchable fisheries data source allowing users to browse, combine, share, and access exchangeable data assets 3. Create best practice metadata standards that will be identified, documented, and then operationalised through the data catalogue and storage platform 4. Develop and operationalise a fisheries-focused data governance framework 5. Enhance capacity and capacity to use the platform through demonstration of 3 unique case studies 6. Develop use-case relevant suite of reporting and analysis tools to allow researchers to gain insights without moving data outside the storage platform Read moreRead less
Pilot Study Of Larval Recruitment And Genetic Variation Of Southern Rock Lobster Populations
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$56,600.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Compare effectiveness of existing Jasus spp puerulus collectors & determine the most suitable. 2. Estimate spatial variability & timing of puerulus settlement; can puerulus be obtained in sufficient quantities? 3. Develop mt DNA analysis techniques to identify p. Genetic variability information.
Tactical Research Fund: Evaluating Source-sink Relationships Of The Western Rock Lobster Fishery Using Oceanographic Modelling
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$75,000.00
Summary
The puerulus settlement in 2007/08 was the second lowest in 40 years and follows several years of below-average settlements. Previous studies have shown that environment factors such as the Leeuwin Current and storms affect the abundance and spatial distribution of puerulus settlement. However it is important to identify if there are some changes to these environmental factors contributing to the low recruitment. Initial monitoring indicates very low 2008/09 settlement despite the Leeuwin Curr ....The puerulus settlement in 2007/08 was the second lowest in 40 years and follows several years of below-average settlements. Previous studies have shown that environment factors such as the Leeuwin Current and storms affect the abundance and spatial distribution of puerulus settlement. However it is important to identify if there are some changes to these environmental factors contributing to the low recruitment. Initial monitoring indicates very low 2008/09 settlement despite the Leeuwin Current being above average this year. This event is unexpected based on previous settlements during years of strong Leeuwin Current and has serious implications for the management of the fishery. The breeding stock overall is believed to be within historic ranges and so is not expected to have contributed to the recent decline in settlement. However it is possible that the breeding stock in certain parts of the fishery may be more critical than others and this could have changed over the years due to climate change effects. Advances in quality of satellite data in the 1990s measuring sea surface topography (altimeter satellites) have enabled significant improvements in our understanding of the environmental factors, with the assistance of oceanographic modelling. Previous oceanographic models were focussed on the open ocean circulation off the continental shelf. Recent advances enable the development of high-resolution models at 10 km spatial scale which resolve the dominant processes on the shelf. Understanding the causes of recruitment variability and their long-term trends has important implications in the stock assessment and management of the fishery. The management response would be significantly different if the cause of the series of low recruitment was due to egg production or environmental factors. An adjustment to the sustainable harvest rate may be required if there are long-term environmental trends that affect the average recruitment of the western rock lobster. Objectives: 1. To determine the relative contribution of larval production from different areas to the abundance and spatial distribution of puerulus settlement over 15 years using a larval advection model Read moreRead less
Parallel and Distributed Machine Learning - Smart Data Analysis in the Multicore Era. In large data centres our research will lead to reduced energy consumption by using graphics cards which have a much better computation to power ratio than traditional processors. On desktop computers, it will make machine learning practical by enabling efficient algorithms for spam filtering and content analysis. On networked systems it will lead to distributed inference, caching and collaborative filtering ap ....Parallel and Distributed Machine Learning - Smart Data Analysis in the Multicore Era. In large data centres our research will lead to reduced energy consumption by using graphics cards which have a much better computation to power ratio than traditional processors. On desktop computers, it will make machine learning practical by enabling efficient algorithms for spam filtering and content analysis. On networked systems it will lead to distributed inference, caching and collaborative filtering applications which will both reduced the bandwidth required and make the internet safer for users. Finally, it will enable rapid deployment of sensor networks for monitoring and detection, such as for environmental monitoring and safeguarding Australia's borders.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Use Of A Remote Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROUV) For Surveying Abalone On Reefs In The Western Zone Abalone Fishery, Victoria.
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Provide a tactical and strategic response to the recent outbreak. Develop a cost effective assessment tool to validate the spread of the virus and build a long term mechanism to undertake fisheries independent surveys. Objectives: 1. To validate a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROUV) survey tool 2. Assess options to integrate video from ROUV technology and other sources with existing diver data to develop fisheries independent surveys 3. To validate non surveye ....Provide a tactical and strategic response to the recent outbreak. Develop a cost effective assessment tool to validate the spread of the virus and build a long term mechanism to undertake fisheries independent surveys. Objectives: 1. To validate a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROUV) survey tool 2. Assess options to integrate video from ROUV technology and other sources with existing diver data to develop fisheries independent surveys 3. To validate non surveyed abalone populations Read moreRead less
Developing Biomass Assessment Approaches, Harvest Methodologies And Biosecurity Knowledge For Wild-harvest Of Seaweeds In Southern Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$576,519.00
Summary
After many years of interest but little on ground activity apart from a few established operations based on the harvest of beach-cast material, the seaweed industry is starting to gain momentum in southern Australia. There is particular interest in the farming of Asparagopsis for its methane reducing properties in ruminants, but also in several species for human consumption and other uses, including the golden kelp Ecklonia radiata. While much of the focus is on the development of an aquacultu ....After many years of interest but little on ground activity apart from a few established operations based on the harvest of beach-cast material, the seaweed industry is starting to gain momentum in southern Australia. There is particular interest in the farming of Asparagopsis for its methane reducing properties in ruminants, but also in several species for human consumption and other uses, including the golden kelp Ecklonia radiata. While much of the focus is on the development of an aquaculture industry, this needs to be supported by the wild harvest of seedstock, at least in the early years, and there is also some interest in wild-harvest for product. However, the knowledge base and tools available for managers to regulate this emerging industry are limited. This proposal aims to start filling in some of these gaps. The first is to develop an understanding of the biomass present in targeted areas, and importantly, the development of a rapid assessment tool to do this, which can then be used to form the basis of a stock assessment methodology as the industry expands. The second is to develop harvest methodologies that allow for the recovery of local stocks, and which can be used to inform rotational harvest strategies by documenting how long recovery takes. The third is to develop an understanding of some of the biosecurity issues likely to be faced by industry and regulators, which will allow managers to make informed decisions around translocation policies to both prevent the spread of disease, and to maintain the genetic integrity of natural populations. Objectives: 1. Develop a rapid assessment tool for species specific subtidal macroalgal biomass, initially for Asparagopsis armata, A. taxiformis and E. radiata. 2. Develop harvesting methods for the above species that ensure that local populations are not depleted, and that ecosystem function is not compromised. 3. Review literature on macroalgae diseases, pests, health management strategies and population structure. 4. Identify information and approaches to define health management units. 5. Collate information and build an initial basic approach to translocation. Read moreRead less