Seafood CRC: Controlling Biofouling Of Pond Aerators On Marine Prawn Farms
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$42,600.00
Summary
Biofouling of aeration equipment is a significant farm management issue and production cost for Australian marine prawn farms. Defouling aeration equipment has a high labour demand and once fouled the energy efficiency of paddle-wheels and other aerating equipment can be markedly reduced, leading to elevated electricity costs and shorter equipment life. The estimated cost of biofouling is a minimum of $1,000 per hectare per crop when considering the additional labour, maintenance and electrici ....Biofouling of aeration equipment is a significant farm management issue and production cost for Australian marine prawn farms. Defouling aeration equipment has a high labour demand and once fouled the energy efficiency of paddle-wheels and other aerating equipment can be markedly reduced, leading to elevated electricity costs and shorter equipment life. The estimated cost of biofouling is a minimum of $1,000 per hectare per crop when considering the additional labour, maintenance and electricity costs that it creates. This cost figure however does not include the impact of aerator fouling on prawn production levels which potentially could be far greater. The industry uses up to 10x aerators per hectare and they consume 70-80% of total farm energy use. It is estimated that at the peak of the production season around 6,000 2hp aerators are in use in ponds across the prawn industry alone.
Ensuring appropriate and timely aerator defouling is conducted is a significant farm issue. Manual defouling is one of the least desired tasks on the farms as it is dirty, laborious and workers are susceptible to multiple skin cuts that are prone to infection. Consequently it can be difficult to maintain staff to undertake this task for any length of time. There is no data available on the impact of biofouling on the aeration efficiency, for example the oxygen transfer rate, and this information is critical to maximising benefit from mitigation strategies from both a practical and economic stand point.
The relevant industry body, the APFA through the R&D Committee, has assessed prevention of aerator biofouling as a priority issue and has recommended that the project commence as close as possible to the start of the current production season.
The proposed project falls within the Seafood CRC Theme – ‘Aquaculture Innovation’ as the objective is to improve production efficiency.
Objectives: 1. Review biofouling control options and select those with greatest potential for application on prawn farms. 2. Assess the impact of aerator biofouling on prawn farms. 3. Transfer methods for implementing aerator biofouling controls to the prawn farming industry. 4. Evaluate selected biofouling control options under commercial conditions. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453630
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,692.00
Summary
High-Speed Confocal Microscope Live Cell Recording System. The high-speed confocal microscope live cell recording system we are establishing represents new generation equipment. It allows quality imaging of selected subcellular regions of live cells combined with simultaneous electrophysiological recording at rates and sensitivity hitherto not possible. This equipment provides a window of opportunity for major research advances in that it allows real-time two and three-dimensional imaging of fun ....High-Speed Confocal Microscope Live Cell Recording System. The high-speed confocal microscope live cell recording system we are establishing represents new generation equipment. It allows quality imaging of selected subcellular regions of live cells combined with simultaneous electrophysiological recording at rates and sensitivity hitherto not possible. This equipment provides a window of opportunity for major research advances in that it allows real-time two and three-dimensional imaging of fundamental cellular activities that previously could not be viewed. It will allow major advances in priority health-related research and will provide an ideal research tool to introduce young scientists and students to cutting edge research.Read moreRead less
Welfare reform and welfare stigma : scroungers, slackers and bludgers? This project aims to build an evidence base of the prevalence, causes and consequences of welfare stigma in Australia. Welfare policies and proposed reforms aim to reduce welfare expenditure, increase workforce participation, and promote personal and family wellbeing. However, stigmatising attitudes and discrimination towards those receiving welfare benefits may undermine these policy goals: reducing employment opportunities ....Welfare reform and welfare stigma : scroungers, slackers and bludgers? This project aims to build an evidence base of the prevalence, causes and consequences of welfare stigma in Australia. Welfare policies and proposed reforms aim to reduce welfare expenditure, increase workforce participation, and promote personal and family wellbeing. However, stigmatising attitudes and discrimination towards those receiving welfare benefits may undermine these policy goals: reducing employment opportunities and causing poorer health and wellbeing. Through innovative experimental studies, the project plans to identify ways in which welfare policy can minimise stigma and promote employment. Project outcomes may provide an evidence base for the design of more effective welfare policy.Read moreRead less
Establishment Of A Coordination Program For Social Sciences In The Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$38,000.00
Summary
To address the action arising from Board 99 to establish a social research co-ordination program. Objectives: 1. To resource Kal Analysis to develop the social sciences coordination program
Social Sciences Research Coordination Program - Advisory And Technical Group Expenses
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$13,031.07
Summary
The need for the program 2008/041 Fisheries Social Sciences Research Coordination Program is to coordinate the percieved social issues in the fishery industry and align these with the research plan for project funding. The need for this 'sub project' is to efficiently manage the governance expenditure associate with managing the program. Objectives: 1. Provide governance support for the establishment and maintenance of a social research coordination program to facilitate the leve ....The need for the program 2008/041 Fisheries Social Sciences Research Coordination Program is to coordinate the percieved social issues in the fishery industry and align these with the research plan for project funding. The need for this 'sub project' is to efficiently manage the governance expenditure associate with managing the program. Objectives: 1. Provide governance support for the establishment and maintenance of a social research coordination program to facilitate the leverage of effort between projects; assess the synergy of project proposals and optimise beneficial resource allocation and opportunities for all fishery activities. Read moreRead less
Social And Economic Evaluation Of The Victorian Wild-catch Seafood And Aquaculture Industry – STAGE 1
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$6,200.00
Summary
The need to evaluate the economic and social contribution of the Victorian Seafood Industry to Victorian communities has been identified by the VicRAC (formally VicFRAB) as an urgent and high priority. Currently no such data exist, but the need is clear. Firstly, an evaluation is required to inform the Victorian Government of the likely impacts of resource management decisions on coastal communities. Second, an evaluation is necessary to provide information to the Victorian public about the ben ....The need to evaluate the economic and social contribution of the Victorian Seafood Industry to Victorian communities has been identified by the VicRAC (formally VicFRAB) as an urgent and high priority. Currently no such data exist, but the need is clear. Firstly, an evaluation is required to inform the Victorian Government of the likely impacts of resource management decisions on coastal communities. Second, an evaluation is necessary to provide information to the Victorian public about the benefits that flow from the professional fishing sector, beyond a total annual value calculated from beach prices.
FRDC also have identified a strong need for a coordinated approach to evaluate the Industry across the States and Territories, so that a national picture of the value of Australian Seafood Industry can be determined.
Recent FRDC-funded research in NSW, led by A/Prof Kate Barclay, to evaluate the social and economic value of coastal professional wild-catch fisheries, has provided a strong basis for developing this national framework, and the methods suitable for addressing the specific needs of the Victorian Industry.
We propose the Victorian social/economic evaluation study consist of a two-stage approach, in order to ensure the most appropriate methods are used, the outputs are relevant, and that the evaluation achieves a high level of industry support and participation.
Stage 1 consists of developing a fully-costed methodology for a Victorian evaluation which also could be scaled up for a national evaluation. This stage would also develop collaborative partnership with, and support from, the Victorian Industry sectors.
Stage 2 would consist of the Evaluation Study itself – data collection, analysis and dissemination – based on the outputs of Stage 1.
Stage 1 would run in January 2017 – March 2017. Stage 2 EOI would be submitted to VicRAC for consideration in March 2017.
This application seeks support for Stage 1.
Objectives: 1. To develop a proposed set of work packages to evaluate the social and economic contribution of the Victorian seafood industry 2. To prioritise work packages in terms of cost, available data, feasibility, time, and what would be lost if not included in a Victorian evaluation of the seafood industry 3. To collaborate with the seafood industry to develop priorities and good engagement for a Victorian evaluation of the seafood industry 4. To collaborate with national stakeholders to ensure a Victorian study will be appropriate for scaling up to a national evaluation of the seafood industry 5. To use the workshops to develop a proposal for Stage 2, the social and economic evaluation itself Read moreRead less
Working longer, staying healthy and keeping productive. Working longer, staying healthy and keeping productive. This project aims to develop a policy suite to respond to an older workforce. By 2060, nearly half of Australians aged 64 or older will be employed. Failure to address their health problems could threaten Australia’s economy, tax base and provision of health and care services. This collaboration between national policy portfolios (employment, social services, workplace health and socia ....Working longer, staying healthy and keeping productive. Working longer, staying healthy and keeping productive. This project aims to develop a policy suite to respond to an older workforce. By 2060, nearly half of Australians aged 64 or older will be employed. Failure to address their health problems could threaten Australia’s economy, tax base and provision of health and care services. This collaboration between national policy portfolios (employment, social services, workplace health and social equity) and expert scientists in work, health, social equality and policy process intends to reveal the diversity of older workers’ work-health dilemmas and effective ways for national policies to solve them. The policy suite will promote financial independence and meet social goals of equity and healthy ageing.Read moreRead less
Job quality and the mental health and well-being of working parents and their children. Maximizing workforce participation is a national priority, essential to support an ageing population. Also critical is the full development of children's capabilities; part of a healthy start to life. Jobs, parents, children and family life lie at the centre of these priorities. Although employment supports families financially, this may come at a cost if aspects of the job affect parent well-being, or strain ....Job quality and the mental health and well-being of working parents and their children. Maximizing workforce participation is a national priority, essential to support an ageing population. Also critical is the full development of children's capabilities; part of a healthy start to life. Jobs, parents, children and family life lie at the centre of these priorities. Although employment supports families financially, this may come at a cost if aspects of the job affect parent well-being, or strains family relationships, which are critical to children's development and well-being. As well as informing industrial relations changes, this project will benefit the twin economic and social policy goals of workforce participation while at the same time supporting the health and well-being of parents and their children.Read moreRead less
Living with personal data: Australians' understandings and practices. This project aims to involve citizens and other stakeholders in generating new knowledge about Australians' practices and understandings related to their personal data and data futures. Personal digital data have possible benefits not just for the individuals from whom the data are generated, but also for society, government and the economy. Yet there are also potential harms, such as challenges to civil rights, life opportuni ....Living with personal data: Australians' understandings and practices. This project aims to involve citizens and other stakeholders in generating new knowledge about Australians' practices and understandings related to their personal data and data futures. Personal digital data have possible benefits not just for the individuals from whom the data are generated, but also for society, government and the economy. Yet there are also potential harms, such as challenges to civil rights, life opportunities and data privacy. The project intends to develop applied and theoretical insights into the nature of people’s understandings of and engagements with their data. Its findings are expected to contribute knowledge relevant to policy development and data privacy advocacy.Read moreRead less