High Quality Eggs And Nauplii For The Australian Prawn Industry.
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$516,346.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine the physiological requirements for successful & high quality egg production: Vitellogenesis and its physiological control. 2. To identify & chronicle the substances which are accumulated during egg development and their importance in egg viability and larvae survival: Egg quality and packaging. 3. Identify & chronicle differences in substances between wild caught spawners and pond reared spawners. 4. Compare egg quality between wild a ....Objectives: 1. To determine the physiological requirements for successful & high quality egg production: Vitellogenesis and its physiological control. 2. To identify & chronicle the substances which are accumulated during egg development and their importance in egg viability and larvae survival: Egg quality and packaging. 3. Identify & chronicle differences in substances between wild caught spawners and pond reared spawners. 4. Compare egg quality between wild and captive-reared broodstock. 5. Demonstrate value of supplementing broodstock diets with optimal concentrations of carotenoids. 6. Demonstrate value of supplementing broodstock diet with ecdysone. Read moreRead less
Rock Lobster Enhancement And Aquaculture Subprogram: Establishing Post-pueruli Growout Data For Western Rock Lobsters To Assess Economic Viability
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$759,195.00
Summary
Research has been completed showing that it is possible to harvest commercial quantities of pueruli/post-pueruli, which at this stage, appears to be unique in Australia. The same research has shown that harvesting of post-pueruli would have little impact on the commercial fishery and that there are ways of compensating the commercial catch to make post-pueruli removal biologically neutral. There is commercial interest in ongrowing western rock lobster post-pueruli to a marketable size, but bas ....Research has been completed showing that it is possible to harvest commercial quantities of pueruli/post-pueruli, which at this stage, appears to be unique in Australia. The same research has shown that harvesting of post-pueruli would have little impact on the commercial fishery and that there are ways of compensating the commercial catch to make post-pueruli removal biologically neutral. There is commercial interest in ongrowing western rock lobster post-pueruli to a marketable size, but basic data have yet to be obtained on growth and survival rates at different stocking densities. This project will provide the biological information (growth rates, food consumption etc) to assist potential investors in being able to assess the economic potential of this form of aquaculture. It should be noted that this proposed research will be equally relevant should it become possible in the future to produce pueruli by aquaculture, rather than by harvesting wild caught pureuli and post-pureuli. Objectives: 1. Determine optimal flow rates for pueruli and juvenile western rock lobsters held at high densities in flow through tanks. 2. Evaluation of growth rates and survival of pueruli to market sized lobsters with and without refuges and under two levels of biomass per unit volume of water. 3. Estimation of the expected survival rate and period required to produce a marketable size animal from post-puerulus. 4. Provide biological data to assist in assessing the economic potential for growing out western rock lobsters from post-puerulus to marketable size. 5. To determine the composition of lipids in cultured western rock lobsters compared to those of wild western rock lobsters of similar age and size. 6. To determine the influence of diet on the lipid composition of cultured western rock lobsters. Read moreRead less
Modelling To Explore Management Strategies To Optimise The Value Of The Rock Lobster Fishery Of Western Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$140,183.00
Summary
It is recognised by industry that the yield currently obtained from the western rock lobster fishery cannot be enhanced by increasing exploitation without also reducing the breeding stock to an unacceptable level. The value of the fishery can only be increased by reducing costs or by increasing the value of the catch. Modelling of the fishery is required to investigate the potential improvement in value that might be obtained from an optimal set of management controls designed to improve marke ....It is recognised by industry that the yield currently obtained from the western rock lobster fishery cannot be enhanced by increasing exploitation without also reducing the breeding stock to an unacceptable level. The value of the fishery can only be increased by reducing costs or by increasing the value of the catch. Modelling of the fishery is required to investigate the potential improvement in value that might be obtained from an optimal set of management controls designed to improve market prices through controlling the supply of lobsters to the market both within and among fishing seasons. The ability to predict future catches based on puerulus settlement indices offers the rock lobster industry in Western Australia a unique opportunity to improve prices by varying the exploitation rate between seasons in order to more closely match market demand.
A modelling project to address this need will require the development of a more statistically sound model of the lobster fishery than was provided by the descriptive model developed by Walters et al. (1993). This will benefit the participants in the fishery by providing an understanding of the uncertainties associated with model predictions, and the validity of the new model when applied to different sectors of the fishery. The earlier model used information from only a small subset of the data available from the fishery, and the new model will utilise far more of the available data, thus providing a more robust description of the rock lobster fishery.
Development of the proposed model is seen as an essential and strategic element of the research programme for this fishery. Objectives: 1. To develop a statistically sound biological model to represent the fish stock and its interaction with fishers within the constraints of management strategies; 2. To incorporate marketing data into the model to allow the prediction of changes in product value with different management scenarios; 3. To determine the time-dependent set of management controls (size, catch, and effort) that would optimise the value of the landed product, and to identify alternative locally optimum sets of controls producing similar (but reduced) value. Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Incidence And Possible Causes Of Saddleback Syndrome In The Fish Species Of South East Queensland
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$40,414.00
Summary
The yellowfin bream is an important commercial and recreational species in Queensland, with over 400t landed annually. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the incidence of Saddleback Syndrome (SBS), a skeletal deformity primarily affecting the development of the dorsal fin spines, is increasing. This increase in the prevalence of SBS may result in recreational fishers and the public losing confidence in catching and consuming fish afflicted with the syndrome. It is, therefore, important that object ....The yellowfin bream is an important commercial and recreational species in Queensland, with over 400t landed annually. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the incidence of Saddleback Syndrome (SBS), a skeletal deformity primarily affecting the development of the dorsal fin spines, is increasing. This increase in the prevalence of SBS may result in recreational fishers and the public losing confidence in catching and consuming fish afflicted with the syndrome. It is, therefore, important that objective information is available to counter these concerns.
This project addresses one of the Queensland Fisheries Research Advisory Board's Research & Development priorities for 2010. Specifically, it addresses the "urgent need for research into the cause of a particular deformity of bream that is occurring in the important Moreton Bay fishery". The Queensland Fisheries Research Advisory Board (QFRAB) recently advised that a desktop study should be undertaken to determine potential causes of SBS in the international literature. Additonally, QFRAB advised that data from DEEDI's Long Term Monitoring Program should be analysed to determine the extent of SBS in Queensland.
Mr. Tony Ham, Fisheries Queensland Manager of Recreational Fisheries, has advised that SBS is an important issue, requiring attention in order to determine the incidence and cause of the syndrome in key recreational fish species.
Further, the need to investigate the cause of saddle-back deformities in yellowfin bream in SE Qld is of major importance and concern to the recreational fishing sector according to Sunfish Queensland, the recreational fishing representative group on the inshore finfish Scientific Advisory Group (SAG).
This project also addresses the concerns of commercial net fishers in Moreton Bay, specifically through the Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association. These concerns relate to the potential difficulties in marketing bream and other species suffering from Saddleback Syndrome considering the perceived increase in the syndrome’s prevalence in recent years.
Objectives: 1. Quantify the extent of Saddleback Syndrome in Queensland using existing databases 2. Review National and International published and grey literature in order to document the occurrence of Saddleback Syndrome and its causes 3. Convene a workshop of stakeholders to present the results of the database searches and literature review Read moreRead less
SCRC: PhD: Reducing The Taint In Barramundi Farmed In Recirculating Freshwater Systems
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Inconsistent quality of farmed barramundi (pond or recirculation system) in the marketplace has been identified by ABFA as a major issue causing buyer resistance and negative market impacts. This is limiting realisation of full revenue return for farmed barramundi. The inconsistency in quality is mainly associated with the presence of ‘earthy’ or ’muddy’ taints derived from planktonic and benthic algae (particularly cyanobacteria), fungi and actinomycetes which are known to p ....Inconsistent quality of farmed barramundi (pond or recirculation system) in the marketplace has been identified by ABFA as a major issue causing buyer resistance and negative market impacts. This is limiting realisation of full revenue return for farmed barramundi. The inconsistency in quality is mainly associated with the presence of ‘earthy’ or ’muddy’ taints derived from planktonic and benthic algae (particularly cyanobacteria), fungi and actinomycetes which are known to produce geosmin (GSM) and 2-methyl isoborneol (MIB). These compounds impart muddy, earthy, musty odour, detectable by the human palate when present at extremely low concentrations in water and fish, and not favoured by consumers (Percival et al., 2008). This project aims to develop an algae-taint production model for recirculation systems. This innovative approach will provide clear and measurable direction for reducing taint compound levels through provision of a practical management tool. Its use will significantly improve knowledge of the balance between water quality, algicide use and purging time and conditions, and taint variability.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of The Direct And Indirect Role Of Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) On Western Rock Lobster Settlement Processes: With Consideration Of The Potential Role Of Contaminants
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$237,535.00
Summary
In Western Australia, the positive and negative effects of SGD in marine benthic communities remains unknown. In Marmion Lagoon, SGD is known to supply up to 50% of the nutrients required for the macrophyte growth rates observed (Johannes and Hearn 1985). Freshwater input has been observed to positively impact seagrass germination (Xu et al., 2016), and although no similar studies exist for temperate seagrass species in the southern hemisphere, SGD may have a role in the creation, maintenance an ....In Western Australia, the positive and negative effects of SGD in marine benthic communities remains unknown. In Marmion Lagoon, SGD is known to supply up to 50% of the nutrients required for the macrophyte growth rates observed (Johannes and Hearn 1985). Freshwater input has been observed to positively impact seagrass germination (Xu et al., 2016), and although no similar studies exist for temperate seagrass species in the southern hemisphere, SGD may have a role in the creation, maintenance and augmentation of seagrass beds. The direct influence of SGD on puerulus settlement rates is unknown but freshwater discharge has been shown to be positively correlated with crab larval abundance (Boylan and Wenner, 1993). An ongoing FRDC project (2016-260: Assess causes and implications of anomalous low lobster catch rates) has demonstrated post-puerulus western rock lobster exhibit a strong choice for the chemical signature of seagrass (Brooker et al. in prep). These findings suggest that SGD may affect puerulus settlement rates either directly through chemotaxis or indirectly by impacting the density of seagrass meadows. Hence, there is a need to investigate both the role of SGD and the presence of seagrass on puerulus settlement rates. Land derived contaminants potentially impacting puerulus settlement and survival could include heavy metals and endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as flame-retardants or pesticides targeting insects (McKenney, 1999). Adult lobster have been shown to be repelled by the presence of copper (McLeese, 1975) and both flame-retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers - PBDEs) (Davies and Zou, 2012) and various insecticides (Ghekiere et al., 2005) have been shown to disrupt moulting in marine crustacea. Alkylphenol pollution was implicated in a major die-off of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) population that occurred in Long Island Sound in 1999, with acute impact on post-puerulus mortality during moulting (Laufer et al., 2013). There is a need to investigate both the occurrence and concentration of likely contaminants at potential source locations within the Western Rock Lobster fishery and assess their impact on post-puerulus survival.
Objectives: 1. Identify areas of significant submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) nearby established western rock lobster settlement monitoring sites. 2. Investigate the direct role of SGD on western rock lobster settlement rates. 3. Investigate the link between SGD and the extent and condition of important lobster habitat (e.g. seagrass). 4. Identify and map input of contaminants by SGD in key fishery areas. 5. Investigate impact of contaminants on the survival of puerulus and post-puerulus lobster. Read moreRead less
Animals response to extreme climatic events. Climate change is causing extreme climatic events, such as floods and heat waves, to become more frequent. This project will investigate by which mechanism animals can adjust to extreme climatic events and whether the response is fast enough to avoid extinction, thereby providing urgently needed insights into the natural resilience of Australian fauna.
The Manufacture Of Powdered Fish Collagen For Use As A Findings Agent By The Brewing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$7,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To investigate and source raw material (fish swim bladder) supplies 2. To determine a method for producing powdered fish collagen on a pilot commercial scale 3. To develop relevant tests to assure product quality 4. To undertake industry trials on quality assured pilot scale product 5. To determine the costs of full scale production
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.