February 2005 by Tim Walker

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005

www.AustasiaAquaculture.com.au

EDITOR - IN - CHIEF

Dr Tim Walker REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

David O'Sullivan John Mosig Dave Field SUBSCRIPTION / EDITORIAL

Austasia Aquaculture PO Box 658, Rosny, Tas. 7018 Ph: 03 6245 0064 Fax: 03 6245 0068 Email: AustasiaAquaculture@ netspace.net.au

FA R M P R O F I L E Boosting silver perch economics by on-farm breeding

The figures do not add up for small recirculation operator

Sydney Rock nursery for selective bred oysters

Mesocosm technology advances tropical marine fish culture

Marine ornamental fish cultured for conservation

Yabbies a good additional income – for now

Low Intensity Prawn Farming

City proximity ensures many visitors to trout farm

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The Franklin Press 91 Albert Road, Moonah, Tas. 7009 Copyright © by Austasia Aquaculture. Contents cannot be reproduced without permission. Statements made or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Turtle Press Pty Ltd (ABN 98 506 165 857).

NEWS FRDC appoints new Executive Director to the helm

Australian abalone growers form united marketing force

Skretting to sponsor Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network

F E AT U R E S Hatchery production of southern rock lobster in Tasmania

Paving the way for a viable inland saline aquaculture industry

TECHNOLOGY Austasia Aquaculture magazine (ISSN: 0818 552) is published by Turtle Press Pty Ltd (ABN 98 506 165 857) for the promotion of aquaculture in the Australasian and Asian regions – inclusive of farming in marine, freshwater, brackish and hypersaline waters. Reader's contributions are encouraged on the clear understanding they will be subject to editorial control and, if accepted, will appear in both printed and online versions.

Cover photo: Some of the huge growout tanks at Australis Aquaculture’s barramundi US growout facility. Photo courtesy of Australia Aquaculture Pty Ltd.

MarineMesh® Nets: security for fish and divers

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Boosting silver perch economics by on-farm breeding Ian and Michelle Charles have been farming silver perch since 1996 (see AA 15-2). Over the intervening eight years they have grown from a 16 pond operation covering 2ha to a major producer with 28 ponds covering 5ha and have also witnessed dramatic changes in the silver perch industry. From a sector producing 28.8 tonnes worth $613,700 in 1996 it has grown to the NSW’s third largest producer by value (behind oysters and prawns). Currently producing 301t worth virtually $3m, the NSW industry is exploring ways of reducing the cost of production and expanding markets. The Charles’ Silverwater Native Fish has been at the forefront of this industry thrust. A good supply of water is sourced from a 120ML entitlement from the Murrumbidgee River and 290ML of hatchery-quality bore water. There are two 0.05ha broodstock ponds and four 0.15ha ponds are used for larval rearing from October to February. The remainder are dedicated totally to growout. There is sufficient water to expand to 10ha. Seven 5,000L Polymaster tanks are used for purging with three 1,200L tanks employed for the spawning program. Ian is particularly happy with the Polymaster tanks made in Swan Hill. “They’re excellent tanks. They’re smooth and easy to keep clean. The conical bottom gives good draining through the central outlet and they’re strong,” he says. Situated at Grong Grong in the Eastern Riverina, the farm experiences shorter growing seasons than its compatriots in the warm temperate coastal and sub-tropical zones. As a consequence, Silverwater has to make the most of its limited growing season to be economically competitive. With mean pond temperatures not reaching 20°C until late October to early November and dropping to below 20°C by Anzac Day, the farm concedes 4-8 weeks of

1. The feedlot manure is dried and sterilized. This standardises the material and makes it possible to use it with confidence in plankton production. 2. Ian has found that scrapers consolidate the banks better and give smoother, more even pond bottoms. 3. A typical pond at Silverwater Native Fish

optimal growing time to competitors in Northern NSW and South East Queensland. This forces southern 3 growers to carry their fish over well into a third summer to grow them out to over 650g. Some of the fish at the bottom half of a stocking wouldn’t reach target size until 36 months. Clearly any reduction of growout time would be of benefit. Ian decided that the size of the fry (small) and the time of the year they were arriving from A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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1. A typical silver perch brood fish used at Silverwater. 2. The fish room at Silverwater. Note the concave centre draining bottom and sturdy structure of the Polymaster tanks.

the hatchery was costing valuable growing time. “We weren’t able to get fish before Christmas, usually not before mid-February and sometimes as late as midMarch. The fry would be just 0.8g and it was difficult to get any size and condition on them before going into the winter. February fry would only be 7g going into the colder months and the mid March stockings could be as small as 3g. This had two effects. It left them vulnerable to stress related winter

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health problems like white spot and saprolegnia – which we’ve managed to minimize so far – and left them struggling when the season warmed up.” The trout industry, the largest inland aquaculture sector with a harvest exceeding 4,000t, has always produced its own fry for growout. It was probably only a matter of time before some growers within the silver perch industry followed suit. This may not suit all growers. Whilst breeding technology for silver perch is

well established, hatchery quality water is essential as is the ability to dedicate water to holding broodstock and rearing fry. It would appear that the opportunity exists for hatcheries to breed for the silver perch growers and dedicate some of their operation for this purpose. When Ian and Michelle decided to breed their own seedstock they considered the likely benefits. Apart from being able to breed to an earlier stocking timetable they were able to wean the fish in the fry ponds and keep them moving forward when the plankton dropped out. They were also able to select the tops of the cohort. The result was the fish they were stocking in their fingerling ponds were 400% bigger than the fish they would normally release at the same time of the year. It also banished the unavoidable delay between fry harvesting at the hatchery and getting them onto feed in the farm’s growout ponds. Including the often considerable travel time from a distant hatchery and quarantine at the new farm, this break can be as long as three weeks. Ian also sees an on-farm breeding program as an advantage. “We can select our broodstock and use different lines and crosses. NSW Fisheries are running trials on a breeding program that, while not completed at the time of writing, is indicating commercially significant improvements in growth rates from crossing different strains of silver perch.” Silverwater starts breeding in November following the techniques developed by NSW Fisheries. The stage of development of the eggs and the motility of the spermatozoa are checked before injection with HCG at 300iu/kg (males receive 200iu/kg). The injected fish are stocked three males to two females in a 1,2000L tank. Once water hardened the eggs are moved across to an incubation tank. Hatched larvae that have used their yolk sacks are stocked in fertilized plankton ponds at between 65/m2 and 100/m2, depending on the initial food supply. Breeding is a numbers game. Two 1.5kg females will supply between 400,000 and 500,000 eggs at a hatch rate of 50% to 80%. Whilst the whole

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process in the hatchery takes a week, Ian points out that’s a week in which you don’t get a lot of sleep. Survival from the fry ponds ranges from 50% to 90%. After harvesting the top 50% (anything above 4g) are graded off and stocked in the fingerling ponds in early February at between 90,000/ha and 140,000/ha. The remainder are buried. At the end of winter fingerling ponds are harvested and graded into growout ponds at 20,000/ha. Two gradings are used: 40g and 80g. Anything under 40g is discarded (between 5% and 10%). The 0.15ha larval rearing ponds are fertilized with teased-out lucerne hay, composted and screened feedlot manure, DAP and muriate of potash. Maintaining a plankton bloom becomes problematical after four weeks and the ponds are monitored closely. Weaning onto a starter ration commences after ten days – first Select Nutrition’s (50% protein and 14% fat) silver perch starter dust followed by a 50/14 crumble as the fish reach 1-2g. The benefits have been marked. Silverwater first bred their own fish in late 2003. Fry resulting from broodstock

injections on November 22 were 4g by February 1, 2004 and had reached 39g by May 1. As a comparison, fish supplied by a commercial hatchery and stocked on 14th March 2003 as 0.8g fry had only reached 2.8g by the 3rd May that year and fish stocked as 0.8g fry on 11th February in a previous year averaged 6.7g on 17th April. Based on current growth rates it is expected that the tops from the first Silverwater-bred fish will be off the farm by February and the bottoms by Anzac Day. This is a 24 to 26 month growing cycle from stocking in the post-nursery stage. By comparison, the March 2003 stocking (of off-farm fry) are expected to follow a similar timetable through 2005. But they’ll have been in the ponds an extra 11 months! Ian is the first to admit that seasons will vary, but whichever way you look at it the figures speak for themselves. The Silverwater fry had completed over five doublings by the onset of the cooler weather whilst the mid February stocked fry had completed just three. Furthermore the Silverwater fish came out of winter averaging 65g (on 20th

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Aeration in the broodstock tanks is provided by air stones and breaking the water coming back to the tank from the bio-filter.

September) whereas the February stocked fry averaged 17.5g (on 14th September) and the March stocked averaged just 7.4g (on 1st September). That’s 24g per tail over-winter gain for the Silverwater fish, 10.8g for the February stocked fish and a miserly 4.7g

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1. The 1,55L biofilter at Silverwater. The medium is 3mm polyethylene beads. Note the ozone generator on the wall in the background. 2. Hygiene is a standard practice at Silverwater. All nets are dipped in a chlorine bath between uses.

for the March stocked fish. These are figures no grower can ignore. The Silverwater 65g fish have to make a further three doublings to reach 520g and four to reach 1040g. Ian estimates that the tops of these fish will be harvested at an average weight of 650g by the end of February 2005 and the bottoms by the end of April. Within 32

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months after injecting the broodstock and 28 months after stocking the ponds with 4g fingerlings all the Silverwater fish will be off the farm. The last of February stocked fry took 36 months to reach marketable weigh and get off the farm after stocking and the March stocked fry will take 37 months to clear the ponds. This is a reduction in growing

time of 10 and 11 months respectively. The shorter growing time of the Silverwater fish represents a 29% reduction in fish space cost, which translates in an extra crop every 10 years. Again, figures no grower can ignore. Some of the advantages are not expressed in dollar terms. The late stocking with smaller fry expose the grower to an extra winter in the ponds. Not only is this a period of management that returns very little growth, it is also a high risk period and one that can cost a grower an entire pond if the fish are vulnerable through lack of vigour. Until both lots of fish have been harvested, it is unfair to talk mortalities, but it is likely that the early stocked fish will have a better survival rate through the first winter. Even if the attrition rate is equal, those that have been in the ponds longer will have a higher mortality rate for that reason alone. Early stocking also challenges the economics of over wintering stock to give them a flying start in the spring. Alternatively, early stocking in re-circulation systems may further increase the advantage. However, it all comes down to economics. Ian and Michelle are waiting to compare the overall outcome at the end of the current cycle. Ian has considered conditioning broodstock to breed even earlier and raising the fry under igloos, but like all farms, the financial side of the operation comes first. The economics of pushing the growing season further forward will have to wait until the current phase of innovation has been consolidated before embarking on the next. In simplistic dollar terms, if a hectare of ponds cost $35,000/ha (plumbing, netting, aerators, roads, etc) to establish, and the cost of servicing that investment, including depreciation and interest is say 30%, the cost of creating the opportunity to grow fish is $10,500 per annum. If the ponds hold 20,000 fish then the fish space cost is 52.5c/year, or 4.375c/month. If the fish take 26 months to reach market size then the fish space cost is $1.14/tail. If the market size is 650g then the fish space cost is $1.75/kg. If the fish take 37 months to reach market size then

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the fish space cost is $1.62/tail and $2.49/kg. That’s just over 74c/kg or a 20% reduction in a fixed cost. With improvements from the breeding program the fish space cost can only be reduced. Taking it further, a farm that produces 10t/pa would be $7,400 a year better off on the balance sheet. In cash terms over 10 years the farm would produce 4.61 crops instead of 3.24. A 10t crop at $10/kg would see $137,000 extra in the bank. That’s enough for long service leave. It’s often been questioned whether silver perch growing in southern NSW is commercially viable. Even though the fish have to be carried through two winters, early stocking has reduced the growing time to two summers and the economics are looking a lot more encouraging.

Ian Charles is the President of the NSW Silver Perch Growers’ Association. He and Michelle can be contacted by phone on (02) 6956 2122, or by email on silverwater@webfront.net.au

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The figures do not add up for small recirculation operator Nicholas Sorraghan has been farming fish for four years in a recirculation system cobbled together himself on a 20ha property just north of Melbourne at Darraweit Guim. Having made the decision to go into aquaculture he asked himself what he needed to make a success of it. “You need to be a jack of all trades,” he says. “There’s the financial skills (money management and business skills), an ability to deal with the bureaucracy and understand the regulations (local government, Fisheries, EPA and the water authority), engineering and design skills, biology (understanding what makes the fish tick and their health issues), waste management (of solid and liquid wastes), marketing and food handling issues.

Each tank has two air stones and sends a fine column of bubbles into water. Nicholas also uses airlift pumps to move the water vertically.

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“These are all areas of learning and areas of cost. I gave myself five years to break even and I’m coming up to that now. I’ll have to make a decision soon.” Nicholas comes from a farming background underpinned by substantial educational achievements – a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Biology Degree from RMIT, a Post Graduate Diploma in Aquaculture by correspondence from Deakin University Warrnambool and four modules of the Certificate II & III at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT). He has tried a range of native species: catfish, bass, silver perch and Murray cod and also the salmonids – brown, and rainbow trout. After weighing up the outcomes he is putting his effort into trout. His shed (12 m x 12m x 3 m) is divided into two segments. The origi-

nal system is made up of five 2,000L tanks with a 2,000L solids removal swirl tank; the second segment comprises two 2,000 L tanks, two 5,000 tanks, six 500L quarantine tanks and a 2,000L swirl tank. All the tanks are from Polymaster, centre-draining with a concave bottom. Each of the large tanks has it’s own biofilter of two 200L cherry bins filled with bioballs. The tanks drain to the swirl filter for removal of most of the large suspended solids. The water then gravity feeds to an upwelling filter that removes the smaller suspensoids by filtration through a 100mm thick foam filter pad. From there is it pumped to the biofilters and back into the tanks. Nicholas runs the 30,000L system at 10kg/m3. There is a separate 1,000L purging tank.

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1. Water level is determined by a central standpipe and the water is taken off the bottom of the tank through a slotted chimney pipe. 2. pH in the nutrient rich outside water holding tank is driven by photosynthesis and daytime readings can be well over 10. 3. Nicholas would like to place a dam on the old river bed on his river flats and stock it with fish to be caught by tourists, but is fearful of the regulatory nightmare he’d have to go through to get the permit.

Six 500 L quarantine tanks can be run as part of the system or isolated when new stock is introduced. He has found the 2,000L tanks easier to manage. Each tank has two large air stone with adjustable airflow. The biofilters also have a fizzer hose ring in them to help with oxygenation and de-gassing of the water around the bioballs. Two cartridge filters set up in parallel post the pump were found by experience to block up very easily and are now bypassed. Everything is backed up, from the power supply to the pumping system. There is a 4,000L water bypass tank to prevent water hammer in the pipe work when the pump stops and starts due to power outages. Because the shed is not insulated temperature maintenance during the colder months costs $30/day – solar water heating works well during the day but any temperature gained during the day is lost again at night. Water is collected from the roof of the house and the sheds into tanks with a storage capacity of 450,000L (0.45ML). Whilst the long term average rainfall is 600mm, the prolonged drought over a number of years (2004 rainfall 400mm) is presenting challenges and usage will need to be reassed before the end of the season. Waste-

water is stored in a 50,000L above ground pool for future treatment and return to the system. Water flow to each tank is adjusted to ensure an exchange of 1-2 tank volumes per hour. Each week 10-20% of the water is exchanged depending on the water quality. Nicholas has found that the fish perform better if the water is swirled in the tanks; this also helps to remove solids from the central drain and helps to keep the tanks clean. Air stones and an airlift pump in each tank helps mix, aerate and swirl the water. Daily regular maintenance and monitoring consists of cleaning the filter pads in the up-welling filters, adjusting water flow where necessary, a check of the aeration and air stones and feeding each evening. pH and temperature are checked morning and night and any excess feed or dead fish removed. “You get to know your water quality by sight and smell,” Nicholas says. “When the foam starts to build up on the surface or the water begins to smell you need a water exchange. Each weekend I spend half a day flushing the pipes and performing the water exchange. You’d be surprised at the muck that builds up in them,” he says. Ammonia and nitrite readings are done weekly and are zero. Nitrate and phosphate build up and can be relatively high at 200ppm and >100ppm

respectively. Water exchange keeps them under control. The fish are purged in rainwater for a week to rid the fish of any off-flavour from the system. Species Like anyone starting off in the industry Nicholas wasn’t sure what species would give him the best return under his circumstances. He’s tried Australian bass, eel-tailed catfish, silver perch and Murray cod from the range of native fingerlings available plus brown and rainbow trout of the salmonids. And like anyone starting off he admits to killing a few fish. “By keeping the numbers down I was able to minimize the losses and learn at the same time,” he says. “Disease was a problem, especially in the winter. The shed’s not insulated and the water temperatures would get down to 10°C. Fin rot would occur and take a toll on the native species but the trout seemed to get through without an outbreak so this was certainly something in their favour.” Whilst the bass wouldn’t take to pellets they did take to flake. Yet flake was not cost-effective compared to pellets. Nicholas found them a very nervy, easily stressed fish and gave up on them fairly quickly. The catfish fed down to water tem-

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peratures of 15°C, proved hardy under the conditions, kept the bottom of the tanks clean and reached 300 to 500g in 18-24 months. And, because they took to the feed without much trouble, would lead the Murray cod onto pellets. Silver perch started to lose interest in their feed as the temperature dropped below 20°C, a result that proved uneconomical in this situation. They did well when water temperatures were above 20°C but fin rot was a problem in the colder months. The cod seemed more sensitive to the cold than the other tested species with fin rot a major concern. And with a thousand cod in a 2,000L tank, size discrepancies became significant after only a short while. So grading became an issue. The fish also tended to attack each other. It was a stressful situation for both the stock and the operator. Given water temperatures exceed 20°C for just 2-3 months in twelve, Nicholas turned to salmonids. A fortuitous choice as it turned out. He can buy yearling trout at 100g and rear them to 500g in twelve months. Rain-

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bows have proved to be a better farming fish than the browns. All fish he’s tried have been fed to satiation. The natives fed better in the morning and he’s trained the trout to feed at night during the shorter winter days when he turns the light on. He’s using the solid waste in a worm farm – the worms are fed back to the fish – and the nutrient rich liquid to grow trees. The Future Nicholas has to make a decision about his future soon. “I now have the system worked out,” he explains. “I know its limitations and what I need to do to increase production. It comes down to money and economy of scale. Either I expand now or call it quits, cut my losses and pull out altogether. “I’m running at a loss at the moment. My five year plan did not allow for the large increase in fees. I did not know it was coming. The extra fees mean I cannot upgrade my pumps or filters which in turn limits my production capacity. I have to find extra money the farm just

doesn’t produce,” he says. Nicholas is one of the many Victorian growers who have had to make a difficult decision about their future in the aquaculture industry. The government’s Cost Recovery policy has seen the cost of aquaculture licenses soar. In brief, growers in each sector have been charged a fee to cover much of the running costs for Fisheries Victoria’s aquaculture section. Furthermore, license classifications have been re-structured; some species that were once collectively held on one inland license now require separate licenses, each bearing its share of the cost recovery fee. In Nicholas’ case the slated fee increase went from $286 to $1,473 the next year. By specialising in trout, he brought that down to $686. Should he insulate his fish room to enable the growing of native species he’d have to pay the bigger fee. Not surprisingly he believes that the small operator starting up should have a five year moratorium on paying fees. “I don’t pay a license fee to pay for the running of the Department of Primary Industry (DPI) to grow cattle,” he

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The solids collected by the swirl filter are then sent by gravity to the up-welling filters where they are trapped on the filter pads.

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says. “I can understand why someone in the wild fisheries has to pay for the management of the resource, but not farmers. Where aquaculture has had separate legislation from fisheries the industry has boomed. Look at Tasmania and South Australia. It also seems unequitable. The small operator pays the same license fee as someone producing 100 tonnes of fish. With my cattle I pay a levy called the Victorian Cattle Duty on the sale of the cattle, which goes towards marketing and research. If we had something like that in aquaculture then the small operator wouldn’t be disadvantaged.” Marketing hasn’t proved as easy as it seemed. An advert in the local paper didn’t generate any sales. Instead Nicholas intends to canvas the local hotels and restaurants. If that doesn’t prove successful he’ll have to pull out of the industry. Still, he faces a dilemma faced by many small operators. “Do I take the next step and scale up or do I phase myself out of the industry.” He estimates that it has cost between $50,000 and $60,000 to set up the system and another $5,000 a year to operate it, not counting his time. He can produce 300kg of trout each year and plans to sell them live at $10 to $15/kg. “I wanted to give aquaculture a go and thought I would be successful at it. The $50,000 could have gone towards the house and now I have to reconsider what I do before the levies come around again next year. With the rollout of the fees set to double the cost to each license holder and more than 50% of the license holders predicated to drop out, the fees next year could be four times the 2004 figure. “I’ve learnt a lot in those four years but looking at the stocking rate, I can’t make the money to meet the bills,” he says. “You add the license fees on top of that and it’s not looking good for the small producer.” By John Mosig Nicholas Sorraghan can be contacted by email on aquaguim@ssc.net.au

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Tony Troup inspecting/cleaning upweller screens of hatchery produced oyster spat.

Sydney Rock nursery for selective bred oysters A series of eight oyster nurseries have been contracted in NSW to provide selectively bred single seed Sydney rock oysters for the industry. Austasia Aquaculture talks to the owner operator of one near Port Macquarie. Tony Troup has been farming oysters for more than 24 years on the Camden Haven River just south of Port Macquarie. The area, approximately half way between Sydney and Brisbane, is considered to provide great conditions for the Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata). Winter water temperatures remain above 12°C whilst in summer they can be as high as 26°C. With only a small catchment area the Camden Haven River’s water quality is 12

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usually good. “There are some housing developments, but a lot of the area is National Parks,” explains Tony. “There is some timber work in the catchment and we can get some minor sewage problems. However the River is in a pretty good condition. We should get our Clean Waters Classification by the end of the year.” Tony has more than 10ha of leases throughout the lower reaches of the estuary in salinities generally above

20ppt – a freshwater flood can occasionally drop this to 10ppt. About 80% of this lease area is intertidal. Tony’s subtidal lease is used for growout of Sydney rocks and experimentation with the Akoya pearl (Pinctada imbicata). “I also have started some trials with Angasi oysters (Ostrea angasi),” Tony continues. “These came from the Port Stephens Research Centre (Port Stephens) hatchery. After some time in

All photographs by Michael Dove.

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1. Upwelling system used to rear hatchery produced oysters from 0.75 mm in size to a sale size of 5 mm. 2. Oyster farming area at Gogleys lagoon, Dunbogan, NSW.

my nursery I’ll try hanging them in trays underneath the oyster racks. The Angasi oysters must be kept under water all the time.” Hatchery Supply Tony used to catch all his spat with sticks placed in the lower parts of the estuary. Now, more than 30% is hatchery-produced single seed. “My use of hatchery seed will continue to increase so that within the next few years to more than 80% of the crop,” he says. “I buy single seed from Nic Doust’s New

Tech Hatchery located at Hervey Bay, north of Brisbane. As a back up, I can get seed from Port Stephens.” Given his preference for selling seed in lots of ten million, Nic has been contracted by the NSW Select Oyster Company, a joint venture between the Oyster Farmers’ Association of NSW and the Oyster Branch of the NSW Farmers’ Association. “This is probably the first time the two associations have worked together on a big project,” Tony explains. “The two groups are working together smoothly and use eight nurs-

eries spread along the coast. I operate one of these and buy the seed (as part of a bulk buy involving other nurseries) to stock my own nursery system. “The idea of NSW Select Oysters is to control the selective breeding programs for the Sydney Rock,” he continues. “Nic has been producing for over 18 months whilst Port Stephens have been selectively breeding a number of family lines for faster growth and disease resistance for more than 14 years.” The business is based on the successful model Australian Seafood Industries

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Oyster sheds at Gogleys lagoon, Dunbogan, NSW.

which has the exclusive rights on selectively-bred Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). According to Tony, the seed is usually sold by the hatchery at a size that sits on a 500µm mesh. Tony has a double system of upwellers located in his oyster shed. “I use the same water as I would for the depuration plant. I pump from about 4m depth with a 3HP pump that operates 24 hours a day. Salinity is around 34ppt and with high levels of food in the raw seawater and average water temperatures around 20°C, the single seed grows quickly.” He has ten screens in two 2.7m long x 1m wide x 40cm high fibreglass tanks (upwellers). Each system is divided into two halves separately supplied with water (controllable through a valve). The seed is supplied to Camden Haven in batches of two million seed with similarly-sized seed kept in each section. Each screen is 45cm in diameter and a range of mesh sizes are used. The seed

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start on a 350µm mesh for a week or two before being moved to a 500µm size. Around 80% of these seed are large enough to transfer to 1mm (1,000µm) mesh after three weeks. Finally the majority of the seed are retained on 3mm mesh by 6-7 weeks in summer (a little longer in winter). Once retained on the 3mm mesh they are placed out on a lease for on growing. Maintenance of the nursery systems is critical. This includes a daily drain and flush plus some hosing off the screens and the seed. Once a week, Tony will scrape the sides of the upwelling tanks to remove fouling organisms such as barnacles and cunjevoi (sea squirts). At the end of the nursery period the seed can be packed into an esky. As long as they are kept moist and below 20°C the packed seed can last for several days without any trouble. Tony says he normally uses the same refrigerated (14°C) trucks that transport his

market oysters. On his own farm Tony transfers the 3mm retained seed to nursery trays. “I have a lot of normal wooden trays that were tarred 3-4 years ago. I don’t use tarring anymore so when the trays ‘die’ (fall apart), I replace them with plastic Tooltech trays (1.83m long, 90cm wide and 5cm deep). I have 30 nursery trays, each with 2mm mesh, which can hold around 20,000 seed for 3 to 4 weeks. I put them in quiet intertidal waters near the oyster shed which have a good water flow but not much wave action. The juvenile oysters are later transferred to floating cylinders with either 3mm or 8mm mesh. These cylinders harness water movement to jiggle the oysters around, exposing all to the food rich waters – a similar principle to that used by the Stanway cylinders. “I usually put in 0.5 to 1.0L of seed, depending on their size,” Tony explains. “After 6-8 weeks they are put over a shaker grader with two screens (5mm and 10mm) to sort them into

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three grades. Some are returned to the cylinders, the larger ones to 8mm Tooltech (Model XL) trays. After 2-3 months they’ll be transferred to 12mm trays.” Tony grades every 3-4 months so the oysters progressively are put into larger trays – first 12mm then 25mm mesh at a lower densities. He likes to give the oysters several months of subtidal culture before finishing them on intertidal racks.

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1. Experimental trays of Sydney rock oysters being used to compare the growth of oysters selected for faster growth against normal oysters. 2. Tony Troup inspecting/cleaning upweller screens of hatchery produced oyster spat.

Subtidal Culture Tony’s subtidal culture occurs from ‘rafts’ constructed from three 6m lengths of 30cm diameter PVC pipes with end caps lashed together with wooden beams. He can hang five modules of six trays each between two of the pipes; thus each raft has a capacity for ten modules (60 trays). Usually two or three rafts are joined together and anchored as one unit. The rafts are set in a deep part of the river with strong water flow. The trays are hung around 25cm below the surface and extend for another 75cm. Salinity is relatively constant and if an occasional ‘fresh’ comes through, it isn’t a problem as the oysters can stay shut for several days. In fact, these lowsalinity events can be of benefit by killing some of the fouling organisms on the trays and PVC floats. In summer, Tony keeps the oysters in the water for four weeks followed by a dry-out period of 4-5 days (the trays sit on top of the raft) to burn off fouling organisms. In winter, this process is repeated over a longer interval – 6-8 weeks – due to the slower growth of both foulants and oysters in the lower water temperatures. The oysters are finished in in tarred timber trays on racks. “With two tides per day, the oysters are out of the water around 25% of the time,” Tony says. “I use a petrol pump to hose down the trays every few weeks and cover them with 5cm plastic mesh to keep out predators. If any rays got in they would clean up the whole tray. Mud crabs can be a problem also. We are also lucky as we don’t suffer from either winter mortality or QX disease, probably the two

most devastating SRO diseases.” The only real problem is mud worm. “We probably have a few species here but the major one would be Polydora websteri. The drying-out for 4-5 days stops most, but if we get a dose (mudworm outbreak) we put them into a dip of detergent to kill the worms.” The iodine-based detergent Agridine is widely used in the dairy industry for cleaning. Oyster farmers have been using it for several years with great success. “It works by getting into the openings in the shell the worms have made. It kills the worm in the blister but doesn’t affect the closed oyster. Obviously if the oyster is open then it is already dead.” Tony says that he uses the standard mixture recommended for the dairy farmers. “We don’t need large amounts and we use freshwater for the bath so it can be tipped onto our lawns. This means it is environmentally safe.”

Marketing Tony likes to start selling his oysters at around thee years of age have them all sold by four. “If they aren’t big enough at that stage they get ‘turfed’ as cocktail oysters. I sell Large Plate (>60g), Plate (50-60g), Bistro (40-50g) and Bottle (30-40g).” Half bags (40L) are used for transporting the oysters. These have a capacity of around 40 dozen per half bag for the Large Plates, 45 dozen for Plates, 50-55 dozen for Bistros and 60+ dozen for the Bottles. The farm’s name and other details are printed on the bags in an attractive blue colour. Before sale all oysters are depurated for 36 hours. Tony says his depuration plant is fairly standard and holds nine full bags (= 18 half bags) per batch. Annual sales are around 300,000 dozen, of which 20% are Large Plate. “I sell from Rockhampton down to Melbourne, although mostly into Sydney through several agents,” Tony says.

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“I definitely get higher prices for my single seed oysters versus the stick ones. For example, I get $6.70-$6.90 per dozen for Plates, whereas stick Plate oysters sell for only $6 per dozen or lower. Single seed oysters are also a lot easier to sell when the market gets slow.”

Key Management Decisions include: • Established nursery system to provide selectively bred single seed oysters for own use and sale.

By Dos O’Sullivan For more information contact Tony Troup, Camden Haven Oyster Supply, 38 Lord Street, Laurieton, NSW 2443. Tele/fax: 02 6559-9821 (AH), shed 02 6559-6678, e-mail: troup@tsn.cc

1800 655 938

• Use of Agridine detergent for an environmentally safe way of killing mudworm • Combination of intertidal and subtidal culture provides more management flexibility. • Attempting to diversify species grown. • Growth rate (from stocking to market): <48 months (0.5g to 60g,) • Survival rate: 80% from first stocking to sale size • Av. stocking density: not applicable for oyster culture, varies significantly with waters • Production rate: not applicable • Water use: not applicable • Power use: not really applicable • FCR: not applicable • Productivity: 120,000 dozen per Effective Fulltime Unit (240 days, 48wk X 40hr)

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Larval rearing tank used for mesocosm culture of goldspot cod (Epinephelus coioides) and flowery cod Epinephelus fuscoguttatus). Pictured are Fisheries Biologist, Liz Cox and Technical officer, Anjanette Johnston.

Mesocosm technology advances tropical marine fish culture A team of north Queensland researchers are developing techniques for the culture of tropical marine fish, particularly groupers. With the successful development of large scale spawning techniques and the provision of a range of live feeds, it is anticipated that within the next 12 months quantities of juveniles will be available for growout trials. Interest has been shown in Queensland in the farming of groupers and other coral reef fish, due to high prices for live fish (up to almost US$70/kg wholesale) in Hong Kong and southern China. Initially the focus was on flowery cod (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus), estuary or goldspot cod (Epinephelus coioides) and barramundi cod (Cromileptes altivelis). However, problems arising from the early life phases of marine finfish culture have made the transition from experimental to commercial scale hatchery and growout difficult. Dr Mike Rimmer is Principal Fisheries Biologist at the Queensland Department 18

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of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F) Northern Fisheries Centre. With Fisheries Biologist Elizabeth (Liz) Cox, he has been researching technologies to develop hatchery and nursery production for both estuary cod and the flowery cod. The two researchers have been using a green water culture system – more recently called a ‘mesocosm’ as the idea is to maintain reproducing populations of microalgae and live feeds as well as the culture species. The algae provide food for the live feeds which in turn are eaten by the culture species. The common bottleneck in marine

fish culture has been the supply of suitable live prey species as food for the larval fish. With the groupers this was also a problem. “We found that just using the traditional live feed diets of rotifers (Brachionus plicatilus) and brine shrimp (Artemia) did not work well,” explains Mike. “So we have been developing culture methods for free swimming cyclopoid copepods, mostly from the genus Acartia.” Liz continues: “The live feeds production team (led Dr Richard Knuckey and including Gale Semmens and Damien McKeering) have looked at a range of microalgae as feed for the

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copepods and have now identified the species and water quality variables to maximise survival and fecundity. The best algal species are Cryptomonad sp and Rhodomonas sp. These microalgae are the right size for the copepod nauplii which are usually around 60 to 65µm in width. They are very high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and are highly digestible.” Liz notes that the copepods are more difficult to culture than rotifers and brine shrimp. “Adult Acartia are cannibalistic and can not be held in the high densities as for rotifers. It is therefore necessary to culture them in larger volume containers but, even so, relatively low numbers are harvested in comparison to prey species such as rotifers.” Copepods are reared in a static system with daily monitoring of algal cell density. An airlift is installed in the tank, which continuously circulates water from the bottom of the tank through a 44µm screen floating at the surface. This provides a simple and effective harvesting method for the copepod eggs and nauplii. “It is important to harvest the first two, non-feeding nauplii stages as these are small enough for grouper larvae to ingest easily. Also, as they had not been using up their energy reserves, they are quite nutritious.” The nauplii are harvested once a day and transferred into the larval fish rearing tanks. Copepod nauplii are usually added to the mesocosm system only twice ... at first feeding on Day 2 and again on Day 4/5. Reproduction and spawning The other main part of the culture process is encouraging reproductive maturation and spawning of the broodfish. To initiate spawning, the QDPI team have not used the traditional hormone induction methods; rather they have found that a photo-thermal method can be used. Mike explains that this is commonly used in the Texas red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) culture industry (the method has also been used by TAFI with the striped trumpeter, Latris lineata). “The idea is to have a 120-day condensed light and temperature cycle. This means that we go through a full

year (365 days) of light and water temperature regimes – eg. summer/winter/ summer (there is not so much autumn/ spring in tropics) – in only 120 days. This is achieved by keeping the broodfish in 30-60m3 indoor tanks with lighting controlled by computer programs and heat/chiller units controlling water temperature of each tank individually.” These condensed cycles control reproductive development and trigger spawning in both the flowery cod and the estuary cod. Fertilised eggs are buoyant and are collected via a pool skimmer device in the tank wall that flows into a smaller collection tank with a 500µm mesh bag. The eggs are collected each morning and are then transferred into the larval tanks where they hatch approximately 19 to 20 hours post-fertilisation. Initially, the larvae utilise their yolk sacs for nutrition but within 48 hours start to actively look for feed. That is when the copepod nauplii need to be available. Mike and Liz are now using 6m3 parabolic tanks for larval rearing. Rings of airstones are placed around the tank walls to provide gentle aeration for the larvae. The water temperature is kept stable at 28°C. According to Liz, salinity and temperature are the most critical water quality parameters for the larvae. “The estuary cod has a greater salinity range – between 16 and 35 ppt (mg/L) – whilst the flowery cod requires more

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The Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F) new Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement Facility in Cairns.

oceanic water salinities – around 32 to 35 ppt.” The tanks are kept static until Day 5, when an overnight water exchange of 5% per hour is introduced. By the end of Week 2 this has been slowly increased to a 24 hour exchange to maintain water quality, particularly ammonia wastes. The larval fish begin feeding on rotifers and copepod nauplii. By Day 13, brine shrimp are also added. In line with current hatchery prac-

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the tank bottom. They also lose their schooling behaviour and begin to spread out. To assist with this the fish are transferred into 4m3 flat base tanks. “From about Day 27 the juvenile fish are quite cannibalistic and so we provide hides in the form of bundles of small pipes. Like barramundi (Lates calcarifer) they can be cannibalistic up to 7 to 8 cm in length. Other than this, we have found no problems with the fish, and there have been no disease or parasite outbreaks.”

1. One of the 5 month old flowery cod juveniles (140g) reared at QDPI, Cairns for the first time in Australia.

2. Flowery cod (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) broodstock held in one of the 60m? recirculation tanks at the new Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement Facility, Cairns.

tices, Liz is attempting to minimise the amount of Artemia being used in the culture process. She has been experimenting with introducing artificial diets at the same time as the brine shrimp to see if this will improve the weaning rate, reduce cannibalism and ultimately increase larval survival. A number of diets currently being sold in Australia are being tested. “We currently start with Gemma diet from Skretting at Day 13 and then move into slightly larger diets with Proton and NRD from Inve. The mix of diet sizes are fed simultaneously and are modified

as the size of the larval fish increase.” By Day 33 the fish are around 1 to 2cm in length and are beginning to undertake metamorphosis into their adult forms. “There is significant change in appearance as the fish become lighter in colour,” Liz explains, “Their elongated pelvic and dorsal spines are resorbed as development of the soft fin fold tissues is completed; they appear as a miniature version of the adult fish.” At this stage there are also changes in behaviour as they move away from the upper and mid-water column to go to

Water quality treatment The lack of problems with diseases or parasites is most likely a result of the water treatment systems in place at the Northern Fisheries Centre. The R&D facilities were totally upgraded in 2000 with a shift from the old premises on the wharf at Trinity Inlet across the road to a $7 million facility. Water is pumped directly from Trinity Inlet into a series of custom made sand filters and filtered down to 2025um. The water flows into a series of holding tanks – where some solids settlement can also occur – and is then pumped to a series of header tanks from where each research section draws water as needed. “We designed it so that each of the units had its own water treatment and distribution systems,” Mike says. “For example the hatchery has a separate water storage system with a heat/chill unit to control temperature and another sand filter followed by 10µm and 1µm cartridge filters. The water is then run through UV and ozone sterilisation as well as a biofiltration system. This recirculation of water allows constant

Developmental sequence of larval flowery cod showing the elongated pelvic and dorsal spines at 16 days post fertilisation. These are gradually resorbed as the larvae metamorphose into juveniles when fin development and adult pigmentation is complete.

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Comparison of the biology and culture of the estuary cod (E. coioides) and the flowery cod (E. fuscoguttatus). Parameter

Estuary cod

Flowery cod

Culture status

Widely cultured throughout SE Asia

Survives well and grows rapidly in culture

Size

To 180cm and 100kg, commonly

To about 300cm and 400kg, usually

marketed at 40-120cm and 1-25kg

30-120cm and 0.5-25kg

Growth rates under culture

Very good growth rates, similar or faster than barramundi, from 10g to 500g in 9-12 months

Natural Habitat

Mane, demersal, usually alone or in small

Marine, demersal in coralline and rocky reef

groups, found in the lower estuaries to off-

habitats over the continental shelf and

shore reefs, to 100m or more

upper slopes to depths of about 400m

Low value, Small fish to 8kg are well

Medium value, Highly regarded table fish

regarded as table fish, but flesh is coarse in

with white flesh and excellent flavour

Market value

larger individuals Refs: Yearsley, Last and Ward 1999, Australian Seafood Domestic Species, CSIRO, Hobart various papers from ACIAR Grouper Aquaculture project book.

and specific water temperatures to be maintained for all larval rearing.” The live feeds culture unit has a similar system although the water is filtered down to 0.1µm and there is no recirculation through a biofilter. The microalgae require even a greater degree of water treatment, and small volumes of 0.1µm filtered water are sterilised in an autoclave. For larger volumes of water – eg. for the 500L bags or 2000L tanks – chlorination and dechlorination is also used. Nursery culture Liz says that larval weaning is completed by about Day 28 so that live feeds are no longer necessary. By this time the fish are taking pellets up to 1,200µm in size. The tanks are run as a water flow-through (10 to 15% exchange per hour) and vacuumed twice a day to remove uneaten feed and maintain suitable water quality. By five weeks of age the fish are 23cm in size and are ready for a final nursery phase before transfer to the growout farms. Mike says that the grouper are stockier and have larger heads than barramundi at the same size. He expects that the growout farms will want fish around 10cm in length. “In past years Blue Water Barramundi (a sea cage operation located at Cardwell, near Hinchinbrook Island) have undertaken some growout trials as has Great Barrier Reef Prawn Farm (an earthen pond farm located at

Mourilyan). The initial results were promising with a small number of fish being grown through to market size. “We are looking for collaboration from some more prawn farms south of Cairns,” Mike continues. “With the large quantities of inexpensive white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) imports, the black tiger prawn (P. monodon) farmers are looking for ways to diversify. Initially, they may look to have floating cages in the ponds and then move into free-ranging them in the ponds. This has been done with estuary cod in Filipino prawn farms, although there are issues of cannibalism and predation. “Another potential option is with the floating raceways systems being tested by Mark Fantin as a joint venture with QDPI&F. He has been growing Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) to around 20cm before free-ranging them in ponds that had been used for barramundi.” Mike and Liz are confident that their techniques will be able to be transferred to commercial hatcheries which will pave the way for a new growout industry that could be for pond, tank or cage based systems.

Queensland 4870, Australia. Tel: 07 4035 0109, Fax: 07 4035 6703, E-mail: Mike.Rimmer@dpi.qld.gov.au or elizabeth.cox@dpi.qld.gov.au Note: The results of the first 3 years of the ACIAR Grouper Aquaculture project have been published as a monograph which is available for download from the ACIAR web site: http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/doc/ACIA -63Y9AC Mike says there is considerable additional information on grouper and tropical marine finfish aquaculture generally on the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) site: www.enaca.org/marinefish This includes a regular e-news and e-magazine.

By Dos O’Sullivan For more information contact Drs Mike Rimmer and Elizabeth Cox, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Northern Fisheries Centre, PO Box 5396, Cairns,

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All photographs by Dr Suresh Job

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Marine ornamental fish cultured for conservation

The demand for farmed marine ornamental fish is rapidly expanding as they are better able to withstand the stresses of transport and captivity than wild caught fish. In addition farming is the more ecologically friendly alternative. A West Australian marine ornamental farm is expanding production further to meet market demand.

1. TAFE work experience students get hands-on training in marine ornamentals aquaculture at Culture for Conservation. This often includes the real hands on dirty work like cleaning filters! 2. Feeding time. The fish are fed a variety of livefeeds and artificial feeds to ensure adequate nutrition and good health. 3. A school of A. ocellaris (three white bands) and A. percula (single white band) anemonefishes. The banding patterns differ between the two species at the juvenile stage, but become more similar in the adults. 4. These beautiful redline shrimp is part of the breeding trials being used for developing commercial production techniques for this species.

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Dr. Suresh Job and Dr. Jessica Meeuwig have found their niche in aquaculture by pooling their extensive marine conservation expertise in a marine ornamental fish culture facility – Culturing for Conservation – in Western Australia. After just two years the business now sells up to 25 different species of marine fish to markets in the eastern states of Australia and overseas. Before this venture Jessica and Suresh worked a variety of government and non-government jobs in the areas of marine conservation and fisheries management. Suresh also spent time as the assistant curator at Underwater World Singapore where he not only began developing breeding protocols for marine ornamental fish but also gained insights into what consumers liked in terms of different species of marine fish. Such experiences underpin a detailed understanding of the marine ornamental industry, particularly the culture and marketing of these premium priced fish. “We approached this business from a conservation perspective,” Jessica says. “After working for a number of years in SE Asia for an international marine conservation organisation we recognised that an alternative was needed to reduce reliance on wild caught marine ornamentals. The challenge is to mesh these conservation and business outcomes, but it is working.” The pair also have a strong background in research and development – both have PhDs in marine biology. This

has helped them immensely in the development of new and innovative larval rearing protocols, many of which Suresh has been developing for over ten years, making him a leader in this field. Culturing for Conservation is based in Fremantle WA, conveniently located within the Challenger TAFE Aquaculture Development Unit (ADU). “The technical support we’ve received from Greg Jenkins and his team at the Challenger TAFE has been excellent,” Jessica explains. “Additionally, the WA Department of Fisheries has a number of researchers working at the TAFE facility and they have also provided collegiate support to us.” Being located at the ADU has also had other benefits. Jessica and Suresh can access resources such as live feeds, microalgae and sea water – all essential components for a marine hatchery and expensive to establish and maintain. This not only reduces infrastructure costs but also more importantly reduces the labour requirements for live food production that can take significant time and resources in any marine hatchery. And there are any number of work-experience students eager to work with Suresh and Jessica in the hatchery. “One of the advantages of being at the Challenger TAFE is we are able to access an excellent pool of keen and well trained people. Similarly, we can provide on-the-job training in a new and growing industry for the TAFE students,” Jessica says.

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Temperature-controlled rooms The facility is housed inside temperature-controlled rooms maintained at 25-27°C by airconditioners. The fish are cultured in five separate recirculating systems in 75 tanks ranging from 150 to 600L, each with custom designed filtration systems consisting of biological trickle filters, protein skimmers and ultra violet sterilisers. Solids are removed by passing the culture water through filter pads before it moves through the trickle filters. These filter pads are washed regularly and replaced when necessary. The volume of water under culture totals approximately 18,000 L. The tanks are also aerated to provide both circulation and maintain dissolved oxygen above 90% saturation, particularly if pumps fail. “Suresh has spent a lot of time designing these systems and part of our success can be attributed to their design,” Jessica says. The efficiency of the system is evident by the water change rate – around 10% per month. Water is sourced from a saline bore. Water quality parameters such as salinity, temperature, nitrates and pH are checked and adjusted regularly to maintain ‘coral reef quality’ water. The facility is split into three separate components: a broodstock section, hatchery section (larval rearing) and grow-out section. That for broodstock is less complicated than might be thought. “Many people think that breeding these fish must be difficult,” Jessica explains. “In fact, most are easy to spawn and will spawn regularly if maintained under the correct conditions and are well fed and healthy.” The 25 plus species cultured come from five families of coral reef fish [clowns (Pomacentridae), dottybacks (Pseudochromidae), cardinal fish (Apogonidae), seahorses (Syngnathidae) and royal grammas (Grammatidae)]. The broodstock have been sourced from both Australian collectors and international exporters. “We ran our own quarantine station for a year, where we imported fish directly from overseas,” Jessica continues. “We’ve an excellent network of contacts

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both domestically and internationally, allowing us to obtain a broad range of valuable fish, rare and unusual as well as bread-and-butter species.” Larval rearing While spawning the fish is not difficult, larval rearing is another story. “Whilst spawning is relatively easy, larval rearing is much trickier. The success of our operation is largely due to our larval rearing protocols that have been developed over the past 10 years.” As such, Jessica and Suresh are not too expansive on their larval rearing techniques other than to say they use static tanks with standard green-water culture techniques and a range of different live food species. The first 6-8 weeks of larval rearing are the hardest but they are able to achieve survival rates in the range of 70 to 90% from hatching to market size for most species. The fish are moved to the recirculating systems for on-growing at 6-8 weeks of age depending on the species. A variety of tank sizes are used and densities are maintained at a relatively low rate. The fish take 3 to 6 months to reach market. Feeding is critical in maintaining high quality egg production, larval survival and growth rates. Jessica and Suresh use their own blend of foods to ensure optimal stock condition. “We’ve developed our own feeds for the juveniles that maintains excellent colour and condition, promoting disease resis-

R&D is an ongoing process at Culture for Conservation, this graceful marine comet is an example of a new species that they are working on.

tance.” Pelleted feeds that are locally available are also used in their recipe. Disease is not generally a major problem due to strict hygiene protocols used and the quarantine of any new stock. Fish health management includes close attention being paid to stocking densities, nutrition, ensuring fish are not stressed and maintaining the water in optimal condition. “We have not set up the facility to be sterile,” Jessica continues. “This means that fish can be exposed to low levels of potential pathogens and are able to develop immunity before they leave the hatchery and are exposed to pathogens within the distribution chain. This leads to healthier fish and better survival for consumers.” Other disease problems are rare, generally opportunistic bacterial infections due to various stress factors. One substantial challengbe though is balancing the production of a wide range of species within a relatively

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K E Y P E R F O R M A N C E I N D I C AT O R S

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To allow inter-farm comparisons, each AAM farm profile details a number of system performance criteria. Except for the comments under ‘Key Management Decisions’ which are prepared by Dos, the information has been supplied by the farmer: Key Management Decisions include: • Targeting high value, high volume species. • Operating from Challenger TAFE Development Unit which reduces operating costs, particularly live feeds production and semi-skilled workers. • Providing specially prepared feeds to ensure that the fish are healthy. • Use of recirculation systems to ensure that optimal water quality conditions can be maintained. • Culture system: marine fish hatchery using tanks and recirculating water • Growth rate (from stocking to market): 3 to 6 months • Survival rate: 70 -90% from hatching to sale size for established species.

small facility. “We may have as many as 10 different species in larval stages at any point in time,” Jessica explains. “These may have different water quality and nutritional requirements making operating the hatchery very difficult”. Many of these factors are being addressed through an active R&D program. Jessica and Suresh are continuously adding new species to their stock list and improving production techniques. In many cases, this means developing species-specific production protocols for diet, water quality management and system design; even within a family these requirements can vary greatly. The pair are also working on species in the family Plesiopidae (comets) as well as ornamental shrimp (Lysmata spp.) and gobies (gobiidae). Marketing After 3-6 months of age (depending on the species) market-size fish are harvested by hand net and sorted for quality and size by eye. Sub-quality fish that may have deformities are rare but are culled at an early stage.

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The majority of fish are shipped interstate or overseas so maintenance of health is important during extended transport periods. Well-conditioned tank-bred fish travel well and Jessica and Suresh have had no problems with transport mortalities. The fish are packed using standard plastic bags containing water and oxygen which are then sealed and packed in polystyrene boxes for air transport. The boxes are transported via Australian Air Express to most airports around Australia. “We are very pleased with the care and attention provided by AAE; they have really looked after us,” Jessica says. “Fish packed properly can handle long journeys. For example, we once sent tank-bred seahorses from Vietnam to Chicago, a 60+hr journey as they got misplaced but not one was DOA (dead-on-arrival).” Whilst marine ornamentals are a challenge, the market potential is very high as over 95% of fish in the trade are still wild caught and supply is being increasingly constrained due to overexploitation of many traditional wild fisheries. This is in contrast to the freshwater ornamental trade where the vast majority (over 80%) of fish are cultured. However, the key is choosing the right species from among the 1,000 plus in the trade – the choice is a function of the price/volume relationship (which is elastic) and an understanding of supply constraints (due either to over-exploitation, limited distribution or international / national legislation) in the international trade. Jessica confirms this approach, “You need to pick a species that can be produced economically but also offers a large market volume with a price that will withstand increased supply.” Culturing for Conservation supplies the Perth market by directly selling to aquarium shops. Interstate retailers are supplied via a wholesaler or direct to selected aquarium shops. “We’ve really appreciated the commitment of a number of shops and our wholesaler to selling tank-bred marines as an alternative to wild-caught imports. The Australian and international markets are interested

in different species so again, it is an issue of being able to supply a diverse range.” Jessica and Suresh hope to further expand exports as a way of increasing turnover without having to expand the range of species being produced. “Most of our export sales have been done in conjunction with an Australian wild catch operation which is working well.” The benefits of tank-bred marines over wild caught fish are higher survival rates, healthier fish and reducing the reliance on wild caught fish. However, Jessica believes there is still a market for wild caught fish captured in a sustainable and ethical manner and suggests that tank bred and wild fish can compliment each other in the market place. She believes that keeping marine fish has wider social benefits too; it helps to educate about conservation of marine fish and promotes awareness of the potential to overexploit this valuable resource. To this end, several of the species being produced are species that have been overfished in their natural habitat. In the future, Jessica and Suresh are interested in being involved in joint ventures and keen to develop R&D collaborations in northern Australia and Indo-Pacific countries. They believe that the climate in Australia’s north is well suited to marine aquarium fish aquaculture, particularly for species requiring larger amounts of space. As production capacity increases, Jessica and Suresh will increasingly target the international markets as there is significant export potential and unmet demand. With over 1,000 species in the trade, there is significant room for expansion. By Shane Willis with Dos O’Sullivan. For more information contact Culturing for Conservation, Dr. Suresh Job and Dr. Jessica Meeuwig, 157 Ferndale Crescent, Ferndale, WA, 6148. Tel: 08 9451-5013, fax 08 9451-5013, Email: c4c@optusnet.com.au

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Yabbies a good additional income – for now

Who said yabbies don't grow in cooler climates? Cheryl holding a couple of Creswick’s finest.

Seven years ago Frank and Cheryl Gray, looking for somewhere they could carry on their fish taxidermy business, made a lifestyle change that took them into yabby farming. Having always been interested in yabbies, when one of the properties offered to them was already set up for aquaculture, they readily took the plunge.

Situated between the Victoria goldfield towns of Ballarat and Creswick, the 8.1ha property is set in lightly timbered hilly country. Designed by Ivan Neale of Yendon Yabby Farm back in the 1980s it consists of a 10ML storage dam and four 60m x 40m x 1.25m deep ponds. There are also four 100m raceways (5m wide by 3m deep) intended

for native fish. The ponds have gently sloping banks (30°) and are all interconnected so water can be pumped to the top pond and flow down through the lower three. There is also a “bush” dam set above the four ponds that can also be used for production. The ponds aren’t mechanically aerated but can be freshened up by moving water through them. Aerial predators are not common in the area and the water is coloured by colloidal clay which makes it reasonably hard work for them when they do turn up. And as the ponds are visible from the house, predator control is by constant surveillance rather than anti-bird netting. Over the seven years the Grays have learned a lot about production and marketing. Economically-speaking, they now know that table yabbies are a by-product of bait yabbies – in fact, even eating size yabbies have a strong market in the bait trade for Murray cod anglers. The smaller yabbies are sold to bream and perch anglers by the dozen ($3/doz) and the cod bait by the kilo ($12/kg at the farm gate). Cod anglers don’t complain if a claw or two is missing so it has actually improves the average return for the larger stock. Previously, the (twoclawed) yabbies were sold to the restaurant trade and the downgraded product was discounted through door sales. Given that the size for cod bait exceeds the 120g, the Grays have been able to move out of table yabbies altogether, thus removing the cost of up-grading to meet the new PrimeSafe food standards. Production methods have evolved over the years. After trying all the methods that have been in vogue over the years the Grays have settled on the extensive approach. Frank chuckles over the attempts to stock all-male ponds. “It’s pretty hard to keep those women out of the pond once they get on the move,” he says. The less labour-intensive approach

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This trap selects for bait yabbies. The larger yabbies can’t get in and the juveniles seek the cover of the onion bags.

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The ponds have gently sloping banks and water levels can be controlled by tilting the standpipe.

also integrates nicely with the couple’s fish taxidermy business, which started following Frank’s retrenchment from Telecom (as Telstra was then known) and has become a full-time operation. The seasons in Victoria over the last eight years, like most of Australia, have been poor and the drought still hasn’t broken entirely. The Gray’s ponds are full but the main storage dam is down to a third. The prolonged drought, a year of uncertainty over whether they would be allowed to use their dams under Victoria’s new water conservation policy and, lately, the new PrimeSafe regulations plus the government’s cost-recovery policy (whereby growers fund the aquaculture section’s operational costs) has not allowed the Grays to operate their enterprise at full pace. But it has still managed to generate a handy supplementary income – Cheryl estimates a gross of $4,000 in a good year. That’s OK but as Frank points out, it’s not much return per hour, especially compared to the taxidermy business.

And the Grays didn’t have to fund the cost of building the ponds either. The first time the pair stocked a freshly flooded pond it was with 10g juveniles at 5/m2. “It worked well. We got nice big yabbies but by 12 months the pond reverted back to normal and we were getting all sizes. To get the big-

ger ones you’ve got to cycle your ponds. We try to drain them every two to three years,” Frank says. Fallowing on an approximately a two year cycle means at least one pond is out of production each summer. Once dried, the ponds are ripped to 30cm, limed, and scarified. The liming rate is

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The purging system is simple but effective. The filter medium is in the drum.

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four bags per pond (160kg/ha). During the drought the water situation is evaluated at the end of spring so water doesn’t run short halfway through the season. Over the last two years the property has been only able to operate at half capacity. In a normal year the fallow pond is lined with biscuits of rain-damaged hay at the rate of six to eight small bales per pond (between 600kg/ha and 800kg/ha) to establish a detrital food base. It is flooded in late October to early November and 500 x 50g yabbies are stocked. The sexes are not counted into the pond separately as it is considered that a random selection of medium sized yabbies contains enough females to stock the ponds. Moulting and commencement of breeding occurs within a couple of weeks of hitting a new pond with the fresh layer of nutrients. As bait yabby sizes start at <10g, stocking density is not crucial to growth rate. Commencing in late December the broodstock are harvested until they have been removed (usually mid-February). Bait yabbies are found from early January onwards. The pond is left to follow its natural cycle for two to three summers, after which it is drained and allowed to dry out completely and the substrate aerated. There’s no set time limit to the cycle. As soon as a pond’s production drops off it’s drained and fallowed ready to continue a new cycle. Lupins – soaked and placed in a mesh bag that excludes ducks but allows the yabbies to feed through the mesh – are used as a supplementary food at the rate of 20kg a day. The yabbies also get the fish frames from the taxidermy business and the ponds carry a healthy crop of zooplankton. Harvesting continues throughout the year; in the coller months when the traps are slow Frank and Cheryl drag the ponds. They remove the tops (>50g) and the bottoms (<35g). The middles are left as broodstock. Networking with other growers always results in a good exchange of ideas but practices that work well for one grower don’t necessarily benefit another in different country. Cheryl says that even on their own place, each pond seems to have

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a different pattern. “You have to be prepared to farm each pond separately.” Temnocephala can be a problem. The “bush” dam is the worst Frank says. He believes it could be due to the amount of organic rich run-off from the forest. It is also the body of water that doesn’t get drained regularly. The “lice” are easily removed in a salt bath of 10g/L (10ppt) during purging. Before PrimeSafe regulations made it uneconomical to sell table yabbies, the Grays used to hang a sign at the front gate whenever a feed was available. “Come Christmas the locals would be on the phone ordering before they came out of the water,” says Cheryl. “Now that outlet has been closed. But anglers have welcomed the news regs. Now they can get the big ones for cod bait. The main business at the farm is the fish taxidermy. Frank, a keen fisherman and conservationist, is part of the volunteer team who run the historic (130 years old ) Ballarat Fish Acclimatization Society based on Lake Wendouree – one of the first hatcheries established in Australia. He taught himself how to prepare and mount his catch and started doing a few for his fishing mates. Before long the local tackle shop asked him to do a few and now it is a fulltime business with advanced orders that will keep him busy for the next 12 months. At this stage the pair have decided to renew their aquaculture license for the next year but as Frank puts it: “Yabbies to me are just a hobby when compared to the taxidermy. “With licenses tipped to jump from around $450 this year to over $700 next year – and another rise to come the following year – it is something we’ll have to take into account when the time comes.” The harsh reality is that with many growers predicted to relinquish their licenses, the increased cost recovery burden will have to be carried by fewer growers, further increasing the cost of a yabby farming license in Victoria. By John Mosig Frank and Cheryl Gray can be contacted by phone on (03) 5345 8388, and by email on fgraytax@cbl.com.au

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A sample of the smaller bait yabby range.

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Low Intensity Prawn Farming Based on the results of a farm operated in the 1990s, a model suitable for remote or indigenous prawn aquaculture using large (10ha) extensive ponds has been developed. The proponents claim it is more environmentally friendly than current intensive methods. This article compares this novel system with those commonly used in Australia. 1

1. Extensive aquaculture of prawns may be profitable for indigenous communities 2. Prawn larvae 3. Banana prawns

The main cultured prawn species in Australia is the black tiger (Penaeus monodon), although production of the brown tiger (P. esculentus) and the banana (P. merguiensis) prawn is increasing. Following a period of steady growth the industry output has declined in the last documented season – down from from the peak of 3,636 tonnes in 2001/2002 to 3,403 tonnes in 30

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2002/2003. However the value of production remain virtually static (nearly $60m) as the average price rose to $16.71 per kilo (ABARE 2004) from $15.65 previously (Galeano et al 2004). The conventional culture method is in small intensively stocked ponds. However, an alternative method is now being suggested using large ponds at low stocking densities close to those found in natural conditions. Ken Chang came to Australia as a business immigrant in 1990 following a successful career in aquaculture development in Taiwan. Since then he has been involved in the technical and commercial management of overseas prawn hatcheries and farms, both on his own behalf and as a consultant. Later that year he worked with another Taiwanese businessman who owned 3,000 ha of land on Roper River, located on the west coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria (Northern Territory). Over 700km south east from Darwin – or eight hours drive, much of it on dirt roads – the site could be difficult to access during the wet season. With up to 100ha of land at his disposal, Ken built a 10ha test pond for black tiger prawns as part of Roper Aquafarm. “I had brought over my own technicians from Taiwan and had our own excavators and a swamp dozer,” he says. “So we built the ponds ourselves as well as the concrete inlets and outlets (monks). This enabled us to save a lot of money on construction costs.” A diesel motor was coupled to a pump with a 30 cm diameter water intake from the Roper River. This motor was also used for supplying power for lighting and refrigeration. “I started with lower than normal density – around 3.3 PLs per square metre

– as I had no aeration facilities available at the site and wanted the harvested animals to be larger,” Ken continues. “The PLs were sourced from our own hatchery facility established on the site.” The initial crop failed for a number of reasons Ken says, mostly traced to the pond design. “These prawns are bottom dwellers and tended to gravitate towards the walls of the pond. Dip net testing showed that the animals were gathering in one huge group and many were dying from a lack of oxygen.” So Ken converted the first pond into a reservoir pond and built another two 10ha ponds. He adjusted the pond design by installing six internal walls to provide a better habitat for the animals, improve internal current flows and allow for better spatial distribution of the growing animals. “Water exchange was up to 140% per week and wind provided water circulation so no mechanical aeration was provided,” he continues. “I stocked these ponds at 3.3 PLs per square metre and seven months later started to harvest the ponds. It was a very good crop which was sold largely through Captain Catch in Darwin.” Saline water was sourced from the Roper River and held in the storage reservoir; this allowed water exchange to continue when the salinity of the river dropped during the height of the wet season. Feed was sourced from two Taiwanese suppliers. Predation by waterbirds was a major issue as Ken’s crops grew. Noise was found to be the most effective deterrent so Ken would intermittently blow the horn on the truck as he moved around the farm. He even built floating scarecrows which were generally effective. However, the prospect of a partner-

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ship dividend from the profitable crop exposed flaws in the business arangement between Ken and his Taiwanese associate. So Ken walked out. Following this business fiasco in the Northern Territory, Ken based himself in Sydney focussing on a range of major prawn farm consultancies across South East Asia including China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Extensive concept In 2000, Ken met Tony McLennan, who has an MBA specialising in international trade and a successful history in regional development and technical services business management (he is also a founding member of the Gippsland Aquaculture Industry Network Inc.). Tony is the Manager (Special Projects) with Oceanair Ltd located at Wonthaggi, two hours east of Melbourne. Oceanair is looking to farm prawns using ultraintensively stocked indoor tanks. Tony said his role at Oceanair at that time was to ensure regulatory compliance across the broad range of disciplines the company was seeking to straddle, including everything from relocation of species to export of first generation CITES-listed aquatic species. “Ken and I worked very closely with engineering experts on matching the technical requirements of the ultraintensive growing system and the physical restraints of the site with the plethora of State and Local Government legislation and regulations.” During discussions on a wide range of options for prawn culture, Tony became very interested in Ken’s experiences in the remote north. Recently they collaborated on a discussion paper extolling the merits of the extensive system ‘Prawn farming without the environmental drama: a model suitable for remote or indigenous aquaculture.’ The discussion paper was distributed widely (for a copy see contacts information below). Tony says that the conventional method to grow prawns – a pond-based intensive farming approach – is capital intensive. He’s not convinced this is sustainable in the long-term. “Increasingly overseas competition from low cost

structure countries, such as the Indian sub-continent, Thailand, Vietnam and China, has led many to question the long-term prospects of this still emergent aquaculture sector in Australia. We thought that an alternative approach would be of interest, particularly for remote and indigenous aquaculture where access to conventional infrastructure was poor or non-existent.” The basic concept behind low intensity prawn farming is to reduce the number of animals being farmed per hectare (stocking density) to such a point that husbandry needs and the environmental impact is minimised. A comparison of the stocking densities, pond size and other Key Performance Indicators is provided in Table 1. The model pond design, as shown in Figure 1, is two growout ponds cover-

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ing twenty hectare plus a ten hectare water storage pond. Ken explained that dependent upon the size of land and resources available, this model can be expanded up to a total of six 10ha growing ponds before an additional reservoir is required. “When stocked at a density of 3.3 PL per square metre,” explains Tony, “each of these ponds will produce approximately 11,000 kilograms of prawns per crop. That is a rate of 1,100kg/ha/crop with minimal management input. Conventional prawn farming in Australia (with all its inputs) averages approximately four times this level of productivity for the equivalent pond area.” However, Tony claims a key advantage for their extensive system is labour productivity. “In the low intensity farm, we estimate this is 11 tonnes per labour

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Figure 1: Single Module of Model Low Intensity Prawn Farm

unit (effective full-time unit, EFTU) where conventional farm labour productivity stands at 12.3 tonnes per unit (Lodegeiger and Wingfield 2004). Thus whilst the low intensity system is roughly only one quarter as productive per hectare of pond area as the intensive prawn farming model, the reduced labour requirement and reduced operating costs tends to offset this apparent disparity.”

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Building and running low cost ponds Ken says that it is important to be able to build low cost prawn ponds in remote areas. Dependent upon local conditions (particularly clay content and overburden such as shrubs and rocks), his design calls for the walls and partitions of the ponds to be built up to a height of one and a half metres (1.5 m.) and five metres (5 m.) wide at the

top by digging an in-pond channel 10 metres wide and 1 metre deep within the ponds. “This technique reduces the amount of soil required to be disturbed,” he says, “with a subsequent reduction in costs associated with treatment of acid sulphate soils where necessary.” The channel design is a specific requirement for the interior of the ponds to ensure good water circulation. The channel design provides a ‘raceway’ within the pond at the deepest part whilst providing a variation in overall depths within the pond. This design thus allows the animals to self select the condition they are most comfortable in during varying temperatures and individual needs. Overall it amounts to growing the animals with a minimum of stress on their systems. At the Roper Aquafarm, Ken estimated that the total cost (including water intake and treatment areas) was around $200,000 for 20ha of culture ponds. “We did a lot of the construction work ourselves to save costs; however, I estimate that for a full 60ha farm (six pond) plus a 10 ha storage farm would have cost around $700,000.” Operational requirements include:

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Black tiger prawn

• Earthmoving equipment to set up the ponds and water channels • Water pump station and diesel engine pump • Nets, ice-making facilities for packing product and minor hardware and tools • Farm vehicle and feed caster • Building for housing feed, ice making, product packing and equipment storage. Operations are very straight forward. As shown in Figure 1, water is pumped directly into the growing ponds when the tidal conditions applying locally are most propitious. The storage reservoir is to provide back up water for those extended periods when the source water is not suitable for direct application to the growing system – for example during local floods when the source water may be predominantly freshwater. Tony and Ken claim that wastewater from the growing ponds, due to its extremely low nutrient load, can be channelled straight back into the water source at the appropriate point. “Most states require permits of some sort for the discharge of wastewater; however, the water being returned to the environment actually is, as a rule, cleaner than the input water,” explains Tony. “Suspended solids in the input water settle in the holding reservoir and the passage of water through the growing pond is at such a speed that pond’s waste solids, what little there is, tends to settle in the growing ponds. The low stocking densities, coupled with the frequency of water exchange and lower FCR, means that the remaining nutrient load is so low as to not be an issue. As prawn waste material is minute, by comparison to the volume of water, there is no need to pre-process the water before release into the general environment. The wastewater from the system will already meet the most stringent environmental standards imposed upon the industry, a massive savings in

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Table 1: A comparison of several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Extensive Model with those for the common intensive system used in Australia. Parameter

Extensive Ponds3 1992/93

Intensive Ponds 2003/04

No of farms

Ponds in production (ha)

>1,000

Harvest (tonnes)

22.0

3,4032, 4

Total value ($,000)

440

56,9002, 4

Av Pond Size (ha)

0.4-1.75

Settlement Pond as % of total pond area

10-30

Stocking density (PLs/m2)

3-3.5

37-385

Growth to harvest (months)

7-8

5-62

Survival stocking to harvest (%)

70+

60 (range 40-85%)6

Crops per year

1.8

2 (Northern areas)

Average size at harvest (no/kg)

15-25

30-406

Harvest per crop (kg/ha)

1,100

4,0545

Feeds/day

4-56

FCR

1.1:1

1.2-1.5:15

Fertiliser (kg/ha/crop)

0, natural

1506

Aeration (KW/ha)

wind only

12-156

Seawater (% exchange/day)

top up only

3 over 150 days

Productivity (tonnes/EFTU)

11.0

12-145

Production cost ($/kg)

7.90

8-136

Unit value ($/kg)

20.00

16.711

Notes: 1 = ABARE 2000, 2 = Australian Prawn Farmer’s Association web site and comments, 3 = Chang and McLennan 2004, 4 = Galeano et al 2004, 5 = Lobeigeiger and Wingfield 2004, 6 = Doug Pearson (pers. comm. December 2004)

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land utilisation, effort and overall cost. “The truism for wastewater experts that ‘the solution to pollution is dilution’ is never better applied than in low intensity prawn farming,” he says. To reduce the number of pumps and the pumping cycle the layout of the system should be such as to allow it to gravity feed through the ponds and into

the outlet channel. Ken suggests that construction of higher walls on the reservoir will enable this water to be also gravity fed into the system when required. Low stress Tony says that there are a number of advantages of this system, particularly with regard to low stress levels, lower

disease problems, higher growth rates and minimal environmental impacts. “The lower stocking densities more closely resembles natural growing environment and thus creates less stress in the stock. The lower the environmental stress the lower the mortality level and the higher the growth rates of the animals. This means that the harvest can be earlier or animals can have the opportunity to grow to a larger size in the time allowed. “The lack of competition within the pond system enables the animals to grow to a larger size more quickly by comparison to the traditional intensive prawn farming systems. The benefits available in the marketplace for those producers able to consistently offer a larger animal are clearly an advantage for low intensity prawn farms’ bottom lines.” Tony also explains that the low stocking density, regular exchange of water, and absence of algal oxygen depleting blooms all contribute to lower operational and energy costs. “There is no requirement in the model for the use of aeration – nor the extensive electrical installation to support it – as there is sufficient natural aeration of the ponds to satisfy the needs of the animals.” Erosion of dam walls by wave action in the system is primarily limited to the reservoir pond – internal walls minimise that impact in growing ponds. “I found by building up the reservoir bank slightly higher on the windward side and lining the reservoir banks with gravel solved the problem,” Ken says. As the inlet pump and any refrigeration required during the harvest period can be adequately supplied by the use of low cost diesel power, the system is very suitable for areas where there is no

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access to the electrical grid whatsoever. In traditional pond aquaculture a source of freshwater is normally required to control rising salinity during periods of high evaporation. As the water is being regularly exchanged with a new water supply directly from a known quality source, the low intensity model does not require a bulk freshwater source at all. Feeding is simplified. “Conventional intensive prawn farming requires the animals be fed up to six times daily,” Ken says. “At these low densities the competition for feed within the ponds is reduced and the animals will grow very satisfactorily on only two daily feeds. Lower feeding frequency significantly reduces both labour and energy costs. The low competition for food also has a dramatic impact on Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). The typical FCR for the working farm this concept is modelled upon was close to 1.1:1, a significant cost savings per kilogram of product produced.” High quality product Ken notes that the design of the ponds and the natural tendency of the animals to circulate within the system mean simple static nets can harvest animals of a specific size without the need to drain the ponds. “Smaller animals than those of the target size simple pass through the mesh whilst target sized prawns are herded into collection pockets. As the process relies on the natural movement instincts of the animals, they are harvested with less stress and thus less physical damage than is experienced in conventional drainage or seining harvest systems. “The extensively grown prawns are in the 15-25 per kilogram size grade, by

comparison to the intensively farmed product generally being offered to the market at 30-40 pieces per kilogram,” Tony adds. “A further consideration in low intensity prawn farming is that the animals can be left in the ponds beyond their usual harvest time. This allows the farmer to bring the product fresh to market at its price peak – for example Christmas, Chinese New Year and Easter – without an adverse impact on the smaller animals in the pond. Consistency of quality and supply, (often seen by consumers as size related), is essential if premium prices for product are to

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be achieved.” Other advantages suggested by Ken and Tony in their discussion paper include: • Shorter pond down-time between batches due to less detritus build-up • Stable productivity between crops • Lower labour requirements • System transferability to intensive regime with retrofitting. They also identify and discuss the down side, with disadvantages including: • Predation, particularly from birds • Longer harvest period (up to 7 months) • Larger farm footprint, although the offsetting element for this feature is

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that despite the larger farm footprint there is a massive reduction in the overall environmental impact of the farm activities. Other opportunities Whilst the system was primarily designed for growing prawns, Ken claims the system could equally as well be used for marine finfish. “The water depth ranges from 80 cm to 2 metres in the ponds and provides very suitable conditions for a range of Australian finfish,” he says. “It is simply a matter of adjusting stocking densities to get the

right wastewater performance from the overall system.” Tony and Ken see a great opportunity for aquaculture development using the system. “The minimal environmental impact low intensity prawn farming has proven to be resource and capital effective,” says Tony. “It is capable of operation with minimal management intervention and requires minimal skilled labour input. The system design is suitable for large and small-scale operations in remote regions, with what would be generally considered to be very low levels of industry support

Kangaroo Island ~ South Australia For Sale ~ potential for conversion to intensive aquaculture

Export standard industrial complex, located on 17.2 ha (42.5 acres) • Only 5km from Kingscote, the main regional centre • 35 KvA 3 phase power, mains water • Extensive refrigeration capacity • Zoning General Industry Agent’s remarks: Because of the growing international reputation of Kangaroo Island as an eco tourism destination, the brand ‘Kangaroo Island’ enjoys similar status. The offering of this industrial complex gives prospective exporters the opportunity to utilise the branding advantages.

Telegraph Road KINGSCOTE SA 5223 Phone (08) 8553 2102 Fax (08) 8553 2445 Email colin.hopkins@elders.com.au Phone Colin Hopkins 0408 393 991

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infrastructure. “We believe that application of low intensity prawn farming techniques to be ideally suited to indigenous aquaculture projects in Far North Australia as well as low capital, general commercial ventures.” References ABARE 2004, Australian Fisheries Statistics 2003, Canberra, February. Australian Prawn Farmers’ Association, accessed 21 October 2004, http://www.apfa.com.au/prawnfarmers2.cfm?i nc=industry. Galeano, D., Langenkamp, D., Shafron, W. and Levantis, C. 2004, Australian Fisheries Survey Report 2003: Economic Performance of Selected Fisheries in 2000-01 and 2001-02, ABARE, Canberra. Lobegeiger, R. and Wingfield, M., 2004, Report to farmers: Aquaculture production survey Queensland 2002 – 2003, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland.

By Dos O’Sullivan For more information contact Ken Chang 0401 225 698, aquaculture@mail.com or Tony McLennan on 0408 513 500, tony.mclennan@growfish.com.au

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City proximity ensures many visitors to trout farm As with real estate, tourism has the three main rules – Location! Location! Location! Perhaps one of the best located trout farms in Australia is right on Melbourne’s door step ensuring a steady year round supply of paying visitors. It is hard to believe that just an hour out of central Melbourne you can find a trout fishing paradise. But this is what the Australian Rainbow Trout Farm offers. Located at Macclesfield in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges it is a perfect place for the family to come and try their hand at trout fishing. Located in such tranquil settings the farm also gives the individual a chance for some peace and quiet as well as a guaranteed catch. The trout farm has been operating for over forty years and is run by mother and son team Estelle and Steve Malseed. It primarily produces rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) but also has a small population of brown trout (Salmo trutta). These high quality fish are bred on the farm primarily for their fish out ponds but the Malseeds also do sell juvenile fish for dam and pool stocking. Salmon are also brought in for fishing. Careful positioning has allowed the farm to benefit from the proximity of the Woori Yallock Creek which runs along the boundary of the farm. Given its first use of the water – there are no users upstream – the farm has always had sufficient supply. “We do have a water allocation of 1,600 ML a year,” Steve says. “But since the introduction of water restrictions we have minimised our water use where possible.” As the farm is located high up in the creek’s mountain catchment, water quality is first rate and can be used straight from the creek via gravity flow. “In previous seasons we have had some problems with blocking of the inlet screens. But we found that by changing the type of screens we were able to remove the problem.” A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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There is some variation of temperature during the year – perhaps as low as 6°C in winter to a high of 23°C in summer. “The temperatures have risen a little over the years which have obviously affected everyone. We have to ensure that the water levels don’t drop significantly and that water quality remains high,” Steve explains. “As the water gets warmer there is always less oxygen available to the fish so we have to add aeration in some ponds and use good stocking management. All of the water that the farm uses is returned to the creek via settlement ponds. This ensures that the quality of the water returning to the creek is still of a high quality for users further downstream.” New hatchery operations Until a few years ago the Australian Rainbow Trout Farm purchased all its juvenile stock from other Victorian trout farms. But Steve always had a goal to make the farm self-sufficient and within the last couple of years that goal has been reached as the farm has been able to successfully run a hatchery. “This has removed the requirement for

any fish to be purchased from other farms and has even enabled us to become suppliers for other farms.” The hatchery runs as a simple recirculation system which uses biofiltration systems and filter matting to maintain the water quality. Broodstock fish are strip spawned to provide eggs and sperm. The fertilised eggs are placed in one of 25 tray systems to hatch over a 28 day period. After two weeks for egg sack absorption, fish begin to swim up to surface and starter feed is added gradually over next few weeks. “It’s probably in the hatching that we see the most mortalities. But we are able to make provisions for that and we are working on bringing those mortalities down,” says Steve. Water quality testing is regularly done to ensure the high water quality is maintained. “Testing is done for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and pH and we use pumps and diffusers to create a high oxygenation level for the water. We don’t need to monitor the water temperature since there is never more than a one or two degree temperature change in the system (over a couple of days).

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And since the temperature of the water from the Creek is just right for the trout we don’t need to heat or cool the water at all (during the breeding season).” Belt feeders are used in the hatchery to make sure the fish are fed even when the farm is at its busiest. But generally the Malseeds have found that hand feeding in the hatchery is best. “By hand feeding you can make sure that the fish are being fed the right amount,” Steve explains. “Overfeeding can cause poor water quality and underfeeding can cause mortalities or fin nipping. Hand feeding really isn’t too time consuming and can give you an idea of the fish’s health.” One problem that the farm previously had encountered was the lack of adequate backup systems in case of power failure. “One year we lost power and 35,000. No fish from our hatchery reached the growout system that year.” Since then a backup generator has been installed. An alarm systems to ensure someone is alerted to any problems is about to be added. With the hatchery producing 250,000 to 300,000 fish a year it’s quite safe to say that the farm has overcome its original hatchery problems. Growout There are twenty ponds (four acres in total surface area) on the farm which are used for growout and fishout purposes. All these earthen ponds have flow-through systems, are over 40m long and 5m wide and have been recently deepened to increase capacity. This has allowed for an increase in stocking numbers without the need to build extra ponds. Stocking is at various densities depending on season and the demand. The maximum stocking density is 25kg/m3 allows maintenance of adequate dissolved oxygen levels as keeping to a minimum the amounts of waste products in the water. Paddlewheel and mushroom aerators keep up dissolved oxygen levels during the warmer seasons. “We used to increase water flow to boost aeration but with drought conditions and water restrictions we need to be responsible with our water usage,” Steve says. “Also

the increase of water flow can increase the amount of energy the fish use in swimming, thus having a negative impact on growth.” The ponds are similar in shape to raceways, so the narrow sides not only ensure that fish are easy to catch but also provides the ponds with good water flow and few ‘dead spots’. All ponds are hand fed to reduce the amount of wasted feed. “We have switched diets to a fully extruded diet which, although is more expensive, is also of better quality; the fish respond better to it. We are getting about a 1:1 food conversion ratio on this Skretting diet. By hand feeding we can reduce the amount of waste and ensure that the fish are all getting fed. Also we can see how the fish are responding at feeding times. It’s usually a good indicator of any problems and can signify either good or poor water quality.” As well as ponds the farm also has three lakes used for fly fishing. A new lake under construction is expected to cover 1.8ha of land and has been specifically designed for fly fishing; it will be stocked with trophy fish for catch and release. According to Steve the lakes are very popular among many fishing clubs that find the farm challenging yet conveniently located. Being bordered by natural bushland – that adds to the tranquil atmosphere – the lakes are partially shaded (and therefore kept cooler) in the summer months. Farm stocking As well as providing the farm with all its own stock the Australian Rainbow Trout Farm also sells small fish approx 100g for stocking both dams and pools. “We probably sell over 5,000 fish a year for stocking dams and pools. People are now starting to stock with larger sized fish (>400g) to reduce losses from predation.” Not only do they sell the fish for stocking but the Malseeds are also more than willing to help out with answering any questions on how to do so. Their web site www.fishfarm.com.au provides some basic information about how to stock ponds and pools with rainbow trout, a quick guide for people who may be embarrassed about asking simple questions. Also on the web site is a list of trout

recipes and a map with detailed directions to make finding the farm easy. No wonder that the Australian Rainbow Trout Farm is so popular for both tourists and locals. “Probably one in four visitors has seen our site on the internet and that was how they decided to visit,” Steve reckons. One of the farm’s biggest markets is those ethnic communities that enjoy getting fresh fish straight from the pond onto a plate. The cost to enter the farm is very reasonable $5 per adult – which includes access to the farm, use of the facilities, rods and bait, assistance with catching the fish if required and cleaning your catch. Open everyday except for Christmas Day it has the happy knack of luring back of thousands of happy customers. And as every business owner knows, repeat custom is at the heart of most successful operations. By Andrina Fay with Dos O’Sullivan For more information contact Steve Malseed, Australian Rainbow Trout Farm, 26 Mulhalls Rd, Macclesfield, Vic 3782. Tel/fax: 03 5968-4711, email: troutfarm@dodo.com.au.

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To allow inter-farm comparisons, each AAM farm profile details a number of system performance indicators. Except for the comments under ‘Key Management Decisions’ which are prepared by Dos, the information has been supplied by the farmer: Key Management Decisions include: • Location close to Melbourne for easy access. • Pond design to assist easy capture of fish as well as provide good hydrological properties to ensure there are no dead spots with poor water circulation. • Inexpensive all-in entry price to attract customers, particularly Asians who want to be able to catch fresh fish. • Growth rate (from stocking to market): not applicable for a fishout operation, however to produce a fish around 500g takes 12-14 months from hatch. • Survival rate: 98% from first stocking to stocking size (Xg) • Av. stocking density: <15-20 kg/m3 • Production rate: not applicable for a fishout operation, however approximately 20-25 tonne are produced each year • Water use: 1,600 ML per year • FCR: 1:1 • Entry price: $5 per adult

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Contact: Wedeco AVP Pty Ltd, 7/88 Magowar Rd, Girraween, NSW 2145. Ph: (02) 9631 4455 fax: (02) 9631 4466 www.wedeco.com.au sales@wedeco.com.au

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P E R F O R M A N C E I N D I C AT O R S

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FRDC appoints new Executive Director to the helm Dr Patrick Hone has been appointed by the Board of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) as its new Executive Director to replace Peter Dundas-Smith. Dr Hone will assume his new role from the 25 December 2004. In announcing the move, FRDC Chairman Denis Byrne said: “Dr Hone’s wide experience with fisheries research and development and his broad support from industry leaders would ensure a smooth transition in FRDC’s business”. “It is important that FRDC maintain the processes that ensure the highest levels of corporate governance, while ensuring the FRDC is positioned to

respond to new challenges and opportunities within the fishing industry. “Dr Hone’s appointment comes at a time when the FRDC Board is developing its next 5 year plan for R&D.” Mr Byrne paid tribute to Mr DundasSmith’s strong leadership role in bringing together the many diverse interests in the fishing industry — the commercial wild-catch and aquaculture sectors, with $2.5 billion of annual production; the recreational sector, involving 3.5 million Australians; and the important customary sector for indigenous Australians. Dr Hone says he is looking forward to the addressing the challenges facing

the fishing industry, ensuring opportunities for all sectors are realised and to continuing to build on the FRDC’s excellent reputation. Dr Hone has extensive experience in all aspects of fisheries R&D. In the 90’s he was a key player in the significant R&D activities that have resulted in the growth of some of Australia’s most significant new industries – including the southern bluefin tuna, Pacific oyster and abalone aquaculture. For the last seven years Dr Hone has become well known throughout Australia for his work at FRDC as the programs manager.

Australian abalone growers form united marketing force In a first for Australian aquaculture, five of the largest abalone farms in Australia have joined forces to form an export marketing company called Ausab Pty Ltd. Australia's wild abalone fisheries are managed very well, however populations of the mollusc in wild fisheries environments have declined rapidly in many countries. The slowly growing delicacy is a perfect candidate for Australia's emerging aquaculture industry. Chairman of Ausab, Mr Geoff Penfold, expects the company to account for more than 70 per cent of Australia's farmed abalone. “Across the globe, there is no doubt that abalone stocks are declining in the wild. With the rise in human populations and increased awareness of the benefits of eating seafood, the demand will only intensify,” Mr Penfold says.

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“Aquaculture presents an opportunity to fill the shortages we're bound to face in the future. Not only will we be supplying a highly sought after product, but it will attract a premium price because our abalone is some of the best in the world.” Ausab plans to market in excess of 250 tonnes of abalone during 2005 and predicts it will be exporting 1000 tonnes – valued at approximately $50 million – by 2009. To achieve this, Ausab has appointed a marketing consultant – Yaosan International – which has an extensive network of customers throughout major abalone markets in Asia. “A single shop front for customers is definitely a key objective of ours,” says Yaosan principal, Craig Kelly. “Australian farmed abalone products will continue to be in high demand and buyers in key markets have shown strong interest

in Ausab. Ausab is a vehicle that offers continuity of quality and supply.” Ausab's product range includes frozen, canned and live greenlip, hybrid and blacklip abalone of various size ranges up to 110mm. The product is subjected to stringent quality control. The abalone has great flesh colour, taste and general appearance. Chefs throughout the key markets are taking to the products with great enthusiasm. The Australian Abalone Growers Association's Chair, Mr Shane McLinden, fully supports the Ausab initiative. “The formation of Ausab is a major step forward for Australian abalone farmers and will further cement Australia's position as a substantial player in the global abalone supply chain. As farmers start to produce meaningful amounts we are encouraging them to join the Ausab group,” he says.

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NEWS

Skretting to sponsor Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network NACA has announced a new sponsorship of the Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network by Skretting, Nutreco’s global aquafeed division. This inaugural commercial sponsorship will support the further expansion of the communications and training programs of the network. In announcing this initiative, Mr Pedro Bueno, Director General of NACA, said: “We welcome this new partnership with Skretting, which brings together a major commercial fish feed supplier to collaborate with NACA in the development of this important and increasingly active marine finfish network. Skretting’s support will be targeted towards extending outcomes of research, including some of the ongoing work sponsored by ACIAR, to a much wider range of industry users and building capacity of industry to adopt new techniques and farming practices”. “We are delighted to join this initiative”, continued Craig Foster, Managing Director of Skretting’s Australasian operations. “The valuable extension work in transferring knowledge and skills will help ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture in our region”. The cooperation will support development of the marine finfish aquaculture web site and the regular marine fish newsletters and magazines plus provide annual sponsorship of two people from developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to attend a grouper hatchery training course. The hatchery training course has been an outstanding success in transferring grouper hatchery technology to various countries in the region, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia, reducing the current reliance on wild-caught fingerlings for aquaculture in the region. Skretting’s support for trainees from developing countries in the region will also con-

tribute to poverty alleviation and improvements in living conditions of people in coastal communities – a core objective of the NACA organization – by helping farmers develop skills in finfish aquaculture, an important economic activity in many coastal regions throughout Asia. Mr Bueno said the sponsorship was particularly significant given its commercial source. ”Government agency sponsorship (by APEC and ACIAR) allowed the development of the network,” he noted, “but NACA recognizes that for such networks to be sustainable in the longer term, they must move away from government funding and become self-supporting. “It is also vital that the benefits of the research investment lead to positive industry developments. NACA is grateful to Skretting for their vision and support, and we hope that other industry partners will follow suit and join this important regional partnership.” The Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network was established by NACA, with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), to fos-

ter the development of sustainable marine finfish aquaculture in the AsiaPacific region. The network currently brings together researchers and industry from over 20 countries in Asia and the Pacific, to coordinate R&D on marine fish farming, it promotes research partnerships among researchers and industry, facilitates communication and information exchange through a dedicated web site, newsletters and workshops, and organizes regular training and technical exchanges to build capacity among industry and governments in marine finfish farming in the region. Marine finfish aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region is currently valued at over US$3 billion per annum and with demand for marine fish growing year by year, the work of the network has becoming increasingly significant as countries seek alternatives to overfished wild stocks, and development of sustainable marine fish farming technologies and practices Further details on NACA, and the work of the Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network, including ongoing research activities, can be found at www.enaca.org/marinefish

FIBREGLASS AQUACULTURE TANKS * Fish transporters * Larval Rearing * Spawning * Parabolic * Brine Shrimp * Settling and Storage For further information and a brochure, contact:

SUPERIOR FIBREGLASS GPO Box 7841, Cairns QLD 4870 Phone: (07) 4035 1884 Mobile: 0409 794 326 Fax: (07) 4035 5755 A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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Fig 1. Final stage phyllosoma larva of southern rock lobster shortly before metamorphosis to a puerulus. This transparent animal is approximately one year old since egg hatch and 38mm long from between the eyes to the tip of the tail.

Hatchery production of southern rock lobster in Tasmania Scientists at the University of Tasmania have recently produced Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first hatchery-reared rock lobsters from eggs, an important achievement in the move towards sustainable farming of lobsters. In the laboratories of the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI), the delicate phyllosoma larvae of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) were grown through the 11 stages of development that normally occur in the open ocean. One of the most impressive features of the phyllosoma is the flattened shape that they maintain for the entire larval phase. The final stage larvae (Figure 1)

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attain a total length of around 40 mm prior to metamorphosing over a 15minute period into a tiny, colourless, deep bodied puerulus (Figure 2). This is a transitional stage between the planktonic phyllosoma and the benthic juvenile. Over a three week period they gain colour before moulting to the juvenile stage. Lobsters are Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important fisheries, worth more than $450 million Australia-wide, and in Tasmania have an estimated annual value of about $50 million. These fisheries, like most around the world, are fully exploited with little opportunity for

expansion. This has led to a growing worldwide interest in the farming of lobsters, to increase production and to exploit new and lucrative market opportunities. Lobsters have several attributes that make them suitable for aquaculture. They are highly sought after and achieve a premium price in the market. Juveniles are hardy, suffering few diseases in captivity, and tolerate relatively high stocking densities whilst exhibiting little aggression or cannibalism. Whereas the current Tasmanian legal size for lobsters is around 600 grams, markets exist in Asia and elsewhere for

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smaller 200-300 g animals. Cultured lobsters appear well suited to these markets and the southern species grows to the required size in around 30 months. Early attempts to develop aquaculture of southern rock lobster in Tasmania started in 1997 with special initiative funding from the State Government. Later, TAFI was selected by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) to lead the national project on lobster propagation, with funding from its Rock Lobster Enhancement and Aquaculture Subprogram. Initial efforts were concentrated on the capture of lobster pueruli and juveniles from the wild and their grow-out for farming in land-based tanks. However, it quickly became apparent that while lobsters survived and grew well in captivity, large-scale aquaculture could not rely on exploiting the wild resource because supply was highly variable from year to year and the larvae were very difficult to capture in sufficiently large numbers. To ensure a sustainable lobster farming sector, seedstock needed to be produced in the hatchery. The long-term goal of commercially producing hatchery-reared pueruli may also provide an opportunity to enhance the wild fishery. Egg-bearing females collected from the wild, as well as animals held out-ofseason using light and temperature manipulations, are used to produce a ready supply of newly hatched phyllosoma larvae. Prior to hatch, females are isolated into hatching containers supplied with flow-through seawater. Females hatch their eggs at dawn on 4-7 consecutive days producing a total of more than 100,000 phyllosoma larvae. Larvae are removed from the hatch containers and assessed for larval competency using a unique stress test developed at TAFI. Only phyllosoma of high quality are chosen for culture. A number of systems have been investigated for phyllosoma culture including upwellers and kreisels (cylindrical tanks) but, at present, the most appropriate is a circular basin. All culturing is conducted using treated flow-through water. The larval rearing program funded by

FRDC is well ahead of schedule. We attribute this to a better understanding and control of larval health. Minimising bacterial diseases has been crucial to our success and has significant applications for the intensive hatchery rearing of other crustaceans and aquaculture in general. Over the past 12 months, we have adopted a monitoring program to identify potential sources of pathenogenic bacteria, particularly Vibrio species, in our culturing systems. The result of this has been a focused approach in dealing with phyllosoma health issues. By far the greatest source of bacterial load in larval rearing stems from the use of Artemia as live food. To circumvent the issue of bacterial contamination, we developed a protocol for disinfecting Artemia prior to their introduction into the phyllosoma culture systems. As well, we minimized the proliferation of disease by ozonating the water to oxodize and destroy pathogens. Significantly, the hatchery larval period was only 12 months and we are expecting to further reduce this in future with improvements in husbandry, nutrition and system design. In addition, our colleagues at the Australian Institute of Marine Science are examining the possibility of shortening the larval period through a better understanding of the moult cycle and the hormones that

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control it. Our previous studies showed that lobster juveniles grow well in the laboratory on diets such as fresh mussel, commercial prawn pellet and other alternatives. This work focussed on growth rate, feeding efficiency, survival and pigmentation. Rapid growth rates were achieved when animals were fed mussels, provided with brick shelters and floor substrates, and maintained at 18째C. Survival rates were very good. Nearly all mortalities occurring at moult were due to cannibalism as animals were vulnerable in the soft shell stage immediately after the moult. Lobsters also grew 15% faster at 18째C compared to ambient (mean 16째C). However, prawn pellets and the experimental moist diet showed promise for further development, which would reduce the cost of farming lobsters. This research will be invaluable for growout of lobsters when large numbers of pueruli can be produced in the hatchery. By Arthur Ritar and Greg Smith For further information, contact Dr Arthur Ritar, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Marine Research Laboratories, University of Tasmania on Arthur.Ritar@utas.edu.au.

Fig 2. The recently metamorphosed puerulus. It does not feed initially and is colourless but gradually develops coloration before it moults to a post-puerulus. It is then distinctly red, typical of the juvenile and adult lobsters.

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Paving the way for a viable inland saline aquaculture industry Austasia Aquaculture last year (Volume 17/4, p 36-44) reported on the work of of researchers in Western Australia – the Inland Saline Aquaculture Applied Research Group (ISAARG) – drawn from the Aquaculture Development Unit (ADU) at Challenger TAFE, C.Y. O’Connor College of TAFE and Murdoch University. At that time a key research objective was to develop a fish culture technology appropriate for 44

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inland saline areas enabling cost-effective commercial production in a sustainable manner. Since that time the group has developed a system offering significant improvements and advantages over currently available technology. The Semi-Intensive Floating Tank System (SIFTS) has been patented by McRobert Aquaculture Systems and the ADU. SIFTS units now being constructed

comprise an impervious reinforced liner – which forms a ‘suspended tank’ – fixed to a rotationally moulded module (Figure 1). These modules provide buoyancy to the structure as well as a working platform around the tank. The units can be floated within either existing or purpose built water bodies and are thus ideal for many natural and man-made water bodies, including irrigation dams and mine voids. Enclo-

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Figure 1: Rotationally moulded SIFTS units.

sures over each SIFTS provide shade and eliminate predation from above, whilst the liner eliminates predator access from below the waterline. Large volumes of water are pumped through the SIFTS using highly efficient airwater-lifts, allowing very high stocking densities of fish to be cultured without the need for pure oxygen. In a recent interview on ABC’s Stateline television program, ADU Manager Greg Jenkins labelled the breakthrough as “revolutionary”. “Assuming that the rest of our research goes well, then it really is going to be a fantastic result for aquaculture, not only in the Wheatbelt, but elsewhere,” he said. CEO of Fisheries WA, Peter Rodgers, agrees. In a recent letter of support to the ISAARG group he wrote: “Innovative home grown systems such as SIFTS that provide environmental and economic benefits, as indicated by early testing, are clearly aquaculture technologies that this State would be pleased to see develop”. Background Australia has a legacy of extensive land clearing, with the resultant rising saline groundwater now the biggest

environmental problem in Australia. Over 2.5 million hectares of land are currently affected and within the next 30-40 years this area will grow more than fourfold. Aquaculture is seen as an opportunity to deliver benefits to rural economies through employment and farm diversification (Doupé, et al, 2003) and these regional areas have many positive attriubutes for an aquaculture industry including cheap land with few competing interests, good infrastructure such as roads, power and farmers experienced in agribusiness. Aquaculture is not new in WA’s Wheatbelt. Farmers have been growing small quantities of fish, yabbies and marron for many years. Yields of fish from these areas have, however, been low and the industry is considered a hobby or cottage activity. With the biological feasibility of culturing estuarine species in these water sources proven

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by researchers from a number of states, it was the opinion of the ISAARG that the major constraint to a commercially viable industry was appropriate culture technology. The National Research and Development Plan for Inland Saline Aquaculture (Allan et al 2002) shares that view and has outlined a strategy to identify constraints to commercial development and methods of overcoming these. Currently the most common method of growing fish in inland water bodies is in open ponds, either free-range or in cages. While ponds take advantage of the rural land resources they have many disadvantages. Free-range fish are difficult to observe, monitor and manage – for example it is difficult to assess their feed intake, health and growth. Harvesting fish from such a wide area is also a challenge; typically the pond needs to be drained (a process

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without oxygen at all, fish die. Maintaining fish in cages within the pond overcomes the problem of controlling the stock but the yield is still limited by the resulting eutrophication of the water body. Land-based recirculation technology, on the other hand, overcomes all of the above problems of pond culture but at considerable infrastructure and operating cost. Such costs reduce potential profit and markedly increases the time to investment return.

Figure 2: TAFE researchers Gavin Partridge and Dr Gavin Sarre inspecting the 1 m3 prototype SIFT floating in a 10 m3 tank.

taking many hours) or a large net dragged through the water. And predation by birds and water rats is highly problematic. But ultimately the greatest disadvantage is eutrophication of via nutrients the from uneaten feed and fish waste. Such eutrophication typically limits pond yields to 1-5 tonnes/hectare – particularly for marine fish and when water exchange rate through the pond is low, as is typically the case in inland saline aquaculture ponds. Farmers who maintain pond water

quality by ‘flow-through’ of new water attest to increasingly strident demands from regulators to restrict (and in many cases prevent) nutrient discharge into the environment. Nutrient build-up limits pond yields by encouraging blooms of micro algae. As nutrient levels grow, so too does the strength of the bloom. The bigger the bloom, the bigger the extent to which oxygen can be stripped from the water at night – and when the bloom ultimately collapses as well. Low oxygen levels stress fish. And

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Development of an appropriate technology With the need for a better culture technology in mind, members from the ISAARG received funding from AusIndustry to travel to the US to investigate different technologies. On their return, TAFE researchers Gavin Partridge and Bruce Ginbey got together with aquaculture inventor, Ian McRobert from MAS. Gavin said: “Whilst we got some good ideas from the US, none of the systems had an effective means of reducing nutrient input into the water,” Gavin explains. “We therefore used the knowledge we’ve gained from building RAS with Ian over the last few years and put together a floating tank that is highly efficient at removing solid waste.” A small-scale prototype – a 1 m3 SIFTS floated within a 10 m3 tank (acting as the larger water body) – built at the ADU (Figure 2) achieved some very exciting results. Both snapper and mulloway were grown successfully up to densities of 80 kg/m3 without pure oxygen and with highly efficient solids removal. Based on this success the State Government’s Science and Technology Innovation Fund provided seed funding to test this new technology on a semi-commercial scale at a property in Northam (approximately 100 kilometres east of Perth). The test used existing land-based fibreglass tanks that were attached to a floating structure within an existing 0.2 ha pond (Figure 3). The Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Fisheries Research

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and Development Corporation and the National Aquaculture Council has also provided funding to the group to enable the Springfield Waters Aquaculture site in Northam to be a recognised Demonstration Farm for Inland Saline Aquaculture, the only such farm in Western Australia. The Honourable Kim Chance, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, recently officially opened the Demonstration Farm and said of the SIFTS technology: ”Environmental sustainability is becoming the paramount issue for the rapidly expanding aquaculture industry and technologies that allow increased production capability with minimum waste are in high demand. The SIFTS is one such technology” Previous attempts have been made to use floating tanks to improve the man-

ageability of fish in pond culture. However these floating tanks have always been rectangular raceways and the water hydrodynamics created by the plug-flow in such tanks makes efficient solids removal very difficult (see Yoo et al., 1995). The design of the SIFTS overcomes these problems and allows 90% of solids to be removed from the water column within minutes. The highly efficient and patented waste

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extraction system relies on the water hydrodynamics created by the round tanks and vertical inlet manifolds together with the McRobert’s central drain and air-driven sludge remover. The thick sludge collected can be processed downstream for use such as plant fertilisers, methane generation and/or anaerobic digestion – processes currently under investigation by the ISAARG. 3a

Figure 3a: The SIFTS technology was tested in a pond at a Northam farm using fibreglass tanks attached to a floating structure. Figure 3b: SIFTS researchers showing the Hon. Kim Chance MLC (centre) and Mr Peter Mahler, C.Y O’Connor CEO (left) the semi-commercial scale SIFTS at the WA Demonstration farm in Northam. 3b

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Figure 4: Partial and full inflation of the SIFTS liners facilitate cleaning and harvesting activities.

As with all MAS systems the liner in each SIFTS is invertible (Figure 4) and uses the same low-pressure air pump that operates the rest of the system. This liner inversion system significantly simplifies harvesting, stock transfer and tank cleaning operations. A computer based monitoring system has been installed at the Northam site and tested. This unit continuously monitors and logs water quality parameters within each SIFTS tank and in

the main production pond. Should any parameter fall below a specified level during the production run an alarm sounds and the computer contacts the necessary personnel via mobile phone. A backup oxygen system activates in the event of a power failure to maintain dissolved oxygen levels in each tank. Bumper crop In June 2004, the SIFTS module was stocked with trout (85 g) and mul-

Figure 5: Growth performance of saltwater trout in duplicate SIFTS.

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loway (100 g) – two tanks each – and the first harvest of one tonne of saltwater trout undertaken in the last week of September 2004. The fish were marketed locally at a farm-gate price of $10/kg and were extremely well received. Over the 14 week growout period, the trout grew to an average weight of 695 grams and a stocking density in each SIFTS of 47 kg/m3 (Figure 5). “The trout had to be harvested at this density not because of limitations in water quality but due to increasing water temperatures,” As Dr Gavin Sarre explains. “At 47kg/m3 the SIFTS is economically viable with a cost of production for the trout estimated at $4.30/kg including labour.” This exceptionally good growth performance of the saltwater trout is a direct result of the ability of the SIFTS to provide optimal growout conditions whilst maintaining pond water quality through its waste capture technology. As the data in Figure 6 shows, the SIFTS are highly effective in maintaining dissolved oxygen in the optimum range of 4 to 8 mg/L, despite pond oxygen levels ranging from lethal levels of 1 mg/L to supersaturated levels of 16 mg/L. The mulloway survived the low winter temperatures, however, did not begin to grow until water temperature had increased to 20°C in October. In early November, the two tanks used to culture the trout were stocked with 1200 x 50 gram barramundi. With the water temperature now over 26°C, these fish have already increased in weight by over 100% in 6 weeks. It is anticipated that approximately 1.6

Figure 6: Fluctuations in dissolved oxygen concentration over a 24 hour period in SIFTS and the open pond in which the SIFTS float.

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Figure 7: New commercial SIFTS units recently installed in a viticulture irrigation dam in Mildura, Victoria as part of the Our Rural Landscapes project.

tonnes of barramundi and 1.4 tonnes of mulloway will be ready for harvest in March-April. If this target is achieved this will equate to a production of 20 tonnes/ha from a static water body. With the whole operation running on one single-phase blower consuming 3.6 amps, this represents a power consumption of 5 hp/ha, significantly less than other semi-intensive pond based systems. Unlike paddlewheel-aerated ponds, the system has no moving parts within the water body, significantly reducing mechanical maintenance. TAFEWA personnel presented the results of the SIFTS trial to research colleagues and industry at the Australasian Aquaculture Conference in Sydney in the last week of September 2004. The SIFTS technology has impressed to the point that the Victorian Department of Fisheries has purchased a four tank system for their ongoing aquaculture research programs with Murray cod.

SIFTS Trials in Victoria The Victorian SIFTS application is part of a major new project – entitled Our Rural Landscapes – of which a key sub-project is developing, evaluating and demonstrating multiple water use applications. The sub-project is trialing a range of IAAS species and production technologies in large private freshwater irrigation storages in the Sunraysia region (north-western Victoria) prior to the water’s use on crops of grapes, melons and vegetables. The project will determine technical, environmental and economic performance criteria at each of three commercial farm demonstration sites, one of which is home to the SIFTS (Figure 7). The project commenced in December 2004 and the first trials involving growout of advanced stocker Murray cod have just commenced. The project is due for completion in June 2007, but prior to this date it is expected that preliminary findings will be released to industry as part of planned field days at

the demonstration farms. Early indications are that the SIFTS application in these irrigation storage dams is likely to be very effective and efficient; a number of new innovations have already been incorporated by Ian McRoberts and his team to customise the facility for specific application in Victoria. The PIRVic team is also collaborating with the WA researchers to ensure a good exchange of information to underpin the validation of performance data for the SIFTS.

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References Allan, G. L, Dignam, A., and Fielder, S. (2002). Developing commercial inland saline aquaculture in Australia: Part 1. National R&D plan. FRDC Project No. 98/335, NSW Fisheries Final Report Series No. 30, Canberra. Yoo, K.H., Masser, M.P., Hawcroft, B.A., 1995. An in-pond raceway system incorporating removal of fish wastes. Aquacultural Engineering 14, 175-187. Doupe, R., Lymbery, A., Sarre, G., Jenkins, G., Partridge, G., George, R., 2003. The National Research and Development Plan for Commercial Inland Saline Aquaculture: A view from afar. Natural Resource Management 6, 31-34.

Summary Environmental sustainability is becoming the paramount issue for the rapidly expanding aquaculture industry. Technologies that allow increased production capability with minimum waste are in high demand. In Australia, increasing government restrictions on waste output from farms will stifle the rapid growth of the aquaculture industry unless such technologies become available. The industry needs to keep reminding the researchers and aquaculture supply companies in Australia of the mantra:

increased production; lower operating costs; minimal waste output. Otherwise it will be very difficult to maintain the rapid expansion of recent years. The SIFTS technology effectively addresses all three key points at much lower capital and operating cost compared to intensive tank culture. It significantly increases production from 5 to 20 tonnes/ha/yr (in static water bodies) and reduces waste output. Although very promising results have been obtained so far, research is ongoing to ensure such results are readily transferable to commercial operations.

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By Gavin Partridge and Dr Gavin Sarre For information on SIFTS related research please contact: Gavin Partridge, Research Biologist, Aquaculture Development Unit, Challenger TAFE, 1 Fleet Street, Fremantle, WA. Ph: (08) 9239 8032; Email: gavin.partridge@challengertafe.wa.edu.au Dr Gavin Sarre, R&D Manager, C.Y O’Connor College of TAFE, 1 Hutt St, Northam, WA. Ph: (08) 96226702; Email: sarreg@northam.training.wa.gov.au

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the fibre nets in low visibility waters. With MarineMesh®, this is no longer an issue for MarineHarvest. MarineMesh® nets are also protecting Atlantic Salmon farms in Tasmania from Australian and New Zealand fur seals. Van Diemen Aquaculture (VDA) has operated MarineMesh® nets since April 2003, and is observing increased fish growth rates. This, they believe, is largely due to the fact that the fish in MarineMesh® nets are no longer stressed by the presence of seals around the farm. And whilst seals have been attacking salmon farms for over a decade, it is only in the last few years that some seals have been harassing divers around salmon pens. This behaviour at VDA has now stopped since the introduction of the MarineMesh® nets. Another feature of the MarineMesh®

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Get the news by email AS IT HAPPENS. Simply sign up for your fortnightly FisheNews by sending an email to Megan at: Austasia Aquaculture@ netspace.net.au

ABALONE ABALONE SHIP RETURNS FOLLOWING REFIT The Destiny Abalone Group's floating abalone farm, the 6,500 tonne 'Destiny Queen' has just received a $6 million refit in China and is to deliver a doubled annual export sales return of $6.5 million. The ship will return to SA waters in December and will produce 200 tonnes annually, taking advantage of the extensive refit work to boost production. The ship is the only farming system of its type in the world. Abalone will be sourced from farms in Louth Bay and the ship's technology will halve the conventional three to fouryear growing time for adult abalone. 'Destiny Queen' anchors at different cold-water locations for up to two weeks at a time within a government-licensed operating zone in Spencer Gulf. The vessel's systems allow much greater control over water temperatures and quality, feed and stocking rates and the power supply. Source: Nigel Austin and Bryan Littlely in the Adelaide Advertiser (27/11/2004); Daily Telegraph (27/11/2004).

A WEST AUSTRALIAN ABALONE INVESTMENT West Australian Abalone based in Bremer Bay is looking for WA investors who can provide $3.5 million allowing the business to expand to commercially sustainable levels. Interestingly the business has three years worth of stock and will make its first harvest in 2006 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 tonnes valued at $900,000. The company would like to increase capacity to 50 tonnes by 2008, meeting the scale required to succeed and sustain in the export business. Information is that as much as 52 per cent of the company is on offer. A comparison has been made with the wildstock fishery, for which a licence to harvest 20 tonnes costs $7 million. It costs only $9 million to operate a 200 tonne-capacity farm. In approaching investors while moving towards a harvest in 2006, WA Abalone has removed a considerable barrier, since most investors regard long-term waits for return following start-ups as too high a risk. This is a strong impediment in aquaculture. Source: Mark Pownall in Business News (18/11/2004).

MORE ABALONE ON THE WAY Over the next year it's expected Australia's abalone production will almost double as demand for the product grows in Asia. One supplier is Adelaide-based Destiny Abalone Group, which plans to deliver 200 tonnes of the country's total production of 500 tonnes of cultured abalone. Destiny's floating farm ship, the Destiny Queen, has just undergone an extensive refit allowing greater production. Source: Adelaide Advertiser (1/12/2004). 54

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ANGER OVER 'DESTINY QUEEN' CREWING News that the floating abalone farm 'Destiny Queen' is to be crewed by predominantly foreign workers when operating off Port Lincoln has angered the Maritime Union of Australia. However the ship operators claim the mostly foreign crew is highly skilled and well paid, and also suggest that the pay and working conditions demanded by the union are unreasonable. Plans are the ship will have five Australians in key positions, with twenty foreign workers. Negotiations between Destiny Abalone and the union over pay and conditions had broken down earlier, with a dispute over whether crew should work under state or federal awards. There are claims the ship's owners were 'upset' by the condition of the ship during its refit at Shanghai and had decided to replace the Australian crew with what they believed were better-qualified workers. Claims are the foreign crew will have better pay and conditions than Australian workers because of their greater skill range. However the union insists the ship should be flying an Australian rather than a Hong Kong flag and be crewed by Australians since it's working in Australian waters. A Destiny Abalone spokesman says the foreign workers are operating under a 12-month contract and they stay on the ship for a year – Australian crew wished to come ashore each four weeks. Source: Stan Gorton in the Port Lincoln Times (16/12/2004).

BARRAMUNDI TOP END BARRA BOOMS In the last 12 months cultured barramundi production in the NT has increased 300 per cent, for the first time leading on wildcatch harvests. Some 710 tonnes were cultured, while 660 tonnes were taken in wildcatch. Source: Paul Dyer in the Northern Territory News (27/11/2004).

BARRAMUNDI RESTOCKING Some 24,000 barramundi fingerlings were released into the Mackenzie River recently at the Bedford Weir. Eighty students from the Blackwater State School – and some parents – assisted at the release, which was arranged by the Mackenzie River Restocking Association. The fish were produced at the Gladstone Water Board's hatchery. Source: Blackwater Herald (16/11/2004).

MARKETING AGREEMENT FOR AUSTRALIS Australis Aquaculture LTD, a live barramundi exporter, has signed an exclusive long-term marketing agreement with Interseas Fisheries Ltd, a major New Jersey-based seafood broker. The arrangement, advises Australis managing director Stuart Graham, gives the company immediate access to a very large and targeted customer base. Each seven weeks Australis ships live barramundi fingerlings to the US for growout in the company's facility. Source: Canberra Times (23/11/2004)

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MORE BARRA WORKERS FINED Two Innisfail men have been fined more than $32,000 for complicity in the slaughter of native birds at the Barramundi Waters fish farm in 2002 and 2003. They participated whilst employees on the farm. They were each fined $12,000 and ordered to pay half the Environment Protection Agency's costs – $4,000 each. They were two more of a number of people charged over the same issue. Earlier this year the company and a director were ordered to pay $285,000 in fines and research costs to find ways to sustainably manage the issue of birds on the farm. Source: Malcom Weatherup in the Townsville Bulletin (8/11/2004).

BUILDING ON BARRA Barramundi farmers have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) which will lead to a considerable extent of funding for research into husbandry improvements and better environmental management. Advising of the agreement, Craig Foster – president of the Australian Farmed Barramundi Association – noted that Australian barramundi will be even better consequent to the research. He observed that key priority for research and development funding was to ensure the Australian industry maintained its competitive edge. This lent to a combination of better understanding of the genetics of the fish and development of better on-farm environmental management systems. The outcome is to be research and development work for the barramundi industry valued at $3 million over the next five years, using funding matched dollar for dollar by the industry Association and FRDC. Source: Innisfail Advocate (30/12/2004).

BARRAMUNDI BLUE OPENED, & HATCHERY PLANNED The Barramundi Blue Aquaculture fish farm at Mount Cudmore was opened in December. The farm, owned by Geoff Orpin and Cynthia Taylor, is based on one of Australia's largest recirculation facilities, and estimates are it will produce up to a tonne of plate sized barramundi each week. There are four complete and separate systems, hatchery brood tanks, fingerling and growout tanks. Production in the 500 square metre facility is equivalent to that of a 20ha conventional pond system. 500,000 litres of water is recycled per hour with less than 2 per cent discharge to the environment per day – nutrients are used to grow chillies, lettuce, capsicums and tomatoes. Most of the system was designed inhouse. There are plans to add more high water level storage and additional growing tanks. Barramundi Blue has also established an offshoot company – Aussie Barrablue – to progress a venture for a $5 million barramundi hatchery at Lucinda. The operation would produce up to 20 million fingerlings annually, primarily for export to joint venture operations in South-East Asia and the American West Coast. There would be employment for 15 locals. It's intended work on the hatchery will begin in May 2005, with production commencing in early 2006. Opening the Mount Cudmore operation, Minister for Primary Industries Henry Palazczuk noted BarA U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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ramundi Blue was supported under the State Government's First Start Farm program to build a hatchery, training facility, high level water storage, purchase additional grow out tanks and extend the hydroponics vegetable production area. He added a further $52,000 has been provided through the Environment Protection Agency's Ecobiz program. Mr Palazczuk added that State Cabinet had approved development of the Integrated Development Assessment System intended to allow fisheries developers to get a single approval for their development, addressing all the major land use considerations. Source: Herbert River Express (11/12/2004); Tracey Bange in the Herbert River Express (11/12/2004).

F I S H H E A LT H $250,000 BIF GRANT FOR AQUACULTURE RESEARCH NSW company Special Phage Services has been awarded a Federal Government Biotechnology Innovation Fund grant of $250,000 to research the use of phages, initially in a bid to overcome the problem of bacteria outbreaks in the aquaculture industry. Phages are viruses which predate on bacteria – they've been used successfully in the former Soviet Union for more than 70 years, but were superseded in the West with the introduction of antibiotics. Source: Manly Daily (24/11/2004).

MARKETING TALKING ABOUT THE TRAIL The Limestone Coast Regional Development Board (LCRDB) commissioned an aquaculture tourism study in 2003, seeking to audit aquaculture tourism opportunities and pinpoint markets in the region. Recently LCRDB hosted a tour of the Eyre Peninsula Region over two days with five local aquaculture businesses. They included Penola Springs, Vistara, Robarra, the Coorong Fisherman and Eco Fish farm. The idea was to meet with operators involved in the seafood and aquaculture trail and discuss issues. There'll now be a strategic action plan developed by LCRDB to establish what's needed to progress development of the trail – and to encourage participation by other operators. Source: South Eastern Times (18/11/2004).

WA SEAFOOD WEBSITE ON THE WAY A WA marketing and information source for international seafood buyers will soon be available. Seafood companies participating in the website will be able to respond to requests from potential buyers and offer quotes on WA products. The concept emerged from feedback from a 2001 Asian seafood buyer's survey in which many buyers advised they didn't know what WA had to offer. While the website – www.waseafood.net – is online now, it won't be marketed to overseas buyers until January or February. Currently, seafood companies are being encouraged to register online. Source: Geraldton Guardian (17/12/2004). 56

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MUSSELS MUSSEL FARMERS OPT OUT See the story ‘Licenses renewed – but what does it mean?’ above for background information. Mussel farmers in the Portarlington area are selling out because, they claim, new government costs are destroying the region's emerging aquaculture industry. Six or more Portarlington farmers have placed their farms on the market and there are claims the charges have cut Victoria's productivity to only three per cent of the Australian mussel market. Steve Rodis, chairman of the Victorian Aquaculture Council, advises the Bellarine Peninsula had been one of the biggest mussel providers in the country. However licence and trade charges introduced by Fisheries Victoria and PrimeSafe, in conjunction with a poor season in 2003, have threatened the industry. He adds that pleas for help from government have been ignored. Peter and Tracy Bold are selling their mussel farm – one of the biggest in the Portarlington area – after 20 years because of increasing government charges. It's a similar story at other farms in the area. Mick Strinavic, a Victorian resident for more than 30 years and mussel farmer for seven years, intends moving to Queensland to take up aquaculture where he understands there are better prospects. Farmer Sheryl Raines, subjected to a 45 per cent increase in licence fees this year, asserts farmers are paying for a bureaucracy. Farmer Warrick McKenzie notes the government has all the encouragement it needs to support the industry, including the capacity to export through Avalon Airport, but simply doesn't want to listen. Source: Rebecca Tucker in the Geelong Advertiser (15/12/2004).

O T H E R C R U S TA C E A N S MUD CRAB FARM TO APPEAR FOLLOWING NEXT WET SEASON With the process of approvals almost complete, it's expected work on the Bowen Aquaculture Centre – a barramundi and mud crab farm at Yeates Creek – will commence at the end of the coming wet season. Development will take five years before the facility will be producing 880 tonnes of crabs and 560 tonnes of barramundi annually. First construction tasks include initial earthworks, basic roads, pondage and a security fence. Following a review of the product and markets, product capacity has been increased by one third, with most product to be exported. Predictions are 45 people will be employed after five years. Source: David Jackson in the Bowen Independent (5/11/2004).

SOFT CRABS FOR BUNDABERG A POSSIBILITY There's a possibility an aquaculture precinct may emerge at the Bundaberg Port, with another business examining options for taking advantage of the seawater pipeline the Port Authority has funded. Queensland Sea Scallops has already taken an option to use water from the pipeline, which should be completed by the end of January. Now the Port Authority is in

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negotiation with a company interested in soft shell crab production. A precinct development would create opportunities for hundreds of jobs in the area.

yellow belly, jade perch, golden perch, silver perch and bass. Markets are Australia-wide. Some 32,000 Hanwood fish go into the Bjelke-Petersen dam each year.

Source: News Mail (30/12/2004).

Source: Jayne Landsberg in Queensland Country Life (16/12/2004).

PETER AND BUZZ PIONEER AN INDUSTRY The two lobsters Peter and Buzz successfully hatched and grown entirely through 12 growth stages without the use of chemicals herald the development of a new aquaculture industry. While Japan is the only other country to grow lobsters through all the stages, the country's scientists found it necessary to use a broad spectrum antibiotic to hold back mortalities, making the animals unsuitable for human consumption. In Australian practice other, currently secret, practices have been used, based on water treatment with ozone to kill bacteria and viruses. Another breakthrough is that progression through the growth stages has taken only one year rather than the two required in the wild. This places the $3 million Fisheries Research and Development Project one year ahead of schedule. Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Institute researchers found that growth is enhanced by 15 per cent by keeping the lobsters in water temperatures two degrees higher the normal, at 18 degrees Celsius. The lobsters are fed on brine shrimp through all stages, with pieces of mussel, squid and prawns included as they get older. Expectations are development of the industry will not compete with the wildcatch fishery as farmed lobsters will be produced at a smaller size for a differing market. And, hatchery-produced juveniles could be used to replenish wildstocks diminished by fishing. The project is part of a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the State Government. Source: Kathy Grube in the Sunday Tasmanian (2/1/2005).

O T H E R F R E S H W AT E R F I S H MULLET ON THE MENU Lyddon Farm Aquaculture has become part of a group from Fremantle's Challenger TAFE in a bid to commercially breed sea mullet in fresh water. The fish can be used to help keep tanks used in aquaculture operations clean, and are also good to eat though this is not generally known. The Cornells, who operate Lyddon Farm, where marron and silver perch are grown, have been using sea mullet as cleaner fish for seven years. Source: Ainslie Chandler in the West Australian (8.12.2004).

YELLOW BELLY BREEDING AT MANILLA Some 50,000 yellow belly fry have been produced at the Manilla hatchery since December 4 and another set of tanks has been set. There are plans for another set early in the New Year leading towards a release of 100,000 fingerlings into dams. Source: Thommo in the Manilla Express (14/12/2004).

HANWOOD HATCHERY THE BIGGEST IN OZ Max and Deirdre Cluff and their son Craig operate the Hanwood fish hatchery at Murgon. It's the largest such operation in Australia, sending out 1.5 to 2 million fingerlings annually. Species include – but the list isn't complete – Murray Cod,

FISH FARMING FEATURES AT COMMUNITY FORUM The Condabilla Fish Farm has been the venue for a meeting of the Maranoa Balonne Catchment Management group, and interested industry and public stakeholders. Rob Bartley is the owner and manager of the farm and is the largest licence holder for native perch production in Australia. The 41ha farm produces Silver and Golden Perch, Murray Cod and Sea Mullet, employing six people. The Americandesigned partitioned aquaculture system (PAS) is built into the farm structure and integrated with ponded pasture systems. Source: Chinchilla News & Murilla Advertiser (16/12/2004).

TILAPIA RISK Scientist Peter Jackson of the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) advises surveyors working for DPI and James Cook University (JCU) recently located the noxious fish Tilapia in an isolated pool around 100m from the Keelbottom Creek Junction in the Burdekin River catchment. Presence of the fish could lead to an environmental disaster unless it is eliminated, and a regional consultative committee comprising community fish stocking groups, the Burdekin Dry Tropics Board, DPI and JCU has convened to establish a management plan for Tilapia in the Burdekin River. The species, which is a prolific breeder, could spread through the Burdekin catchment affecting all fisheries and costing millions in control measures. The fish has reddish fins, vertical stripes on the head and body, and a variable colour ranging from dark olive green to light yellow-green. It grows to 250300mm. People observing the fish are asked to contact DPI. Source: Daniel Bateman in the Northern Miner (17/12/2004).

STOCKING PROGRAMS UNDER WAY Using funding sourced from the stocked impoundment permit scheme, donations from local councils, competitions and clubs – as well as the Somerset and Wivenhoe Fish Stocking Association's Kirkleagh Klassic fishing competition, the Association has commenced its 2004-2005 series of fish releases. Some 21,500 Australian bass were introduced into Lake Wivenhoe in December. There are many releases of bass, golden perch or yellowbelly and silver perch planned in Lakes Wivenhoe and Somerset. A supply of Murray Cod is expected soon from the Gerry Cook Hatchery, to be placed in the Mary River. The Association also plans to release around 200 southern saratoga into a number of Brisbane Valley lakes. The Gambling Community Benefit Fund provided $18,162 which was used at the Yamanto hatchery to establish tanks, erect a shade complex and buy equipment. Another group, the Richmond Fish Stocking Association, was formed in November. The group's main aim is to stock Lake Fred Tritton with sportfishing species such as sooty grunter and barramundi. There are also plans to establish a hatchery for sooty grunters adjacent A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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to the Richmond Shire Council's aquaculture project. The council has donated $1000 to cover public liability and incorporation fees – however the Association will rely on fund-raising and donations to operate. Some funding will come from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, which has donated aquaculture equipment Source: Courier Mail (17/12/2004); David Lems in the Queensland Times (10/1/2005); Jessica Chad in the North West Star (10/1/2005).

MARY RIVER COD UNDER PRESSURE The Gerry Cook Fish Hatchery has been operating a captive breeding program since 1983, with thousands of cod fingerlings released into the Mary River system. It's recently been claimed the fish are being taken illegally from the river. The species is classified as critically endangered. Anglers found in possession of a Mary River Cod face a fine of up to $75,000. Another issue is that the Gerry Cook Fish Hatchery may run out of funds early in 2005 for a variety of reasons: Federal funding no longer being available; lack of local government funds; break-ins at the hatchery and higher operational costs. Source: Gympie Times (22/12/2004); Noosa Journal (16/12/2004).

$17,300 IN FUNDS FOR FISH-STOCKING GROUPS Under the State Government's Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' Recreational Freshwater Fishing Enhancement Program, four North Queensland groups have received funding: Charters Towers Dalrymple Fish Stocking Group – $2000; Burdekin Fish Stocking Association – $5500 for fingerlings and $2200 for the hatchery; Twin Cities Fish Stocking Society – $2100; Hinchinbrook Fish Care Group – $5500. Source: Townsville Bulletin (4/1/2005).

OTHER MARINE FISH

Fifty per cent of SAAM's domestic sales for the next financial year are pre-sold. Currently SAAM is securing a deal with Australian Hiramasa for supply into the American market, and there are also good signs following a recent export to Singapore. Southern Star Aquaculture, already with a strong domestic market, is also looking to export overseas with Australian Hiramasa. Fitzgerald Bay Yellowtail Kingfish is now served as an entree to first and business class passengers flying Singapore Airlines, while product was also served at the recent Danish Royal Wedding. Behind this is the knowledge of funding for the new boat harbour at Fitzgerald Bay, which will allow more industry development. Source: Whyalla News (8/11/2004); Jenna Baulderstone in the Whyalla News (8/11/2004).

POLITICIANS VISIT CLEANSEA HATCHERY Federal Fishing Minister Ian Macdonald and South Australian Senator and Finance Minister Nick Minchin recently accepted an invitation from the Stehr Group's Hagen Stehr to visit the company's Cleanseas hatchery at Arno Bay. Mr Macdonald was impressed by his visit, which came as part of a linkup with tuna industry identities to discuss issues surrounding tuna stocks. These included declining world wildstocks, research into breeding tuna – a thrust not supported by some industry sectors – and large foreign trawlers taking baitfish in the Great Australian Bight. Source: Port Lincoln Times (11/11/2004).

SEAHORSE AUSTRALIA EXPORTS Marketed as Asian Emperors and Chargers, two species of seahorse produced by Beauty Point seahorse breeders Seahorse Australia are now being exported and individually expected to realise $50 and $100 on the international ornamental fish market. Demand for farm-raised seahorses has increased with the imposition of restrictions on trade in wild seahorses. Source: Burnie Advocate (2/11/2004).

POTENTIAL FOR SEA URCHIN FARMING Macquarie University marine biologist Jane Williamson is researching the potential for farming sea-urchins. If viable, the industry could be worth multiple millions of dollars for Australia, perhaps financially second only to tuna farming in SA. Over-harvesting of sea urchin wildstock has resulted in a global decline. Dr Williamson has been growing sea urchins for two months, feeding different diets to determine which produces the biggest and tastiest roe in the creatures. In December a Japanese specialist will evaluate the sea urchins to, if possible, define the best growing technique. The next stage of the project will be to develop a pilot farm. Top quality roe sells for a much as $450/kilo in Japan. Source: Richard Macey in the Sydney Morning Herald (9/11/2004).

SAAM AND SOUTHERN STAR AQUACULTURE KICK ON South Australia Aquaculture Management (SAAM) has increased sales by 15 per cent in the last financial year, and demand is exceeding the supply of kingfish. SAAM recently allied with Tassal, Australia's largest salmon-growing agency, and now SAAM's domestic sales are entirely managed by Tassal. 58

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ESPERANCE TUNA FARMING M. G. Kailis is expecting to commence tuna farming at Esperance in a year, despite the controversy such proposed farming elicited some six years ago. At the time there were claims the industry was highly polluting and a danger to tourism. Currently it's said opposition has moderated. Details of the proposal are to be presented at a public meeting on November 22, with information available based on trials over the past year of an empty cage near Remark Island. A year ago Esperance Shire Councillors unanimously supported tuna farming as long as it was based on world's best practice. However the local Environment Action Forum and the Esperance Community College (ECC) recently hosted a field course entitled 'Riches of the Recherche: Discovering Island Ecology'. ECC coordinator Chub Witham explains the purpose was to raise awareness of island ecology, and to be a data collection exercise. Three scientists and 26 volunteers participated. Seabird/island biologist Nic Dunlop claims the Shire is pro-tuna and doesn't want anyone to know what's on the islands – nor will the Shire fund any work. Shire Chief Executive Mike Archer

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advises the initial request for funds was not met because people from outside were going to conduct research, and there's no money available for such projects – what is available is for community projects up to $500. Esperance Shire staff recently removed graffiti attacking the tuna farming industry from close to and on parts of the roundabout at the bay end of Andrew Street. The words 'tuna farms equal sharks' were obliterated. The graffiti also appeared on the foreshore path in front of the Bay of Isles Motel and Ocean Blue Restaurant. Source: Michael Zekulich in the West Australian (11/11/2004); Esperance Express (11/11/2004).

EXPERIMENTAL SPONGE FARMS Following on investigations by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) begun in 1999, a sponge aquaculture project building on the study has commenced in the Northern Territory. It began in March this year and will continue for two years. The project, managed by AIMS, is a collaborative venture involving Lo-Tech Aquaculture, the Northern Land Council, Arnhem Land sea rangers, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and Northern Territory Fisheries. Involving a number of Arnhem Land communities, the intent is to provide the scientific foundation the establishment and development of a new, indigenous-owned and operated sponge aquaculture industry in the Top End. Communities could be harvesting their first sponges by 2007 if the work is successful. Currently the world demand for sponges is much greater than the available supply, even with competition from synthetic sponges. Sponges are required for a very wide range of applications in many industries. Australia has the world's widest range of sponge species, with one third of the 15,000 species found in this country. Source: Carsten Wolff in Australasian Science (November 2004).

PETUNA SECURES GRANT FOR SALTWATER CHARR Devonport's Petuna Pty Ltd has accepted a $393,280 grant from the Commercialising Emerging Technologies scheme – a Federal Government initiative – to pursue development of a new aquaculture species for the high-end restaurant export market. The species – a fish, salt water charr, known in Tasmania as brook trout – will be grown in Macquarie Harbour's brackish water, giving them a unique character since wild charr occurs in fresh water. The charr is actually a type of ancient trout originating in the fresh waterways of the Northern Hemisphere. Petuna pursued funding assistance following export of a very well-received trial shipment to the US in 2003. The grant will be used in work on management of the species from egg stage to sea farm, then on to harvest, with studies on flesh quality, consistency and survivability. Eggs will be raised at Petuna's hatchery at Cressy, then moved to the West Coast harbour after a year. Saltwater charr will be priced 15-20 per cent higher than salmon. It's expected the venture will become commercial in 2007. Source: Hobart Mercury (24/11/2004); Burnie Advocate (24/11/2004); Helen Kempton in the Launceston Examiner (26/11/2004).

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ESPERANCE TUNA FARM GETS STATE BACKING, BUT... Minister for Fisheries Kim Chance has said that tuna farming at Esperance could bring tremendous prosperity to the area. The State Government has backed plans for the venture, which could mean the company would have moved its entire operation from Port Lincoln to Esperance after three to five years, for economic reasons. For example, tuna shipped from Esperance would arrive in Japan possibly one day sooner than from Port Lincoln. However, it's expected there'll be strong local community opposition to the proposal which must still gain support from other sources. If the company is successful and the project commences, it's likely to appear late in 2005 with four to six sea pens with 20,000 to 40,000 stocking rates. A public meeting held on 22/11/2004 and involving some 500 locals resulted in some clear opinions being voiced on the issue. The proponent company M G Kailis found the assembly not at all supportive of their proposals for a trial southern bluefin tuna farm, nor of their suggestion that approval be based on a completed proposal document on which further consultation would be at the EPA'S discretion. The majority agreed that the trial proposal should be assessed at the highest level, requiring a public comment period. Locals believe the farm would cause a range of problems, and objectors want a higher level of environmental assessment than that proposed by the company. Company spokesman Ron Edwards advises M G Kailis will reconsider the submission it has prepared for the EPA. A similar project six years previously was strongly opposed and subsequently withdrawn. Source: West Australian (19/11/2004); Kalgoorlie Miner (20/11/2004); Michael Zekulich in the West Australian (24/11/2004); Port Lincoln Times (25/11/2004).

HATCHERY MANAGER WANTED Shellfish Culture Ltd's new hatchery near Port Lincoln is due for completion in mid-2005 with the first spawning to in spring. The company needs a manager for the hatchery, which is to produce spat of blue mussels, selectively bred oysters, king scallops, and triploid Pacific oysters. The manager will take responsibility for all hatchery and primary nursery operations, including management of human resources, organisation and performance reviews. The manager will also deal with budgeting and participate in industry liaison activities. Relevant tertiary qualifications are required, with at least five years experience in hatchery management. Email info@shellfishculture.com.au. Source: Kerry Kenihan in the Adelaide Advertiser (11/12/2004).

NEW INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES COMMISSION The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission has been established to manage tuna stocks in those areas. The body will be headed by Australia's Glenn Hurry, manager of the aquaculture branch of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The commission was launched in December in Pohnpei in the Federated State of Micronesia. Source: Toowoomba Chronicle (10/12/2004). A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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A PLAN FOR MORETON BAY BUGS A development application has been lodged with the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources for a Moreton Bay bug farm on the Tweed. It follows ten years of research by Australian Fresh Corporation under which the species has been reared for the first time. If the application is successful the farm will be established at Cudgen and operated by Australian Bay Lobster Producers, a subsidiary company, which will relocate from Bribie Island. Plans are to produce 1000 tonnes of bugs each year in the first stage of the project which will expand over two more stages to produce more than 3000 tonnes, taking six years. In the longer term the target is $150 million in exports, employing 200 people. The venture will operate under an international patent owned by Australian Bay Lobster Producers. If approved, construction could begin in March or April. Softshell lobster production would take place in early 2006, and hard-shell in late 2006. Source: Belinda Lavis in the Tweed Sun (1/12/2004).

TUNA FEED CONCERNS – AND MORE M G Kailis has indicated that if it establishes a tuna feedlot in the Esperance area, the feed will be sourced from within Australia. The issue of disease brought in by importing feed from overseas is a constant issue in the debate over the proposal to establish a farm in the area. However pilchard catches in SA have now reached 51,00 tonnes and the company has agreements with local suppliers. Even so, some WA locals fear another virus outbreak such as the ones in 1995 and 1998 which devastated the pilchard industry, and which has never recovered. The weight of evidence is that the virus was most likely introduced into Australian waters in SA, in a batch of frozen pilchards. There's an underlying argument that when pilchards are fed to tuna, some 10 to 15 kilos of a good fish food source are being used to produce 1 kilo of tuna. Meanwhile there are still arguments the Esperance tourism industry will be harmed if the feedlot is established, and it's been claimed M G Kailis could not provide the 100 per cent environmental guarantee required. A recent meeting overwhelmingly supported a motion seeking the highest level of environmental assessment of the M G Kailis proposal. The community was not satisfied with answers given at the meeting, and a new group called 'Viva La Recherche' has been formed to continue opposition to the proposal. There are claims opposition is widening with major Australian conservation organisations entering the debate. MG Kailis managing director Alex Kailis retorts that fears are unfounded. He notes that there are no controversial issues surrounding the industry in Port Lincoln after 10 year's operation, and that the community is securing great economic benefit from it. He denies suggestions the company wishes to move from Port Lincoln to WA. Source: Victoria Young in the Esperance Express (2/12/2004); Julia Kogan in the Esperance Express (2/12/2004); Esperance Express (2/12/2004); Stan Gorton in the Port Lincoln Times (9/12/2004); Cortlan Bennet in the Sunday Times (12/12/2004). 60

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ANGER OVER BUG FARM PROPOSAL DEALINGS A recent public meeting at Melaleuca Station became the focus for anger over a proposal to develop a Moreton Bay bug farm at Chinderah. While some important issues were raised – worse flooding in the area, acid-sulphate soil pollution, 1.8 million litres more of treated sewage daily into the Tweed, and the odour of 7 tonnes of fermented squid each day – there was also resentment of the very short time for objections to the venture, especially within the Christmas period. Lodgements closed on January 7. A broad section of the community is pleading with the state government for more time to consider the application. If approved it will result in a 45ha farm being developed with bund walls four metres high, on a 180 ha cane farm property. Cane farmer on an adjoining property, Andrew Brinsmead, says he was all for the development when he first learned of it. Having studied the development application his opinion is now reversed. "Whoever is pushing this is both ignorant of the local conditions and being extremely arrogant towards the opinions of farmers." There are claims that, since stormwater from the development will be diverted to cane farm drains, there'll be increased opportunities for local flooding. There's also an argument that over-spray of chemicals used in cane farming could prejudice operation of the bug farm. In later news Tweed Shire councillors were called back from holidays for a special meeting to prepare a call for the NSW government to defer any decision on the farm. It's been pointed out that a previous two-week extension was pointless as it took place over the Christmas period. There's an argument the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources should follow its own precedent, which was of putting plans for the Lot 490 public land at Kingscliff on display for two months. The applicants, Australian Bay Lobster Producers Pty Ltd, have rejected criticisms. Meanwhile there are complaints the arguments over the proposal are becoming personal and offensive, with signs appearing on adjacent properties carrying what some regard as derogatory comments. Source: Hugh Kearney in the Daily News (23/12/200); Daily News (4/1/2005); Hugh Kearney in the Daily News (5/1/2005 & 6/1/2005).

FIRST TRIAL SCALLOPS LOOK GOOD The first batch of scallops seeded using scallop spat produced at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre has been harvested by Queensland Sea Scallops. The seeding took place in January 2004 at one of the company's two Hervey Bay trial sites. It takes around 32 weeks for spat to grow into a harvestable 90mm scallop. Project manager Dr Clive Keenan advises the harvest shows that the premise for the venture is sound, with the seeded sites showing higher catch rates than surrounding areas. However, he points out, much more will need to be determined about survival, growth rates and movement of released spat. The company has a two-year licence for the scallop trial over an 8 square kilometre area. If trials are successful there'll be licensing for a 70 square kilometre area. There's the potential to provide up to 1500 jobs

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over the next ten years. The Queensland Sea Scallop project is one of 12 projects which gained funding under the Federal Government's Sustainable Regions Program. Source: Michael Secomb in the News Mail (18/12/2004); News Mail (18/12/2004); Tess Patterson in the Fraser Coast Chronicle (17/12/2004).

YELLOWTAIL KINGFISH LIMITS END Limits on taking yellowtail kingfish in Spencer Gulf which were applied in November 2003 came to an end with the close of 2004. Size limits were introduced in response to claims of dangers from escaped yellowtail kingfish from aquaculture pens. With improved industry practices in place, there have been no significant escapes reported during 2004. Anglers' catch returns during the limit period showed that relatively few kingfish in the 450-600mm size range were taken, indicating that the removal of escaped farmed fish from the wild population is not required. Another issue is that there are more mulloway being farmed, with a consequent reduction in the numbers of kingfish. The angling limits applying now are: minimum length 600mm; daily bag limit two fish; boat limit were three or more are fishing from one boat is six fish. Source: Adelaide Advertiser (25/12/2004); Port Lincoln Times (30/12/2004).

COUNCIL MOVES ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Esperance Shire councillors are now formally supporting a move towards a higher level of assessment to be applied to tuna feedlotting in the Recherche Archipelago. Meanwhile, following on public feedback regarding the feedlotting proposal, a spokesman for the company MG Kailis advises the company will not now apply for the minimum environmental level of assessment it suggested – Assessment on Referral Information. Other advice is that the company is encouraged by the council's response, which is to continue to support the venture providing it meets world's best practice. The council's position will be forwarded to the ministers for Fisheries and Environment. A fisher with 20 years experience, including 15 years in tuna research, has advised council members the current MG Kailis tuna trial proposal falls far short of World's best practice as demanded by the council, adding that tuna captured in the western Australian Bight for fattening would be smaller than the 20kilo fish taken for the same purpose and grown out in Port Lincoln pens – thus more fish would be required, with implications for tuna stocks. At a recent meeting in Esperance, the group 'Vive La Recherche' confirmed its opposition to tuna farming. The aim of the meeting was to 'arm people with the facts' so that they couldn't be accused of issuing 'emotive rubbish' when opposing the development. One of a number of issues is that the Esperance proposal locates the tuna pen close to several islands all of which are A-class reserves. There are also claims there will be problems from interaction between the farm and a seal breeding site approximately five miles away, and a sea lion breeding site within ten miles. Perceptions of tourism and diving problems caused by increased numbers of sharks attracted by

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the tuna were aired, and there are also claims the total allowable catch of pilchards in WA waters would be insufficient to feed the fish in the pens, requiring importation of feed with attendant disease risks. Source: Victoria Young in the Esperance Express (16/12/2004); Mark Hooper in the Esperance Express (14/12/2004).

OYSTERS NEW HOPE FOR GEORGES RIVER OYSTER GROWERS The Drakes – brothers Bob, Len and Ted – were the only farmers to stay in business following the demise of the oyster industry in the Georges River with the advent of the QX virus in 1994. The men have farmed Sydney Rock oysters in Woolooware Bay and Quibray Bay from that time, in an operation surrounded by uncertainty. Recently, aided by the Department of Primary Industries, the Drakes invested in 400,000 Pacific oysters which can be harvested each six months unlike Sydney Rocks, which take three years to mature. Even so, there have been problems, with a high virus count in Woolooware Bay recently following heavy rain. Undaunted, the brothers have moved their product to Quibray Bay. Their first Pacific oyster harvest is expected in April or May in 2005. The oyster spat came from a Tasmanian hatchery. Based on the success of the venture, it could prove to be a new start for Georges Bay farmers. Source: St George & Sutherland Shire Leader (2/11/2004).

LAKE WONBOYN SUFFERS Oyster farming in Lake Wonboyn is under threat following a storm which two months ago caused sand to block off the entrance for the first time in more than 50 years. The result has been that oyster stocks are no longer experiencing tidal changes and are likely to die as a result. Another issue is that oyster farmers are not eligible for drought assistance, unlike other fishers. Bega Valley Shire Council intends to mechanically dredge the entrance open – but cannot yet do so pending assessment of the impacts of the work by other government departments. Source: Lisa Miller in the Daily Telegraph (13/11/2004).

CONCENTRATING ON OYSTERS The board of the Centre for Aquaculture at Louth Bay has decided to close off work on abalone and focus entirely on oysters. The South Australian Oyster Hatchery is planned to be rapidly expanded with a view to its becoming the largest supplier of oyster spat to South Australia. Recent advances in terms of stock quality and increased production over 18 months have made the hatchery very successful. There are plans to introduce 'Thoroughbred Oysters' provided by the genetic company Australian Seafood Industries, offering better consistency in growth and shape. The SA Oyster Hatchery aims to produce as many as 25 million juvenile oysters in 2004, with more in future. In a quite different development, the Tasmanian company Shellfish Culture is to build a hatchery at nearby Moonlight Bay. The abalone component of the A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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Centre, SA Abalone Developments, which was established in 1991, will be shut down. Laid-off staff are expected to find work within the aquaculture industry. All stock will be sold off. Source: Port Lincoln Times (4/11/2004).

DUCK BAY OYSTER DEATHS DECREASE Oyster farmer Paul Viney, who lost around 50,000 oysters in the last month, advises mortalities are decreasing, though he's still noting more than the normal percentage of deaths. The oysters are dying following grading and their return to the river. Mr Viney is still expecting results of comprehensive testing of oyster samples, searching for possible contaminants. John Poke, owner of Bouldan Bay Oysters which is the farm next to Mr Viney's – Smithton Shellfish – has received results suggesting oyster deaths are being caused by natural circumstances. His information shows that a naturally-occurring substance in the water was found in dead oysters, and was an outcome of algal blooming. Vibrio bacteria may have infested the oysters, increasing their susceptibility to disease following stress during grading. Tests on water and oysters arranged by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment have to date found conditions to be as normal, though further pathological tests on the oysters are ongoing. Source: Circular Head Chronicle (27/10/2004).

CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION, HEAVY RAIN – OR POLITICS? Break O'Day Mayor Stephen Salter is confident arguments over possible chemical pollution of St Helens' water were a political exercise associated with the recent federal election – and that now the election is over, the issue is finished. However, oyster grower Jim Harris has a different take on the matter, and he's determined to prove that chemicals entering Georges Bay are seriously affecting his business by killing oysters – also possibly contaminating the town's drinking water. Trouble loomed in February when millions of oysters in Georges Bay died; then a controversial report emerged suggesting theories of chemical pollution from aerial spraying, and there were fears of contaminated drinking water – and then a Governmentissued report claiming there was no problem stirred the pot. The issue has simmered since then, even making national television on an investigative reporting program. Since the state's old-growth forestry industry was a prominent feature during the election, the water quality issues at St Helens were linked because of the aerial spraying connection. Georges Bay oyster farmers have for some time blamed stock deaths on sewage systems, aerial spraying of plantations and anti-fouling paint from slipways. However Councillor Slater says he's convinced the deaths are caused by heavy rain in January leading to large volumes of water entering the bay, and claims St Helens residents advise of this happening from time to time over the previous 40 years. Mr Salter, meanwhile, wants aerial spraying to cease, and has commissioned independent water testing, though he's doubtful of convincing authorities of his argument. There is, he asserts an, "If you don't look, you won't find it," attitude. The spraying season is now approaching, and Mr Harris advises he's discovered Tasmania has: no chemical 62

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usage record; no record of type or quantity of chemicals entering the state; no reliable records of types, quantities, mixtures or frequency of use of chemicals in forestry plantations; no consistent notification of chemical spraying to adjacent landowners or regulating bodies. Finally, the Government and council's newly agreed testing plan does not stipulate how much rain constitutes a 'rainfall event', initiating tests for chemicals. To date, it's claimed no tests have shown any evidence of the presence of dangerous chemicals. Source: Rohan Wade in the Sunday Tasmanian (7/11/2004).

PEARL OYSTERS AS EXTRACTORS & SENTINELS A research team involving academics and postgraduate researchers from the University of Newcastle's School of Environmental and Life Science, and a research scientist from the Port Stephens Fisheries Centre, is pursuing work on the use of Akoya pearl oysters as both a method of bio-remediation and as environmental sentinels. Work in the Port Stephens area – which is minimally impacted by industrial pollution – has already shown that the oysters grown there are capable of extracting and concentrating a range of toxic materials from the water column, with each tonne of oyster material demonstrating that it carries kilograms of heavy metals and nutrients. Pearl oysters can filter as much as 15 litres of contaminated water per hour which is a higher rate than most bivalves. The oyster can break down some chemicals, while others are deposited in the shell matrix. There's also a greater protein content in pearl oysters which creates a larger requirement for nitrogen and phosphorus – another favourable factor in terms of the animal cleaning up contaminated water. Some varieties of pearl oyster have a wide global distribution, which means there's the opportunity to use a native organism in many areas. Thus establishing large assemblies of oysters in an area has merit as a bio-remediation option. A significant advantage of the pearl oyster in bioremediation would be that it also produces a valuable product – the pearl. There are other possibilities in the application of pearl oysters. It's possible they could be used as a protection against infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoans in water columns affected by sewage. As environmental sentinels they could be used to detect medical products in waterways, although work is needed to determine whether the animal accumulates many pharmaceutical compounds such as birth control agents, pain relievers and so on. There's increasing concern over the presence of such materials in waterways. To date pollution in waterways has been addressed using a range of sophisticated, expensive and labour- intensive processes. Earlier bio-remediation methods have involved the use of micro-organisms or plants, and fish and molluscs to lower algal and nutrient levels. The pearl oyster introduces another dimension because of its capacity to deal with a range of materials such as metals, not be associated with human consumption, yet still produce a valuable product. Source: Geoff MacFarlane and team in Australian Science (November 2004).

HELP THE HEALTHY LAKES PROGRAM Currently more than 120 businesses are involved with the Healthy Lakes Business Program, which is part of the Healthy

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Lakes Program supporting the Great Lakes environment. The free program is open to all businesses and provides advice on making a business environmentally-friendly. At a recent Business Breakfast Club event, Great Lakes Council's manager of Natural Systems, Gerard Tuckerman, described the importance of Wallis lake to local industries, mentioning the $11 million oyster farming with other sectors. Lake Wallis produces 30 per cent of NSW Sydney Rock oysters. The Wallis Lake Management Plan was introduced in 2001. In 1997 a serious hepatitis A outbreak had occurred. Those interested in knowing more about the Business Program can contact the Council's Natural Systems branch. Source: Great Lakes Advocate (17/11/2004).

OYSTER LEASE AUCTION Eleven oyster leases are to be auctioned by the Department of Primary Industries incorporating Fisheries NSW. The auction will take place at the Forster Tuncurry Memorial Services Club at 1030 am on 25 November. The leases are in the Wallamba Channel, Cockatoo island East, The Paddock and Bandicoot island. The leases will be auctioned 'as is' and for a period of up to 15 years. A similar auction occurred in the 1980s. Source: Great Lakes Advocate (17/11/2004); Manning River Times (23/11/2004).

AN OYSTER-GROWER'S LIFESTYLE Five years ago David and Jane Clout elected to change their lifestyle and move into a seven days a week working scene by taking on an 11ha oyster lease. Last year they produced 60,000 dozen oysters. Source: Mark Phelps, editor of Queensland Country Life (18/11/2004).

GRANT FOR OYSTER RESEARCH Zak Launay of Wilson Inlet Mussel Farm is to use a grant of $30,000 from the Federal Government to conduct research into opportunities for the flat oyster. He'll make investigations in Europe, the USA and Asia using funds supplied under the New Industries Development Program. Flat oysters are attracting some growers as they fetch higher prices and grow much faster than Sydney Rock oysters. However the species is susceptible to the disease bonemia. Mr Launay will be examining the application of new technologies intended to combat the problem. Source: Denmark Bulletin (18/11/2004).

IT'S IN HAND In a first for Australian aquaculture the fisheries officer based at Port Macquarie is to use a hand-held computer as a component of his equipment when dealing with oyster lease inspections. The computer, which incorporates a global positioning system, will significantly decrease the time taken to complete inspections and allow consistency in reporting. Areas covered include the lease location, navigational signage and lease management issues. The information on the handheld device is linked with the Department's corporate database, allowing rapid report production. Source: Port Macquarie News (1/12/2004); Coffs Coast Advocate (7/12/2004).

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SOMETHING DIFFERENT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DREDGE OYSTERS Keith Hall has farmed oysters on the Manning River since 1987. They're well-regarded, with a superior Manning River flavour. However, some of Keith's Sydney rock oysters are grown on the hard rocky beds of the river and dredged up â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a method of growing Sydney rocks only occurring in the Manning. He also grows oysters in trays and baskets on rafts. Source: Wingham Chronicle (1/12/2004).

OYSTER LEASES AUCTIONED Eleven oyster leases have been auctioned by the Department of Primary Industries incorporating NSW Fisheries. The leases, located at Cockatoo Island East, Bandicoot Island, the paddock and in the Wallamba Channel, were purchased by local farmers for between $1000 and $160,000. It's the first such auction for 20 years. Source: Great Lakes Advocate (1/12/2004).

GENERATION-SIX OYSTERS Port Stephens grower Geoff Diemer is one of nine NSW oyster growers farming 'generation-six' oysters. Selectively bred beginning in 1990 and the outcome of 14 years of research by NSW Fisheries, 11.4 million of the sixth generation of oysters have been distributed by the Department of Primary Industries. Primary Industries Minister Ian MacDonald has personally supplied 150,000 oyster spat to four Indigenous enterprises on the South Coast for trials. The oysters grow out in around two years rather than the customary four. Mr Diemer describes the oysters as 'cuppy, deep with a good meat cavity'. Another factor is that they are being bred for resistance to QX disease. Senior research scientist Wayne O'Connor explains the main problems in breeding the oysters are that the spat may stop eating, or may suddenly die, for reasons not yet understood. The current three-year commercialisation program commenced in July 2003, and is using a $700,000 grant from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Source: Frances Thompson in the Newcastle Herald (2/12/2004); Narooma News (8/12/2004).

ARAFURA PEARLS SEEKS TO DOUBLE PRODUCTION Arafura Pearls has launched a rights issue to raise $8.1 million. The pearl producer is attracting funds to purchase an adjoining property and double its production quota. In doing so it will become the third largest pearl producer in Australia. The company is targeting an Australian Stock Exchange listing in 2005 when closer to having substantial sales revenue. Since 1998 the company has invested some $17 million in hatcheries in Arnhem Land. The heavily discounted shares are priced at 25 cents each to encourage investment and reduce investor's entry costs. Source: Business News (9/12/2004).

PLAN FOR BOOSTING OYSTER INDUSTRY A new plan developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) and the Queensland Oyster Growers Association is intended to position Queensland's rock oysters as a profitable industry. The focused industry A U S TA S I A A Q U A C U LT U R E

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development approach supports improved collaboration between industry, DPI&F and other bodies. There's to be an emphasis on promoting and branding Moreton Bay rock oysters as a good-tasting and safe option. DPI&F will continue working with the Oyster Growers Association to forward the plan. Source: Bayside Bulletin (30/11/2004).

PRAWNS CHRISTMAS PRAWNS It's expected consumers will pay reasonable prices for prawns at Christmas this year, with record harvests both nationally and internationally for farmed prawns. Depending on size and variety, it's suggested prices could range from below $20/kilo to $30/kilo. Source: Gretel Sneath and Cara Jenkin in the Adelaide Advertiser (3/11/2004).

MOVING IN ON PRAWN DISEASE CONTROL CSIRO Livestock Industries is making moves to address the long-term problem of waterborne pathogens which affect the prawn aquaculture industry. Dr Marielle van Hulten knows the industry is plagued by pathogenic viruses, protozoans, bacteria and fungi – yet vaccines have not been considered an option because many aquaculture species including prawns were thought to not have a vertebrate-type adaptive immune system. However recent research has shown crustaceans possess a defence response which can be induced by exposing them to antigens derived from viral coat proteins. It's also now known they have a range of other defences against microbial pathogens. Dr Hulten's previous work in the Netherlands concentrated on the prawn white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) as a prospect for vaccination studies, and studies showed that prawns surviving a WSSV attack become immune to further infection, with their plasma demonstrating what could be antibodies neutralising WSSV. Work in the Netherlands using some of the derivatives from the plasma has led to production of food particles carrying the ability to cause prawns to develop significant resistance to WSSV, lasting as a long as 28 days. This suggests the immune system of invertebrates retains a kind of memory of a specific pathogenic attack – how this occurs is not yet known. The scientists are now working on methods to defend against major viruses confronted by prawn farms, looking at devising treatments providing broad targeting against a range of viruses. One option is using a virus called IHHNV, found in almost every prawn farm but which doesn't cause problems, as a method of introducing such a broadspectrum defensive response. There are other options. Source: Australian Life Scientist (1/10/2004).

GUTHALUNGRA PRAWN HATCHERY OPENS The $2 million prawn hatchery near Guthalungra opened at the end of November. It's the first stage of a $45 million tiger prawn farm believed to become the largest in Australia. Some 180 new jobs will result over the next three years. Source: Vikki Campion in the Townsville Bulletin (25/11/2004).

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M G KAILIS INTERESTED IN INLAND PRAWN CULTURE M G Kailis Group Exmouth is collaborating with Curtin University to pin down the potential for growing western king prawns in inland salt water. It could progress to a new WA aquaculture industry. Initial work will centre on the best way to deliver potassium during the culture process. Source: Australian Financial Review (29/11/2004). PLENTY OF PRAWNS FOR CHRISTMAS Martin Breen, Chief Executive of the Australian Prawn Farmers Association, says consumers can expect to pay $17.50 a kilo for medium prawns and around $25 for large prawns – with an estimated 4200 tonnes of farmed prawns to be harvested as the Christmas demand builds. Please remember to ask for Australian prawns, not the imported variety. Source: Brian Williams in the Courier Mail (4/12/2004).

GUTHALUNGRA HATCHERY OPENS The Pacific Reef Fisheries Guthalungra prawn hatchery was officially opened on the second of December, by the State Development and Innovation Minister Tony McGrady. Pacific Reef has plans to develop an approximately 260ha production pond operation at the site, with several additional hatcheries – potentially there'll be the capacity to produce 40 million post larvae prawns annually. The State Government has also announced a $25,681 grant to assist the trial of a new filtration system at the company's Alva Beach hatchery site in the Burdekin. Over the next few years the company will expend some $43 million in development, generating around 180 direct jobs. There's continuing controversy over the Alva Beach prawn farm operation in the Trent Rd area, with cane farmers insisting the facility is contributing to increasing soil salinity problems. A recent CSIRO report has concluded this is the case, but a lack of historical data means the extent of the contribution cannot be determined. On the other hand tests have shown the 70ha of ponds have little permeability. Pacific Reef general manager Trevor Anderson points out if the ponds were leaking they could be fixed – but they're not. The company is, however, keen to work with canegrowers to address the salinity problem. Pacific Reef Fisheries currently produces 400-500 tonnes of prawns annually, destined mainly for Sydney and Melbourne markets. Source: Bowen Independent (3/12/2004); Kylie Stockdale in the Townsville Bulletin (3/12/2004); Home Hill Observer (/12/2004).

M G KAILIS LOOKS INLAND The M G Kailis Group has provided a brood stock of prawns to facilitate a project investigating the possibilities for culturing the species in inland saline water. The company is working with Curtin University researchers on rearing larvae and post larvae of western king prawns. An issue is that the water is potassium-deficient, which requires developing an understanding of how to supply the element efficiently. Source: Julie-Anne Sprague in the Business News (2/12/2004).

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GUTHALUNGRA FACILITY OFFICIALLY OPENED The year 2004 was an exciting one for Pacific Reef Fisheries, culminating in a strong Christmas sales period, with 150 tonnes of prawns sold in December. State Minister for Development and Innovation Tony McGrady was joined by dignitaries from the Burdekin and Bowen for the official opening of the first stage of the $45 million Guthalungra prawn farming facility early in December. Pacific Reef Fisheries will eventually have an operation providing for the creation of some 180 jobs. The new hatchery compliments the existing Alva Beach facility. The intent is to work towards using domestic prawn broodstock rather than taking stock from the wild, which results in variable outcomes. Additional ponds are to be introduced at the Ayr farm, costing $3 – 4 million and allowing increased production. The company plans to have 260ha of production ponds. The capacity of the processing shed is to be increased for the 2005 harvest. An outcome will be the company will employ as many as 60 processing workers for the 2005 harvest season, putting approximately $500,000 in wages into the local community. In 2004 Pacific Reef Fisheries was given State recognition as a smart state company in action, and the State Government provided a $25,681 grant to allow trials of a new filtration system intended to improve discharge water quality. So, this year, prospects look even better for the company. Source: Home Hill Observer (9/12/2004); Ayr Advocate (31/12/2004).

SEAFARM PTY LTD COMMENDED Seafarm Pty Ltd has been commended by Minister for State Development and Innovation, Tony McGrady for creating 20 new jobs in order to meet the Christmas rush for prawns. The farm, which has won many awards, supplied its own prawn variety, Crystal Bay Prawns, to the Danish Royal wedding in 2004, and it was expected around 125 tonnes of prawns would be sold in December. The business was established more than 20 years ago and now has two farms and a processing plant at Cardwell, four hatcheries at Flying Fish Point near Innisfail, and a processing plant and farm at Mossman. Source: Herbert River Express (23/12/2004)."

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SALMON MORE RATIONALISATION FOR TASSAL – AND A MERGER Tassal Group chairman David Williams told participants at a recent annual general meeting that directors were pleased but not satisfied with the company's result in the first seven and a half months since emerging from receivership. Further rationalisation alliances will be required to develop a profitable, sustainable salmon and aquaculture industry in Australia. Tassal is the biggest of the three salmon producers in Tasmania with 60 per cent of the market. Tasmania dominates the Australian salmon industry. The company, which also produces ocean trout, is cutting costs by using new technology. Mr Williams said it would be possible to remove another 20 per cent of costs. Thirty per cent more fish will be produced this year based on the same amount of original stock, through better management. A fall of 20 cents in the company's stock exchange prices over two months has been explained as the result of tough competition. Sales are better than last year's, there's been profitability in the first three months, and the best sales will occur over the next three months. Salmon prices have been adversely affected by cheap Asian crustacean imports, however the company will introduce new produce targeting new niche, premium Australian markets. Tassal Group shares closed unchanged at 85 cents. In more recent news Tassal and Aquatas are considering a merger which would put the merged body among the top five salmon producers in the world. Both organisations are part of the parent food and agribusiness group Websters. Forecasts are that Tassal sales in 2004-2005 will be $100 million, and Aquatas sales will exceed $30 million. Tassal shares closed 8 cents higher at $1.03, while Webster shares were 12 cents higher at $1. Source: Phillip Hoskins in the Age (5/11/2004); Trevor Chappell in the Age (13/11/2004);

HUON AQUACULTURE GETS GRANT Huon Aquaculture has received a Federal Government $515,577 grant to investigate techniques to improve growth rates in its fish. The work will involve studies of growth rates, feed types and oxygen levels in cages. The grant was awarded under the Commercialising Emerging Technologies scheme. Source: Hobart Mercury (24/11/2004).

REWARDING DIVERSIFICATION Thirteen years ago Paul Van Itallie decided to breed redclaw, looking for a way to better use his farm's water allocation and to diversify. He now sells large amounts of redclaw during winter and early spring. Water used in crayfish production is recycled through the farm, while the crayfish are fed farm by-product including mung bean and chickpea splits. This Christmas season the farm sold more than 200 kilos of redclaw to just locals – much product goes to southern outlets. Source: Central Telegraph (17/12/2004).

SPRINGS SMOKED SEAFOOD WINS AWARD Mt Barker's Springs Smoked Seafood has won an award in the 2004 Premier's Food Awards. The company has worked to expand the export component of the operation and entered new markets such as Dubai. Recent introduction of a fullyautomated processing line is expected to increase production by 25 percent with the same staffing levels. And a new packaging system extends the life of raw fish without affecting flavour. The company was established in 1990 and employs 100 people. Source: Joan Clayton in the Port Lincoln Times (8/12/2004).

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WORK ON AMOEBIC GILL DISEASE The Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is leading a project investigating Atlantic salmon genes with the intention of finding fish with a resistance to amoebic gill disease. If this is successful, fish which are resistant can be bred to produce a strain with a greater resistance. CSIRO principal research scientist Nick Elliott advises in the three-year project a population of Atlantic salmon will be exposed to the amoeba in a controlled environment at Launceston's School of Aquaculture. The disease does not kill the fish or make them inedible for humans – it makes them lethargic and unwilling to feed. Currently farmers can reduce the rate of disease by bathing the salmon in fresh water some six times a year, however, this is an expensive and labour-intensive process. The disease costs the State's $150 million Atlantic salmon industry around $15 million annually. The problem is greater in the Tasmanian industry than it is internationally. Source: Maria Rae in the Launceston Examiner (15/12/2004); Jemma Bavage in the Burnie Advocate (14/12/2004).

EASY DOES IT SUMMER With a view to generating trials from people who haven't bought Tasmanian salmon previously, and of encouraging revisits from light to medium buyers, the Tasmanian Salmon Growers Association has commenced an 'Easy Does It Summer' campaign. The idea is to maximise awareness and remind consumers of Tasmanian salmon's benchmark reputation for quality and consistency. Research has already shown that while many love salmon they are often unsure of how to cook or present it. The Association is now making information and recipes available through various media types. The success of the campaign will be measured by the volume of salmon sold. For more information, check out www.tasmaniansalmon.com.au. Source: Foodweek (10/12/2004).

YA B B I E S VIC YABBY MELTDOWN PROGRESSES In a letter to the editor of the Bendigo Advertiser, yabby farmers Bernie and Lynne Colbert point out that the agency PrimeSafe has been unable to identify one risk factor in the sale of live yabbies. Farmers are required to pay an annual fee and the costs for multiple annual inspections which could cost as a much as $1000 a visit for a Bendigo farmer. What, they ask, are the inspectors going to be looking for? And why are finfish and eels sold live exempt from the legislation because they are live, while yabbies are not? The Colberts note that Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron has to date refused to meet with a delegation from the Yabby Growers Association. Perhaps, they suggest, he hasn't the guts to tell 57 yabby growers the Labor Government has destroyed their business. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis asserts Victoria's yabby growers are losing sales consequent to PrimeSafe laws, with 57 producers unable to sell for human 66

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consumption. Yet a NSW producer, unaffected by PrimeSafe regulations, is advertising his yabbies in a Victorian newspaper – they're cheaper than Victorian animals because of lower regulation charges. Thus Victorian yabbies can be sold to interstate farms and then sold on into Victorian restaurants – and the Victorian yabby grower becomes a middle man, with lower profits. Minister Cameron's response is that the State Government will not compromise laws for Victoria's yabby growers, and he states that "only a handful of growers in Victoria did not take up a PrimeSafe licence". The McIvor Times recently carried a classified advertisement described by the state president of the Victorian Yabby Growers Association, Greg Williams, as a signal of the end of the Victorian yabby industry. The advertisement called for Victorian yabby farmers to sell their product into NSW, and that "no licence fees will need to be paid". Victoria, he points out, is the only state with such ludicrous laws relating to yabbies – and he observes that South Australia has recently declared live yabbies not to be food, a position in opposition to that of the Department of Primary Industry. There are suggestions the Victorian Government has become a laughing stock over the yabby situation. In a letter to the editor of the Wangaratta Chronicle, Bob Cameron addresses remarks by the leaders of the yabby industry who have made calls for the Victorian Government to introduce fees as are applied in South Australia. He wrote: "The vast majority of Victoria's 150 yabby growers do not pay fees to Fisheries Victoria or PrimeSafe at all – as they are able to supply to multiwater licence holders free of charge. Recent newspaper articles have referred to a commercial yabby licence in Victoria of $462. Fisheries Victoria collects $127, the Federal Government $154 and the industry body charges are $181. The $127 to Fisheries Victoria is lower than the corresponding $150 in South Australia. In addition, South Australia does not have multiwater licences. This means that if 60 growers grow for a head grower the total fees paid in South Australia would be $9000 – many times that in Victoria". Mr Cameron suggested the yabby leaders are so interested in political games they'll even advance the proposition of higher fees in Victoria. In a letter to the editor of the Bendigo Advertiser, Helen Williams of Central Victorian Yabby Farm, responds to Mr Cameron's letter: "After two years as Agriculture Minister, Mr Cameron appears to have no understanding of the present licensing system in place for the yabby industry in Victoria. Or is he deliberately trying to misinform the public on this issue?" Ms Williams points out that the multi-waters licence was introduced in Victoria by Mr Cameron's far-sighted predecessor Minister Broad, during the first term of the Bracks Government. It allows traditional farmers to utilise an existing resource of their farming operation – the yabbies in their dams. Introduction of the licence recognised that the cost and red tape involved in these farmers obtaining an aquaculture licence was a barrier to their utilising their yabbies. They are not yabby farmers, but do make a significant contribution to the yabby industry. Any suggestion that a system similar to the SA licensing system would mean they pay fees is absurd.

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No multi-waters licence would mean none of their yabbies would be used. Ms Williams cites the case of a WA yabby farmer operating under a multi-licence system (similar to that in Victoria). He takes product from 780 traditional farmers – and his multi-waters licence fee is $355. And how, she asks, can yabby farmers fighting for their livelihoods and the future of their fledgling industry be called a political game? There does appear to be political friction between Mr Cameron, who is the Member for Bendigo West, and Greg Williams, the mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo, a yabby farmer and a Liberal Party member. Some weeks ago Mr William's farm was 'raided' by PrimeSafe inspectors in what has become a controversial incident. Meanwhile, Mr Williams observes PrimeSafe is made up mostly of people from the red meat industry – there's no yabby industry representative – and that is part of the problem. PrimeSafe chief Barry Case appears to have different take from Mr Cameron on who would be affected by the new laws. He mentioned PrimeSafe visiting 150 premises in relation to their implementation – Mr Cameron said only 11 yabby processors would be affected. Meanwhile the annual report of the Fisheries Co-Management Council has been described by the National's spokesman for Resources and Environment, Mr Peter Hall, as an indictment of the State Government's failure to support commercial fishers. Liberal Philip Davis agrees, citing the Government's attitude towards the yabby industry in the State. Source: Bernie and Lynne Colbert, in a letter to the editor of the Bendigo Advertiser (5/11/2004); Rachel Brown in the Bendigo Advertiser (4/11/2004); McIvor Times (3/11/2004); Riverine Herald (1/11/2004); Bob Cameron in a letter to the editor of the Wangaratta Chronicle (8/11/2004); Bendigo Weekly 5/11/2004); McIvor Times (10/11/2004); Helen Williams in a letter to the editor of the Bendigo Advertiser (13/11/2004).

SOUTHERN YABBY FARM In 2003 Paul and Saskia Verity took over a 15-year-old yabby business and moved it from Pingelly to their Chidlow property and home. Yabbies are sourced from wheat farmers around the state, and weekly sold to buyers in Switzerland, Germany and Spain, and locally to restaurants in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. Mr Verity explains the only fault with the industry is that it's seasonal. Source: Hills Gazette (6/11/2004)."

A VYGA RESPONSE TO MINISTER CAMERON Vice-president of the Victorian Yabby Grower's Association (VYGA) Trevor Domaschenz has responded to a letter by Victorian Minister for Agriculture Bob Cameron to the editor of the Bendigo Advertiser. The letter was published in the newspaper issue of 8 November. The information by Mr Domaschenz, published in the West Wimmera Advocate, indicates Victorian regulatory body fees and charges across the board for yabby growers as being very much greater than those applied in SA, WA and Queensland. He points out that WA has a multi-user system similar to that in Victoria – and that an appropriate WA licence would cost $355, while in

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Victoria it would cost $1284, increasing to $4500 in two years. There are also charges where other fish species are grown. He adds there's never been a food safety incident with yabbies, and notes they are the only live 'food' audited onfarm in Victoria. Mr Domaschenz states that by November 2005 costs will exceed yabby grower's income. This despite the fact that the Seafood Safety Act was passed on the proviso that total costs were not to exceed $200 for growers with income less than $40,000. Mr Domaschenz states that the correct Federal levy for yabby growers in Victoria is $5. There are also issues surrounding the opportunity for farmers to sell direct to the public. VYGA is seeking legal support to pursue their case. In an associated comment, a Murray Cod producer in Rutherglen, Simon Noble, has asserted Bob Cameron should resign because of 'his total incompetence' in dealing with licensing of aquaculture producers in Victoria. He states the Minister has singled out developing aquaculture industries for cost recovery under the national competition policy, yet the Federal Minister has denied the necessity for this, noting that exemptions are available where there are detriments to the industry. Mr Domaschenz believes the Victorian Minister is attempting to mislead the people of rural Victoria. Source: West Wimmera Advocate (10/11/20040; Wangaratta Chronicle (15/11/2004).

VICTORIAN YABBIES AND THE NUMBERS GAME In a letter to the editor of the Bendigo Advertiser on 19/11/2004, yabby farmer Trevor Domaschenz makes the following observations in replying to statements in a letter sent to the newspaper and published on 8/11/2004 by Minister of Agriculture Bob Cameron. The letter has been edited slightly below to remove some extraneous comment: "I have before me a demand of $462 to renew my licence, not the $127 you quote. My government charges to farm and sell yabbies to the public was $265 last year. I have in front of me bills of $727 for the same service and government figures of over $1500 next year and the year after is off this planet. The same fees for service in South Australia is $130, Queensland $95 and Western Australia $55; not sure about NSW, your figures are probably correct. We looked at the fees for the three leading aquaculture states to see why Victoria and NSW are the two least producing states. These licences are no different to a car licence. They are licences with no service – they entitle us to nothing. This is just a licence to grow yabbies on our own land in our own water similar to sheep, cattle, poultry, bees, pigs, etc., none of which needs a licence nor attracts a fee. What is there a charge for?" Source: Trevor Domaschenz in a letter to the editor of the Bendigo Advertiser (19/11/2004).

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EMPLOYMENT – GROW-OUT TECHNICIAN Victorian Mariculture Developments P/L is seeking a GROW-OUT TECHNICIAN V.M.D. is one of Australia’s leading Abalone Aquaculture farms. We require an enthusiastic and suitably qualified (Dip. Aqua.) or experienced Grow-Out Technician to assist with the ongoing operation and expansion of our business. Aquaculture experience preferred. Must be able to supervise staff and work with initiative. This is a hands-on, commercially oriented position that offers an opportunity for a career path in the aquaculture industry. For Position Description and further information contact: Ph: 03 5529 5599. Fax: 03 5529 5572. Email: <vmdport@hotkey.net.au>. 68

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