Rock Lobster Post Harvest Subprogram: Quantification Of Shell Hardness In Southern Rock Lobster
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$86,403.70
Summary
A new, simple and quick solution to the ambiguity of current measures of shell wear is to quantify shell hardness with a durometer, which is a small, hand-held device originally designed to measure the flexibility of plastic sheeting (Hicks and Johnson, 1999). This system of standardisation has recently been introduced in Alaskan crab fisheries. Before these devices can be used for Australian rock lobster stock-assessment, a series of short experiments are needed to calibrate hardness reading ....A new, simple and quick solution to the ambiguity of current measures of shell wear is to quantify shell hardness with a durometer, which is a small, hand-held device originally designed to measure the flexibility of plastic sheeting (Hicks and Johnson, 1999). This system of standardisation has recently been introduced in Alaskan crab fisheries. Before these devices can be used for Australian rock lobster stock-assessment, a series of short experiments are needed to calibrate hardness reading to the moult cycle. These experiments will allow future research sampling to record more useful measures of moult stage and thus provide more effective stock assessment.
This calibration will have immediate application in Tasmanian research for assessing the effect of September and November harvests on mortality of discarded lobsters. Processors in both South Australia and Tasmania anticipate that this project will provide a valuable tool for industry to use in setting acceptable levels of shell hardness for the landing of export-grade lobsters. That is, fishers will be able to establish a quantitative shell hardness grade that a processor will accept prior to landing the catch. This eliminates the current problem of the landing of lobsters that are ambiguously classed as “hard” by a fisher but “soft” by a processor – with resultant negative impacts on economic yield and markets.
Hicks, D. and Johnson, B.A., 1999. A device to measure shell hardness of Dungeness crabs and trial application in the Kodiak Island, Alaska, commercial fishery. Nor. Amer. J. Fish. Man. 19: 581-590.
Objectives: 1. To calibrate the rate of change in shell hardness before and after the moult of southern rock lobsters relative to lobster size, sex, region and temperature. 2. To identify the region of the exoskeleton that is most suited for measuring hardness. 3. To develop a prototype gauge for industry use that can be used to measure shell hardness of lobster with precision in industry conditions. Read moreRead less
SCRC: Investigation Of A Company Model For Australian Wild Abalone Trademark
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
As part of CRC Project 2009/723 the CRC has funded the development and registration of a trademark for Australian Wild Abalone. A code of conduct governing the use of the trademark has also been developed and is currently being trialed as part of the on going project market development activities.
What is needed now is a desktop study of different options for managing the trademark in the future, including the formation of an industry owned and managed company to administer the use o ....As part of CRC Project 2009/723 the CRC has funded the development and registration of a trademark for Australian Wild Abalone. A code of conduct governing the use of the trademark has also been developed and is currently being trialed as part of the on going project market development activities.
What is needed now is a desktop study of different options for managing the trademark in the future, including the formation of an industry owned and managed company to administer the use of the mark and the activities associated with it. This information will be a key input to the decision process for the Abalone companies involved in further developing the market in China, in particular whether to continue the program and if so how to contribute financially to it.Read moreRead less
Rock Lobster Post Harvest Subprogram: Development Of Bait Saving Strategies For The Western Rock Lobster Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$38,304.83
Summary
In the 2000-2001 Western Rock Lobster season approximately 16000 tonnes of bait was used at a cost to the industry of approximately $21.5 million. Savings on bait that do not reduce the catch of lobster have the potential to significantly increase the profitability of the industry. A preliminary study into the efficacy of bait saving devices indicated that reductions in the amount of bait deployed of approximately 40% are likely to be achievable without reducing catch rates, whilst with a rede ....In the 2000-2001 Western Rock Lobster season approximately 16000 tonnes of bait was used at a cost to the industry of approximately $21.5 million. Savings on bait that do not reduce the catch of lobster have the potential to significantly increase the profitability of the industry. A preliminary study into the efficacy of bait saving devices indicated that reductions in the amount of bait deployed of approximately 40% are likely to be achievable without reducing catch rates, whilst with a redesigned and more efficient bait saver reductions could be by as much as 90%. Such a reduction in bait usage would equate to a saving of between $8 and $19 million in the 2000-2001 season (WAFIC IDU project 04-01, and excluding initial cost of bait savers). The use of bait savers may be even more important with the newly introduced ban on lifting pots around the full moon (February-June, Zone C), and a ban on lifting pots on Sundays (after 15th of March, Zone B). Projections, based on the Puerulus Settlement Survey, are for drastically reduced catch rates over the next three seasons, i.e. between 9500 and 10500 tonnes, whilst oil prices continue to increase and are currently ~US$70 per barrel. Thus, there is an ever increasing need to develop ways in which fishermen can make savings. The development of bait saving strategies that do not reduce the catch of lobster is one way that fishermen could increase their profits. In future classification of a fishery as ecologically sustainable may include considerations of its impact on other organisms, e.g. its effects on bait species. The current study has the potential to further consolidate the fishery as ecologically sustainable.
This project addresses the following priority area identified by WAFRAB:
Business improvement/cost competitiveness within fishing industry: fuel costs/gear design.
Objectives: 1. Reduce bait usage in the Western Rock Lobster Fishery without reducing catches. Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. To identify needs for post harvest technology on a national basis, in collaboration with State and Territory based Fisheries Research Advisory Bodies, and other relevant sources 2. To facilitate post harvest research and development with potential for high return 3. To ensure the commercialisation and technology transfer of post harvest research results
Tactical Research Fund: Developing Postharvest Capability At The Lakes Entrance Fishermans Coop
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$83,500.00
Summary
Although some 4,000 tonnes per annum of mixed seafood – predominately scale fish – is landed by the fleet LEFCOL provides services to, the volume of this catch which is directly purchased, converted and marketed by LEFCOl is less than 150tonnes pa.
The majority of the catch is traded via traditional trading channels, being Melbourne and Sydney based commission agents and buyers. In what could be described as a ‘supply push’ channel strategy,the fish is caught and sent to market with no ....Although some 4,000 tonnes per annum of mixed seafood – predominately scale fish – is landed by the fleet LEFCOL provides services to, the volume of this catch which is directly purchased, converted and marketed by LEFCOl is less than 150tonnes pa.
The majority of the catch is traded via traditional trading channels, being Melbourne and Sydney based commission agents and buyers. In what could be described as a ‘supply push’ channel strategy,the fish is caught and sent to market with no definitive knowledge of what the returns will be. This opportunistic, short term and disjointed approach has limited the opportunity for a structured yield improvement for the catchers and stifled growth for LEFCOL and the region.
There is a real possibility to build a vibrant post-harvest value adding operation at LEFCOL, particularly given its strategic location, its membership, the size, likely/potential quality and consistency of the harvest and the existing facility.
The development needed at LEFCOL will only be achieved by improving the capacity and capability of the people who deliver the services.
Having a structured approach to building the capacity of the workforce will therefore positively impact and improve the services delivered The extra facilities and professional workforce created will offer many openings – some may not be seafood related as by creating a regional processing hub to this order may well support other ideas and interests.
From a Workforce development structure there would need to be an increase in staffing. Currently, there is no suitably skilled seafood processing resources available in Lakes Entrance to develop a pilot programme.
The intention is that this proposed activity would be a proof of concept to 'unlock' Victorian Government funds to take this pilot to a commercialisation phase. Objectives: 1. Assessment of the commercial and culinary capabilities of various seafood species including by-product 2. Development of suitable product specifications and grades per the above assessment and market opportunity knowledge 3. Development of suitable post harvest handling protocols and packaging requirements to meet the designed specifications 4. Development of cost/price metrics by product, form, pack and market 5. Development of suitable channels to market by product type 6. Development of suitable logistics solutions per market channel and product type 7. Development of quality assurance and process control protocols by product Read moreRead less
SCRC: Seafood Post Harvest Research Innovation Hub
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The Seafood CRC has supported the development of seafood post harvest research capacity in SARDI, CESSH, QDAFF, UTas, Uni SA and USC. This capacity will be a key part of the Program 2 CRC legacy. At the end of 2012 PM2 organsied for a meeting of researchers from CESSH, SARDI and QDAFF to explore opportunities for collaboration in developing legacy projects. At that meeting it was clear that there was not enough interaction between the three centers and that they were largely unaware of each o ....The Seafood CRC has supported the development of seafood post harvest research capacity in SARDI, CESSH, QDAFF, UTas, Uni SA and USC. This capacity will be a key part of the Program 2 CRC legacy. At the end of 2012 PM2 organsied for a meeting of researchers from CESSH, SARDI and QDAFF to explore opportunities for collaboration in developing legacy projects. At that meeting it was clear that there was not enough interaction between the three centers and that they were largely unaware of each others capabilities, industry linkages and facility capacity. It was also obvious that there were opportunities for learning from each other that were not being capitalised upon. It was agreed to hold meetings every 2 months at each of the organisations and to invite other organisations to participate (UTas, USC, Uni SA). All participants would fund their own attendance costs and where possible would send 2 people.
A second meeting was held in February 2013 at QDAFF. At that meeting PM 3 attended together with Fuller Communications and work has commenced on creating a capabilities document. There was also some discussion about how best to communicate and extend research results to industry end users. The role of the CRC's SeaFOOD magazine was brought up in that context and it was agreed that the Hub would provide input to the planning of each issue and actively engage in identifying and preparing stories for it. Participants at that meeting included several researchers who were not at the first meeting. Again the participants found the meeting valuable and a third meeting is sheduled for 27/3/2013 at SARDI.
There is an opportunity to grow and expand this hub to include more researchers. This will provide opportunities for a) better collaboration between researchers b) improved research responses to industry needs c) further development of the researcher capabilities d) coordinating communication and extension of results.
There is also potential for engaging with non CRC researchers and for facilitating international collaboration and engagement. As the next bid is primarily focused on post harvest research there is a need to provide support to this group of researchers and expand the membership of the hub.Read moreRead less