FISH June 2009 by Roy Palmer

fisheries research & development corporation News

Volume 17 number 2

June 2009

extreme WEATHER

challenges Tuna farming coup New research for fisheriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; future Carp control trial

FISH is published by the fisheries research and development corporation (FRDC) The FRDC plans, invests in and manages fisheries research and development throughout Australia. It is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, jointly funded by the Australian Government and the fishing industry. FRDC, Fisheries Research House, 25 Geils Court, Deakin, ACT 2600; PO Box 222, Deakin West, ACT 2600 T 02 6285 0400 F 02 6285 4421 E frdc@frdc.com.au W www.frdc.com.au

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Contents

Credit: Photographer.com/Carol Buchanan

June 2009

Features

04 History-making spawn heralds tuna farming genesis 06 Research to drive fishing’s future 11 Beach rescue bid for Pipis 12 Extreme weather tests fishing infrastructure 15 Healthy riverine diet key to oyster revival 16 Dollar’s dip helps balance out financial crunch special feature 18 The FRDC: a decade in review – part 2 21 Tour to take in world’s best prawn processors 22 The search is on to find missing lobster recruits 24 Lachlan trial for carp removal 30 Expanded centre enhances research capacity 31 Virtual dive opens up Bondi’s ‘under’ world 32 Australia lands British seafood innovator 32 Balanced diet important for growing larvae 34 Honour for steering fishers through dark days 36 FRDC educates with ET 38 Work starts on harmonising research spending

Southern Bluefin, the ‘king’ of tunas, has been successfully bred in captivity in SA. See P4

Uncovering more about Australia’s underwater populations. See P22

Carp control in the Murray– Darling Basin. See P24

Honour for industry advocate Graeme Byrnes at 2009 SFM awards. See P34

fisheries research & development corporation News

regular Volume 17 Number 2

JuNe 2009

extreme WeAtHer

cHAllenges

10, 28 news 36 Coming events 37, 39 movers and … 39 final reports

Cover photo: Fishing trawler at sunset.

www.frdc.com.au

Tuna farming coup New research for fisheries’ future Carp control trial

Feedback

FRDC welcomes your comments frdc@frdc.com.au

aquaculture

June 2009 FISH

Story Gio Braidotti

History-making spawn At just 22 days old, the hatchlings already look like Southern Bluefin Tuna, right down to possessing a mouth full of sharp teeth.

heralDs tuna farming genesis (Centre) juveniles already resemble SBT by day 30 of development.

A South Australian tuna company has pulled off a scientific coup that could see the industry give something back to the wild

t is rare to see scientists moved to tears of elation by an experiment, especially when the breakthrough just looks like “microscopic blobs” floating on the surface of a fish tank. But when some of these blobs hatched into larvae that metamorphosed into juveniles, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the mighty Southern Bluefin Tuna, these tiny jewel-like miniatures proved it is possible to breed the ‘king’ of tunas in captivity – a result that truly did swell emotions for the researchers involved. This aquaculture world-first took place at Arno Bay, South Australia. An hour’s drive from Port Lincoln, it is where Southern Bluefin Tuna have been ranched in sea cages for the past 17 years, supplying a Japanese sashimi market worth more than $250 million a year. Taking the next step – from

(Left) at the Clean Seas Tuna hatchery, juvenile SBTs hold a special fascination for the scientists.

fattening wild-caught tuna in sea pens to breeding the fish in captivity – was the singular vision of Clean Seas Tuna Ltd. Many people involved in the project, including R&D manager Mike Thomson, are in awe at the sheer scale of resources and investment the project required, given that Southern Bluefin Tuna make extremely unlikely aquaculture candidates. This is a species that requires 10 to 12 years to reach sexual maturity. Complicating matters further, the species does not reproduce as a matter of biological inevitability. Instead, spawning results from environmental cues received during a long migration that takes the fish from the Great Australian Bight’s cold deep waters to spawning grounds in the tropical warmth of Indonesia’s Java Sea.

Photos: Clean seas Tuna

(Far left) a newly hatched Southern Bluefin Tuna larvae surrounded by embryos ready to hatch.

FISH June 2009

hatchlings are being reared at the Arno Bay hatchery by Morten Deichmann and hatchery manager Adrian McIntyre, batches of eggs were also sent to the South Australian Research and Development Institute and the NSW Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens’ facility. The Darwin Aquaculture Centre, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute and Flinders University are also involved. Every day the hatchlings survive sets a new record and for the scientists fostering their development, each day is a roller-coaster. “You do get personally attached to them,” Morten Deichmann says. “We’ve got one fish at the moment, the oldest and the biggest, whose behaviour we’ve come to know. He has a favourite spot in the rearing tank and we go there every morning to see if he is still there.” The next challenge was getting enough juveniles to survive for 40 to 45 days, the point where the juveniles can be transferred to a sea cage. On 22 May, the juveniles reached the 59-day mark. Morten Deichmann says many people thought Hagen Stehr was crazy to take this on: “Even though he had faith in us, he is an emotional man and we have had him in tears several times. Recently, we showed him the first-ever video footage of Southern Bluefin larvae developing in time-lapse and it is quite remarkable. Something you might see in National Geographic. It is quite an emotional time for everybody involved.”  more information: Len Stephens, managing director, Australian Seafood CRC, 08 8201 7651; Mike Thomson, Clean Seas Tuna, mike@stehrgroup.net

Southern Bluefin Tuna being airlifted by helicopter to Clean Seas Tuna's indoor aquaculture facility at Arno Bay, South Australia.

Photo: Clean seas Tuna

Even the participating scientists – mostly specialists in fish reproduction and larval rearing – think there is something majestic about the species and something near-quixotic in trying to induce their spawning in a fish tank, albeit an extremely large and highly engineered tank. Mature adults can grow to more than two metres in length, weigh up to 200 kilograms, and can swim in bursts at 70 kilometres an hour – one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean. For the aquaculture project, Clean Seas Tuna built a special onshore facility at Arno Bay based on an indoor tank designed to mimic environmental conditions along the Southern Bluefin’s migratory route. In essence, the facility has to transition through a series of ecological habitats – a feat pulled off by controlling variables such as water quality, light, temperature and feed. Brood stock for the project were selected from Hagen Stehr’s sea ranching cages and transferred into the indoor facility three years ago. This in itself was a major undertaking, requiring a helicopter to airlift the fish from the offshore pens. Inside the facility, underwater cameras help gauge animal health and behaviour, with additional monitoring provided by broodstock manager Miles Wyse, who swims with the Southern Bluefin once a week. “The idea is that if we need to go into the tank, for whatever reason, the fish are used to having someone in the water with them,” he says. Once the tuna were thriving in their engineered habitat, Clean Seas Tuna set about solving the mystery of Southern Bluefin reproduction. They recruited scientists from across Australia to work on the project and also received advice from international experts working with Northern Bluefin, Pacific Bluefin and Yellowfin Tuna. Helping to coordinate and fund the R&D program is the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). Managing director Len Stephens says the CRC and the FRDC have matched the investment in research made by Clean Seas Tuna, making the Southern Bluefin Tuna one of the CRC’s principal projects. A tantalising hint of success came in 2008 when the captive Southern Bluefins briefly attempted to spawn. However, the breakthrough came in 2009 when the tuna spectacularly went into full mating behaviour. With males chasing females, pandemonium broke out in the breeding pool as the school surfaced and swam in a circle fast enough to create the vortex that funnels eggs and sperm together and ensures fertilisation. Hatchery and broodstock operations general manager Morten Deichmann says that 35 million healthy eggs were produced and admits that the extent of this year’s spawning caught the team by surprise. Abigail Elizur, a fish reproduction expert from the University of the Sunshine Coast, agrees saying she was very excited by how well the fish spawned. “It really is history in the making,” she says. “Southern Bluefin will only spawn under conditions that secure maximum survival for the young. So for the fish to spawn in captivity means they are very happy with their environment. And the tuna do look comfortable. They are beautiful, the most amazing fish. I was elated when they spawned; excited to the point of tears.” With the spawning a success, the pressure shifted to the team’s larval rearing specialists. Although most of the

A joint effort Clean Seas Tuna wishes to acknowledge their appreciation for contributions made by the following organisations: AusIndustry, the FRDC, the Australian Seafood CRC, the University of the Sunshine Coast, the South Australian Research and Development Institute, Flinders University, the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Heinrich-Heine Universität, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, SELFDOTT and REPRODOTT European Research Consortiums, Kinki University, the University of Maryland, the Tuna Research and Conservation Centre of Stanford, the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and the Darwin Aquaculture Centre.

new projects

June 2009 FISH

Story Rebecca Thyer

Research to drive fishing

ark Crane’s work to better understand the virus decimating Victoria’s abalone (see page 8) is one of 24 research projects that the FRDC will invest in as part of a $6 million funding round announced by Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Tony Burke in March. Mr Burke said the funding would help ensure Australia’s fishing industries had a vibrant future, and in particular the Western Australian Rocklobster fishery which is facing real uncertainty. The 24 projects are as follows.

Aboriginal fisheries in NSW: determining catch, cultural significance of species and traditional fishing knowledge needs – Southern Cross University This project will identify the key species of significance to traditional ownership groups, quantify the catch and develop a research program that will assist in developing research capacity in the indigenous sector.

: es in NSWl al fisheri Aborigin ing catch, culturad determin nce of species an ge significa l fishing knowled a tradition needs rn Cross – Southe

y Universit

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Surveys of ornamental fish for pathogens of quarantine significance – University of Sydney This project will examine whether diseases/pathogens of quarantine risk are entering the country and to subsequently assist with refining current quarantine practices if needed for ornamental fish.

Innovative production research hub (getting the most from collaboration) – NSW Department of Primary Industries This project aims to increase communication and collaboration among the aquaculture industry and research participants. It will also assist to increase the exchange of technology and training among marine finfish and shellfish hatchery operators.

Taking female Mud Crabs (Scylla serrata): assessment of risks and benefits – Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries

Move to fill indigenous fisheries knowledge gap For a complete picture of Australia’s fisheries landscape, managers need more information about where indigenous fishing practices fit in

For thousands of years indigenous communities along the NSW coast have harvested the small shellfish known as Pipis (Donax deltoides), evidence of which lies in the shell middens left behind. Today, collecting and cooking large quantities of Pipis to share at community gatherings remains an important cultural practice, albeit one that has been hindered by bag limits. The limit of 50 Pipis per person, introduced for recreational fishers in the 1980s, has had an unintended impact on indigenous fishers because bag limits also apply to them. It highlights the social plight of indigenous fisheries, which Southern Cross University’s Stephan Schnierer refers to as Australia’s ‘third’ fishery. Being neither commercial nor recreational, indigenous fisheries have often been ignored or placed in the same category as the recreational sector, even though it is quite distinct, with a long history and certain traditional rights. In 2002, New South Wales introduced an indigenous fishing strategy, which acknowledges that fishing is an integral part of the cultural and economic life of Aboriginal communities. But its success has been hampered by a lack of information about the fisheries and a shortage of indigenous expertise in decision making. Stephan Schnierer, a marine zoologist who headed the College of

Australian Indigenous People at Southern Cross University for 12 years, was a member of the advisory committee that helped develop the NSW strategy. This background knowledge is helping him lead a new 12-month FRDC-funded project that aims to collect information on indigenous fisheries and develop a process for gathering more knowledge that could also be used in other parts of Australia. “The lack of research has been a problem for fisheries management agencies,” Stephan Schnierer says. “How do you adapt management strategies for the needs of a group of people if you don’t understand the nature of that fishery?” Although fisheries managers have extensive information about commercial and recreational fisheries, including the number of fishers and the species they are targeting, when it comes to indigenous fisheries little is known. The project focuses on Aboriginal communities in coastal northern NSW. “We will work with a few groups selected in consultation with the local community, traditional owners and land councils,” he says. Stephan Schnierer hopes to establish a network of fishers in the area and, through interviews and questionnaires, build a contemporary

FISH June 2009

g’s future

The long-term economic and environmental sustainability of Australia’s fishing industries is being buoyed by R&D investment

Sustaining productivity of Tropical Red Snappers using new monitoring and reference points – QDPI&F The project aims to analyse current monitoring and logbook data-sets, as well as surveys and other information, to establish whether these data are sufficient to develop critical indicators of fishery performance. It will also develop a monitoring program that uses commercial vessels from the fishery to provide independent data.

Movement patterns and stock structure of Australian Sardine (Sardinops sagax) off South Australia and the east coast: implications for future stock assessment and management – South Australian Research and Development Institute The project will determine whether additional spatial management (zones) would be needed to support a future increase in the total allowable catch in the SA Sardine Fishery; and determine the degree to which estimates of spawning biomass from waters off northern NSW and southern Queensland reflect the size of the entire eastern Australian Sardine stock.

The project aims to evaluate the risks and benefits of allowing the harvest of female Mud Crabs in Queensland.

Fish stocking programs: are there long-term genetic and ecological impacts? – QDPI&F The objective of this project is to assess the movements and ecological impacts of stocked Barramundi and determine if stocking has any discernable adverse genetic impacts on wild populations in a previously stocked river system.

Linking careers, research and training – a pilot for the seafood industry – Seafood Training Centre of Excellence, SA The project will assist to develop pathways for seafood industry participants to learn and develop a process whereby seafood enterprises can use the most up-to-date research outcomes in their company training and operations.

Fishing is an integral part of the cultural and economic life of many Aboriginal communities, but its success has been hampered by a lack of information about the fisheries.

picture of the indigenous fishery, including information about what species the fishery is targeting, numbers caught and how the catch is used. He also hopes to find out if there are species people would like to catch, but do not have access to, and identify areas of cultural significance.

As well as providing information for fisheries management, Stephan Schnierer says the project will also benefit indigenous communities by giving them a documented process they can use to negotiate with government agencies on management issues, such as allocation and restricted areas.

– Robin Taylor

new projects

To develop the Marine Discovery Centres network and promote research findings with school-aged children – Star of the Sea Marine Discovery Centre, SA This project aims to develop hands-on educational tools that will be used at Marine Discovery Centres around Australia.

Population biology of Albacore Tuna in the Australian region – CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Tasmania The project will assist in determining reproductive-based stock parameters for South Pacific Albacore including sex ratio statistics, maturity schedule(s), spawning fraction and batch fecundity (by size/age) using macroscopic and modern histological techniques.

Rebuilding Ecosystem Resilience: Assessment of management options to minimise formation of ‘barrens’ habitat by the Long-Spined Sea Urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) in Tasmania – University of Tasmania This project will assess the effectiveness of a range of management options to limit the expansion of sea urchin barrens.

Mapping the distribution and movement of Gulper Sharks, and developing a non-extractive monitoring technique to underpin a stock rebuild within a multi-sector fishery region off southern and eastern Australia – CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Tasmania This project aims to map the current distribution of Gulper Sharks in eastern Australia; measure the rates of movement of Gulper Sharks in and out of closed areas; and develop methods for long-term monitoring of Gulper Shark populations.

alth nimal He Aquatic A: characterisation m rus Subprograne herpes-like vi of abalo ions in abalone , infect dustries vestock In – CSIRO Li ctoria Vi

June 2009 FISH

Ecological risk assessment for effects of fishing on habitats and communities – CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Tasmania This project builds on previous research in the areas of ecological risk assessment for the effects of fishing, which provides a hierarchical risk-assessment approach to assist fisheries to understand and respond to their ecological risks, in particular to satisfy requirements under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.

Australasian Aquaculture 2010 to 2014 – National Aquaculture Council, Tasmania Australasian Aquaculture is Australia’s premier aquaculture conference. It provides an international forum for Australian aquaculture stakeholders to identify pathways to sustainable aquaculture development.

Tactical Research Fund: Industry monitoring and sampling of Gulper Shark catches in the SESSF – Fishwell Consulting, Victoria This project aims to increase Gulper Shark identification skills of Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) industry members to facilitate the collection of meaningful catch and effort data in commercial logbooks; and then scientifically verify the veracity of industry identification of Gulper Sharks through DNA samples.

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Characterisation of abalone herpes-like virus infections in abalone – CSIRO Livestock Industries, Victoria This project will validate the newly developed test for abalone herpeslike virus, and roll out to other states; examine virus transmission

Profile emerges of abalone’s mysterious killer A new project will build on a DNA-based diagnostic test that is already helping protect abalone fisheries

Scientists who isolated the virus that is killing Victoria’s abalone are preparing to strike back against the infectious pathogen that has already cost industry $50 million in lost production, with capital losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars. An extremely sensitive diagnostic test has been developed for use by state authorities to contain the disease and by researchers looking for a treatment. Based on DNA technology, the test can detect low-level infections even before abalone start to show symptoms. The test’s sensitivity means wild populations can be screened for instances where abalone and the virus co-exist without a high incidence of disease. As with any outbreak, the identification of an ‘immune’ subpopulation – be it through variation in viral virulence, or in the abalone’s immune system or the environment – can help identify ways to protect susceptible populations. Already preliminary findings from wild Tasmanian stock suggest that high mortality rates among infected abalone may not be inevitable, a discovery that could point the way to rescuing the Victorian fishery. Heading the project on the FRDC’s behalf is Mark Crane, officer-incharge of CSIRO’s Fish Diseases Laboratory, located within Australia’s most biosecure research facility – the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria. Mark Crane says the virus surfaced in late 2005 when it caused the outbreak of a mysterious new disease that wiped out abalone on two

land-based farms. The disease was subsequently detected in nearby wild reef populations. Since then it has spread along 200 kilometres of Victoria’s western coast causing high mortality rates – often higher than 90 per cent – and the closure of large coastal areas to abalone fishing. “I visited one of the affected farms with a Victorian state veterinary pathologist,” Mark Crane says. “Essentially it was 100 per cent abalone mortality – the farm was devastated and had to be completely cleaned out.” Celia Hooper of Gribbles Veterinary Pathology was the first to describe the disease. Noting inflammation of the neural ganglia that run along the mollusc’s foot, the disease was named ‘ganglioneuritis’. Suspecting a viral infection, diseased abalone were sent to Mark Crane at the AAHL. There, the facilities and expertise existed to isolate and characterise the new pathogen. “Our electron microscopist, Alex Hyatt – who has probably seen every livestock disease-causing virus there is in Australia – detected particles that resembled the herpes virus,” Mark Crane says. “No such virus had been detected before in Australian abalone so this was a new disease as far as Australia was concerned.” Within the AAHL – where scientists must shower every time they exit the biosecure laboratories – Mark Crane’s team ran transmission trials. These proved that the virus extracted from sick abalone is sufficient to cause disease when injected into healthy animals or added to their

FISH June 2009

and determine the susceptibility of remnant populations of abalone previously exposed to abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) and known unexposed wild populations in SA.

Fisheries Social Sciences Research Coordination Program – KAL Analysis Pty Ltd, Victoria This project will establish a social research coordination program that will identify social research priorities and facilitate the development of research projects.

Empowering Industry R&D: Developing an industry-driven R&D model for the Australian fishing and seafood industry – partnerships to improve efficiency, profitability and performance – Fishwell Consulting, Victoria This project will help empower and build capacity within the broader seafood and fishing industry to identify and initiate relevant R&D projects with suitable partners.

Determination of the diets of snapper and Silver Trevally and construction of a food web for the demersal fish community in south-western Australia – Murdoch University The project aims to determine the diets of snapper and Silver Trevally on the lower west coast of Australia and how they change with body size and season.

Identifying factors affecting the low Western Rocklobster puerulus settlement in recent years – Department of Fisheries, Western Australia The project will assess environmental factors such as climate change (water temperature, current, wind, productivity, eddies) and breeding stock affecting puerulus settlement.

National Seafood Industry Leadership Program: 2009–11 – Rural Training Initiatives, Victoria This project aims to address the shortage of industry leaders in all sectors of the fishing industry.

Evaluating the potential use of change-in-ratio and index removal techniques for determining harvest rates and efficiency increases in the Western Rocklobster Fishery – Department of Fisheries, WA The project will assess current data sources and their potential for estimating harvest rates and increases in efficiency in the Western Rocklobster Fishery using change in ratio and index removal techniques; and evaluate whether additional sources of information are needed to produce more robust estimates of harvest rate and efficiency increase.

The 3M project – mentors, mentorees and mentoring seafood project – Rural Training Initiatives, Victoria This project aims to link senior seafood industry figures with new and emerging leaders.

Mark Crane

Photo: Frank Filippi, AAHL

water. In each trial, all the experimental animals in contact with the virus died within just six days. Those results became the turning-point in the investigation. By identifying the cause of the outbreak, it became possible to develop a diagnostic test specific for the newly identified virus. Mark Crane says that despite their non-cellular structure and miniscule size, herpes viruses contain DNA and it can be read using genome sequencing technology. As part of the FRDC’s research initiative, Simone Warner’s team at the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) purified the virus and sequenced its entire genome. Analysis found it resembles a herpes-like virus that occurs in European oysters. The diagnostic test developed by AAHL and DPI collaborators uses DNA sequence data and is based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology. The test relies on two small, man-made pieces of DNA (‘primers’) that are designed to specifically bind a short distance apart

Evaluation of population genetic structure in the Western Rocklobster – University of Western Australia This project aims to estimate effective population size of Western Rocklobster and test for severe bottlenecks in population size.

on the genome of the abalone virus. These then ‘prime’ replication of the intervening stretch of DNA, producing so many copies (‘amplicons’) that they can be detected using standard laboratory equipment. To maximise the test’s sensitivity, the ‘amplicons’ are detected by the inclusion of a third ‘primer’ that is chemically engineered to emit a flash of light when it binds to DNA. “The idea is that the more virus there is in a sample, the earlier it will start to fluoresce during testing,” Mark Crane says. “This gives rise to a sample’s ‘CT value’ where, for example, a value of 18 amounts to a strong positive and values over 40 are considered negative for the virus.” The test has been validated against abalone samples sent to the AAHL from Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, NSW and Victoria. Apart from confirming cases in Victoria, the test has detected virus in abalone from a Tasmanian processing plant and a restaurant in WA supplied from Victoria. The test is next being transferred to state diagnostic laboratories where it can serve as the frontline defence for abalone fisheries. Of particular interest to Mark Crane is the situation that has arisen in Tasmania where wild populations have mostly tested negative in the wild, but diseased animals have subsequently appeared in the processing plant after harvesting. “These observations indicate that the disease can remain subclinical or latent in the wild and that is an important discovery,” Mark Crane says. “Determining whether subclinical infection, as opposed to acute disease, is due to genetic resistance in abalone, environmental factors, or differences in virus strains may ultimately help identify ways to counter the disease.” This finding and other research, including work on the disease’s epidemiology, was funded in the latest round of FRDC funding. more information: Mark Crane, mark.crane@csiro.au

– Gio Braidotti

news

June 2009 FISH

Story REbecca Thyer

Industry elders sought for budding protégés Mentors are being sought to guide the next generation of industry and research leaders

wo new mentoring projects have begun in an effort to build seafood industry capacity – from the factory floor to university laboratories – and improve the manner in which knowledge is shared. One is an FRDC-funded project that aims to build an industry-based mentoring system, and the other an Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)-run initiative to build industry research capacity. Although targeting different sectors of the industry, Jill Briggs, who runs the FRDC-funded ‘Mentors, Mentorees and Mentoring (3M)’ project through her company Rural Training Initiatives, says the projects are complementary. “Together, we hope to build a significant mentoring process that allows for the transfer of knowledge across all industry facets.” The project fulfils a desire by those in the seafood industry to learn using ‘real world’ examples, she says. “People in the seafood industry want to learn using many different approaches, and informally sharing business and leadership experience is one way that is very popular.” It is hoped the project will help meet industry needs for an ongoing

generation of skilled and networked people who are willing to step into decision-making roles. Mentors will be formally involved with their mentorees for 12 months, learning about roles, expectations and ways to share information and transfer knowledge. About 13 mentoring relationships have started, with a view to reaching 30 partnerships by early 2010. Individuals who are willing to commit to a process of self-development, and knowledge and time-sharing are wanted. “People wishing to be mentors will be asked to commit to a mentoree for 12 months, initially. The hope is that after this period the young leaders will continue along the journey and become mentors for a new round of young leaders,” Jill Briggs says. These young leaders will also be given the opportunity to work with the Seafood CRC’s young scientists mentoring initiative. The program has a strong enduser focus, says Seafood CRC communications and education program manager Emily Downes, to ensure ‘industry ready’ graduates enter Australia’s seafood industry. The program will focus on helping research students and early career

scientists (such as postdoctoral research scientists) continue in seafood research or fisheries-related industry careers. It will do this by asking industry and emerging leaders, some from the 3M project, to co-supervise and mentor higher-degree students and postdoctoral research scientists. “This will help researchers gain industry and marketplace experience and strengthen mechanisms for the broader CRC community to adopt CRC innovations and develop a skill-based culture within industry,” Emily Downes says. It will also help researchers gain practical knowledge of the seafood industry first-hand and through that create a culture of collaborative research. It is hoped that the program will include 20 students and postdoctoral research scientists in its first year. FRDC executive director Patrick Hone says both projects will add to existing people-development work. “Sometimes you just need someone to speak to and to learn how things work from someone who has been there and done it before,” he says.  more information: Jill Briggs, 02 6035 7284, rti@dragnet.com.au; Emily Downes, 08 8201 7652, emily.downes@seafoodcrc.com

Aquaculture award for Tasmanian company Spring Bay Seafoods has won a Friend of the Sea award, the world’s first shellfish company to do so, recognising its best practice measures and contribution to working with a sustainable marine habitat. Based 100 kilometres north of Hobart, Spring Bay Seafoods won the aquaculture award in late April for its low-density Blue Mussel farming and closed-cycle hatchery production. The company’s Blue Mussels are rope-cultured deepwater mussels grown on suspended long-lines, 6 to 10 metres below the ocean surface. Managing director Phil Lamb said he was delighted and humbled by the recognition, particularly given Spring Bay Seafoods was the only aquaculture company to receive the award this year. “We believe this kind of sustainable practice is imperative for the

future of aquaculture and the preservation of our waters, environment and industry. We will continue to strive for excellence by engaging new and innovative ways to improve this vital aspect of our business.” Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, was equally pleased. “Friend of the Sea is a well-deserved recognition of an innovative Tasmanian company that is striving to achieve excellence in aquaculture and industry sustainability as well as further promoting the excellence that is inherent in the Tasmanian brand.” Friend of the Sea awards aim to encourage and motivate seafood companies to lower their impact on the environment and on exploited or endangered stocks. Established in 2006, Friend of the Sea also certifies both farmed and wild-caught seafood companies

(Left) Phil Lamb, managing director of Spring Bay Seafoods Tasmania, receives the Friend of the Sea award from Paolo Bray, director and founder of Friend of the Sea.

as ecologically sound following the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization guidelines. Spring Bay Seafoods recently attained Friend of the Sea certification. more information: www.friendofthesea.org

restocking

FISH June 2009

Story Catherine Norwood

Beach rescue bid for Pipis

Having been elevated from their status as bait to that of a sought-after delicacy in Asian cuisine, Pipi populations are now in dramatic decline in NSW. One group of fishers hopes to turn this around by restocking beaches

hen the popular bait Donax deltoides, most commonly known now as the Pipi, became a sought-after Asian delicacy in the 1990s, particularly in Sydney’s Asian restaurants, prices skyrocketed, as did its popularity with fishers. Average prices at the Sydney Fish Market increased from about $2 a kilogram to $17 a kilogram, with Pipis recently fetching as much as $40 a kilogram. Unfortunately, its increased popularity has been followed by a sharp decline in harvests – a result of overfishing by both commercial and recreational fishers – threatening the sustainability of the fishery and the viability of its fishers. During the past five years commercial Pipi harvests have fallen by 84 per cent from a peak of 403 tonnes in 2004 to a low of 65 tonnes in 2007, according to Sydney Fish Market figures. Although higher prices Photo: Mark Phelps helped to maintain the value of the industry in NSW, it still dropped from $1.8 million in 2005 to $0.7 million in 2007 – a figure that an association of NSW Pipi fishers want to address by improving harvests, economics and sustainability. A recently completed project, funded by the FRDC through its industry-driven Tactical Research Fund, is enabling the association to move closer to that goal. The Shellfish Quality Assurance Association (SQAA), an association for commercial Pipi fishers based in zone four – one of seven zones in the NSW Estuary General Fishery – undertook an assessment on reseeding NSW beaches with Pipis, finding that doing so would be economically viable. Pipis are hand-harvested from NSW beaches by commercial fishers licensed to particular zones. Zone four, from Tuggerah to Crowdy Head on NSW’s

central and mid-north coast, has traditionally been the most productive for Pipis, with annual harvests of up to 200 tonnes. Now it is one of the worst affected by the downturn in stocks. SQAA coordinator Mark Phelps says production in 2008 was less than 15 tonnes. He says increasing demand from all sectors for Pipis means there are “virtually none left” along zone-four beaches, prompting SQAA to initiate

no figures are available for Pipis. Mark Phelps says the aim is to restore production from zonefour beaches to about 110 tonnes a year, with an average Pipi weight of 31 grams. “This is the level of production that used to come from our most productive beach, Stockton Beach, on the NSW central coast, which is the ultimate target for a reseeding program.” The report also identified that hatchery production costs and survival rates would be critical and so the SQAA is hoping to work with the NSW – Mark Phelps Department of Primary Industries’ Port Stephens Fisheries Institute to assess Pipi spat production techniques. SQAA believes that these techniques can be adapted from techniques used for other bivalve species such as scallops and oysters. Funding is being sought to assess production costs. If these costs are within the range of the management changes. This includes economic modelling, the next step a minimum size of 35 millimetres for will be trials with University of New commercial collection and a closed England researchers to assess survival season from January to June 2009, a rates. Yagon Beach in the Myall Lakes closure that will be reviewed annually. National Park has been proposed as “We hope the closed season and a potential trial site, and the National size limits will help, but we believe Parks and Wildlife Service have reseeding beaches is more likely to help provided preliminary ‘in principle’ the fishery recover,” Mark Phelps says. support. The SQAA report Economic Viability Mark Phelps says it is uncertain of Pipi (Donax deltoides) Reseeding what caused the dramatic decline in indicates that reseeding would bring a Pipis; although over-harvesting is the benefit-cost ratio of 3.34 to 1, returning most likely cause, a virus and natural initial investment in two years, based variation have also been suggested as on 2008’s average Sydney Fish Market contributing factors. price of $17.46 a kilogram. However, with demand for the The economic modelling was based shellfish buoyant, he says reseeding, on reseeding beaches with 28.4 million and other management strategies have Pipis measuring 5 millimetres in size. the potential to rebuild a sustainable The modelled survival rate to harvest and increasingly valuable Pipi fishery was 14.1 per cent – about four million in NSW.  Pipis. Hatchery costs were based on FRDC Research Code 2008/071 those of Sydney Rock Oysters because More information: Mark Phelps, 02 4981 3716

“ We hope the closed season and size limits will help, but we believe reseeding beaches is more likely to help the fishery recover.”

climate change

June 2009 FISH

Story Melissa Branagh-McConachy

Extreme weather tests fishing infrastructure With climate change likely to generate more frequent floods, some in the aquaculture industry are considering a more strategic approach to risk management

s fires swept through river catchments outside Melbourne in February, heavy rains and floods were devastating oyster and prawn farms in New South Wales and northern Queensland. The two weather extremes renewed calls for a more strategic approach to aquaculture risk management. While scientists say these events cannot be directly connected to climate change – a long-term phenomenon – they do warn that climate change is likely to generate more frequent floods and more severe droughts. The question for the fishing industry, particularly aquaculture, is how to prepare for and minimise the impacts of extreme weather events, especially if they become more frequent. NSW Farmers Association Oyster Committee chair Mark Bulley knows personally what floods can do. He is yet to calculate the financial damage that back-to-back floods in February caused his Hastings River oyster business. Further north, Queensland prawn farmer Francois Naude can also attest to the damaging power of a deluge. He was on track to make a healthy return on investment before February’s inundation, which cost him several million dollars – and almost his life. Unfortunately, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) head of climate analysis, David Jones, says extreme events will become more intense and more regular. He stresses the need for industry preparation and a wider response to limit the impacts of climate change. “Along most of the eastern seaboard rainfall has declined over the past 30 years and one very wet summer doesn’t change that trend,” he says. “We have seen a lot of unusual things happening – many, such as the recent heat waves in southern Australia, have a link to climate change. We have always had floods, but in a warming climate the atmosphere holds more moisture, increasing humidity and the likelihood of excessive summer rainfall and severe flooding.” David Jones says global warming will generate hydrology extremes, “more intense floods and droughts”, with water temperatures expected to increase between 2˚C and 5˚C this century.

“The waters around Australia are already warming,” he says. Analysis by CSIRO has shown that tuna and a number of other stocks are moving ‘polewards’, while other fisheries are growing more quickly in the warmer conditions. This may be initially beneficial but damaging if their tolerance to these higher temperatures is exceeded. An assessment of the impact of climate change on exceptional climatic events, prepared by the BoM and CSIRO for the Australian Government’s National Review of Drought Policy, concluded that extremely hot years, which have transpired once every 20 years, on average, are likely to occur about twice as often and over twice the usual area. Determined to see what he considers “one of the coast’s oldest surviving primary industries” continue, NSW oyster farmer Mark Bulley is exploring effective risk management options. He hopes these will ensure that other oyster farmers are equipped to handle future change and still achieve annual production worth more than $70 million. “Australia remains one of the few countries in the world where native oysters have not been wiped out,” he says. The Sydney Rock Oyster, which accounts for 94 per cent of edible oyster production in NSW, is predominantly cultured in estuarine areas and rivers along the NSW coast, where one-third of the state’s oyster farmers were affected by heavy rains this year and similar conditions last April. “All harvest zones between the Hawkesbury and Tweed Heads were out of action at times because of the rain, which put enormous pressure on farmers down south,” Mark Bulley says. In early May, his Hastings River business had been closed for more than 60 days. Because the oysters do not feed in fresh water it was too early to know how many shellfish had survived the downpours. “There was little opportunity for recovery to saline conditions between the first and second floods so we couldn’t harvest and have subsequently been reluctant to handle the oysters because of the fresh water,” Mark Bulley says. “Acid sulphate water that runs off the land into the estuaries during flooding is another serious issue. It has the potential to destroy stocks and can kill juvenile oysters, fish

FISH June 2009

(Above left) Coral Sea Farms’ entrance post-flooding and (above right) during the floods. (Below left) NSW Farmers Association Oyster Committee chair Mark Bulley indicates flood height against a jetty on the Hastings River. Photo: Kim Honan, ABC Photo: Kim Honan, ABC

(Above) scientists say selective breeding for oysters that can withstand warmer water temperatures is vital to ensure the industry’s sustainability. (Below) damage to punts as a result of the floods.

climate change

June 2009 FISH

and oyster larvae, as well as other microorganisms that are pump water into the ponds and I had to pay a helicopter part of the food chain.” company to make vital deliveries of prawn feed.” Mark Bulley says the temporary zero oyster output could The business, Coral Sea Farms, has an average prawn have a significant impact on some farmers, depending on output of 250,000 tonnes a year. About 60 tonnes of awardharvest stage at the time of flooding. But he adds that the winning Black Tiger Prawns did not survive – a loss of about effect on immature stock is of greatest concern. Hastings $750,000. Francois Naude values larvae losses at a further River produces a substantial number of juveniles for the rest $300,000 to $500,000. of the NSW industry, which has an annual farm-gate value of Prawn farms 50 kilometres further north were unaffected, $36 million, and biosecurity issues restrict where farmers can in fact the floods flushed the system and produced record source stock. Oysters will not grow in fresh water and if they yields at several Queensland farms, contributing to one of spawn at the beginning of a flood, juveniles can be swept out the best seasons the $65 million Australian prawn industry to sea. “Unlike Tasmania,” he says, “in NSW we rely mainly has seen in 30 years. on natural spat fall. We have limited Francois Naude believes his access to hatcheries.” experience highlights the need for This is why he says the industry improved industry risk management, has to look for ways to lessen supply such as construction of higher ponds. inconsistencies. “Increased water temperatures Mark Bulley has been working shouldn’t prove problematic given with the industry-owned Select Oyster that warm brackish water is optimum Company and the NSW Government for prawn growth, but if the water to establish selective lines for had risen another foot we would hatchery production. have lost the farm,” he says, adding “Sydney Rock Oysters have that financial losses will now impede provided some challenges in relation infrastructure development on his to hatchery production, but with own property. the dedication of oyster expert Alistair Hobday, a senior research Wayne O’Connor, from the NSW scientist at CSIRO Marine and Department of Primary Industries, Atmospheric Research, says that in and industry commitment we are addition to engineering solutions making great progress,” he says. such as pond gates that can insulate –Wayne O’Connor, NSW DPI “I do not know whether the NSW against floods and rack elevator oyster industry will rely totally on devices, the capacity to improve hatchery production, but I believe it seasonal forecasts and extreme event will become an important part of the supply program as it projections is an important short-term adaptation strategy. provides the opportunity to breed oysters for special traits The contributor to the Nobel Prize-winning such as disease resistance, faster growth and conditioning, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report says thereby improving risk management.” selective breeding for animals that can withstand warmer Any variation in water height – climate change is water temperatures – an approach adopted by the salmon predicted to raise sea levels – would not be an issue, he says, industry – is also vital to ensure the sustainability of because flood gauges monitor water height and oyster racks industries like oysters. can be mechanically adjusted. However, chemical differences “The oyster is the only animal we farm that we don’t and higher water temperatures could impact on pH levels feed or raise – food and spat are both sourced from and nutrient availability, causing industry relocation or, in a the environment,” he says. “Breeding oysters that are worst-case scenario, shutdown. more tolerant of fresh water flux (including inconsistent Mark Bulley says there is a need for more research temperature and storm events) should therefore be a trialling production under forecast conditions with a view to priority.” breeding suitable strains if necessary. He says this applies to Alistair Hobday says other strategies include relocation to the oyster industry nationally. Australia’s other major variety areas where the river system is not as prone to flooding, or to – Pacific Oysters – are grown in a few NSW estuaries but are cooler waters. There is already evidence that several species predominantly cultivated in Tasmania and South Australia. of phytoplankton – the microscopic direct food source of In North Queensland, prawn producer Francois Naude oysters and other shoreline filter feeders – are moving south. concedes he also has become more vigilant since his He says the effects of climate change will have both positive Seymour River sea farm near Ingham, north of Townsville, and negative implications for aquaculture. “Faster production was ravaged in February. He almost drowned trying to save cycles and higher rates of reproduction are evident in the a horse in the 1.5-metre floodwaters that swept through his prawn industry, and warming is also generating farming property, causing production losses, workshop damage and opportunities in southern waters, but storm events will equipment write-offs totalling about $2 million. continue to damage infrastructure,” he says.  “The floodwater didn’t enter the saltwater ponds, but More information: Mark Bulley, 02 6583 2444, markbulley@bigpond.com; the volume of rainwater diluted salinity levels, putting the Francois Naude, 07 4777 2797, naude@coralseafarms.com.au; Alistair Hobday, prawns under extreme stress,” he says. “The aerators were 03 6232 5310, alistair.hobday@csiro.au; David Jones, 03 9669 4085, ruined and the generators malfunctioned, so I couldn’t d.jones@bom.gov.au

Variation in water height would not be an issue because flood gauges monitor water height and oyster racks can be mechanically adjusted. However, chemical differences and higher water temperatures could impact on pH levels and nutrient availability, causing industry relocation or, in a worst-case scenario, shutdown.

oyster research

FISH June 2009

Story Melissa Branagh-McConachy

Healthy riverine diet key to oyster revival Understanding oysters’ diets has helped a European aquaculture researcher transform oyster farming in New South Wales. Now, after a stint at the FRDC, Ana Rubio is back on the NSW coast working with oysters

hen Spanish scientist Ana Rubio travelled to Australia seven years ago she was on a mission. She aimed to reverse a 30-year production decline in the Sydney Rock Oyster industry’s development and also escape the weather in England, where she was based. She has succeeded on both fronts. Her work with growers in the Clyde River estuary at Batemans Bay and in the Shoalhaven River off Nowra has helped to improve understanding of the environmental drivers and constraints that influence the southern NSW oyster industry, leading to a stockingrate decision tool. And Ana Rubio and her British partner have recently being awarded permanent Australian residency, providing a lasting respite from the northern hemisphere’s climate. Soon after her arrival in Australia Ana Rubio embarked on a three-year PhD, hoping to identify the reasons why Sydney Rock Oyster production was mysteriously declining. A joint scholarship at the Australian National University and CSIRO Land and Water, under the supervision of Ian White and Phillip Ford respectively, involved an FRDC-funded project studying how environmental flows affected the indigenous oyster industry’s sustainability in NSW. The objective was to develop a reliable model to predict optimal estuarine-carrying capacity. This meant identifying every item that oysters in the Clyde River consumed, matching the diet to the river’s available nutrients, then determining why some parts of the estuary produce better oysters than others. Ana Rubio used carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to identify the food source and food levels, respectively, in the Clyde River, where benthic diatoms (a common type of phytoplankton) were recognised as the filter feeders’ major dietary component. This led to the development of an oyster condition index, and comparative studies in the Shoalhaven estuary confirmed that it is a useful indicator of performance in terms of stocking density. This allows growers to assess production-carrying capacity in a

Scientist Ana Rubio collects samples off an oyster punt in NSW; her FRDC-funded research has helped to reverse a Sydney Rock Oyster production decline.

specific area. “Condition levels decreased with increasing stocking density, even when there was no statistically significant trend in oyster growth,” she says. “The project also established a strong correlation between Sydney Rock Oyster growth and temperature.” Ana Rubio says the work also found that Sydney Rock Oysters prefer high nitrogen foods, but says the research must be replicated in other estuaries throughout NSW to improve industrywide farm management. “If we know what oysters eat, we can measure food availability and concentration, water quality and flushing, and oyster filtration capacity, therefore determining how productive a particular area is,” she says. “Statewide research would inform the development of a complex computer model for the use of oyster farmers and fisheries.” In the Clyde River, where oyster farmers believed the river was overstocked, Ana Rubio’s legacy is a greater awareness of how the estuary functions, environmentally and ecologically, and how this information can be applied for commercial benefit. NSW oyster farmers are now developing national networks with their interstate counterparts, and the Clyde Oyster Cluster Group, which evolved under Ana Rubio’s influence, recently won an award in recognition of its

environmental management system. “When I first moved here, NSW oyster farmers were a long way behind Europe and not as progressive as some farmers in other states, particularly Tasmania, in terms of their basic scientific knowledge and management practices,” she says. “They are now much more proactive and have moved forward very quickly. There have been significant improvements in environmental and disease management, and growers are interacting more with other stakeholders in their waterways to mitigate the effect of catchment activity on the environment and protect water quality.” After completing her PhD, Ana Rubio conducted similar research at the Paspaley Pearling Company in Darwin, before joining the FRDC in a project management capacity last year. But the lure of hands-on oyster research proved strong. Ana Rubio departed the FRDC in April to help oyster farmers along the NSW south coast implement an environmental management system through the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. She says she enjoys “implementing research findings to realise useful benefits” – and hopes industry funding becomes available for more extension work in future.  FRDC research code 2004/224 more information: Ana Rubio, 0427 285 999, anarubio.zuazo@gmail.com

economics

June 2009 FISH

Story Robert Curtotti

Dollar’s dip helps balance out financial crunch Lower exchange rates and fuel costs have helped to moderate the impact of the global financial crisis on Australia’s fishing industry

he global financial crisis has led to a marked slowdown in economic growth and, as with most commodity prices, export prices for fish products are easing in key markets. This is particularly the case for some of the higher-value fish products that Australia regularly exports, such as rocklobster, tuna, prawn, abalone and pearl products. These products comprised 86 per cent of Australia’s total fishery exports (by value) in 200708, estimated to be $1.3 billion. But expenditure on these products is relatively discretionary and consumers often turn away from them in lean times. As such, export prices have fallen across a broad range of fish products. For example, after rocklobster rose strongly from $45 in July 2008 to peak at $72 a kilogram in October 2008, the average per kilogram export unit value for whole rocklobster dropped by 60 per cent to $44.70 a kilogram by December 2008. It is the same story for prawns, tuna and crab. Prawn producers are reporting significant reductions in prices – about 20 per cent in US dollar terms – on prices received early last year, and in Japan tuna prices have softened along with a decrease in quantities demanded. Driven by lower demand from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the average export unit value for crabs peaked at $21 a kilogram in December 2008 and then dropped 30 per cent to about $16 a kilogram in February this year. Yet for some sectors of the industry the full effects of the

Export prices for higher-value fish products such as tuna are easing with the economic slowdown brought on by the global financial crisis. Photo: Brad Collis

global financial crisis on demand are yet to be felt because demand is still high or exchange rates are working in their favour. The Chinese New Year saw Australian abalone exports peak at $28 million in December, the period of greatest abalone demand in Hong Kong and China. Abalone exports to Hong Kong and China have remained steady for the first eight months of the 2008-09 financial year, at about $22 million per month. The average export unit value also remained stable at about $64 a kilogram. Demand for Bêche-de-mer, or sea cucumber, products in Asian markets, harvested from many of northern Australia’s coastal regions, has also been steady owing to their popularity in Asia as a premium food with high nutritional content and health attributes. Australia’s fishing sector, as both an export-oriented and import-competing industry, is susceptible to any exchange rate changes. The sharp depreciation of the Australian dollar relative to its US counterpart since the latter part of 2008 – falling from more than 90 US cents to about 70 US cents – is having several effects on the industry. For industry sectors that export much of their output, the depreciation of the Australian exchange rate against the US dollar has helped to moderate the drop in demand. For example, for the first eight months of 2008-09 pearl exports have nearly doubled in value, reaching $271 million. For those parts of the local industry that compete with imported fish products, the depreciation of the Australian

FISH June 2009

Figure 1 Fish product trade by month

Figure 2 Gross value of production

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dollar against the US dollar has also been positive, reducing the competitiveness of imports. For example, the unit value of Australian imports of tuna (predominantly canned tuna) increased from about $4.50 a kilogram in February 2008 to about $7 a kilogram in February this year. A higher Australian unit value for imported fish is driving some substitution in consumer demand toward local product. Since December last year the value of fishery product imports has declined by 36 per cent to $120 million in February 2009.

Impacts on fishing costs The global financial crisis has had a somewhat positive impact on fishing costs. A sharp turnaround in international crude oil prices – which fell from a peak of US$145 a barrel in 2008 to average about US$48 a barrel in March 2009 – is helping industries that rely heavily on fuel oil derivatives as an operations input. Diesel fuel is an important input to fishing activity, especially in trawl activities, and typically accounts for more than 20 per cent of total operating cash costs. However, for some other imported inputs, operators may experience higher costs as a result of the sharp depreciation of the Australian dollar.

Future outlook Since peaking in 1999-00 at more than $3 billion, the gross value of fisheries production declined steadily throughout 2000-01 to 2004-05 to $2.3 billion – a value at which it has since stabilised. Rocklobster (with a beach price value of $407 million), tuna ($211 million), prawn ($256 million), abalone ($196 million) and pearls ($110 million) comprised 54 per cent of total fishery production in 2007-08. Recent forecasts by ABARE are for a rise of six per cent in the gross value of fisheries production over 2007-08 levels by 2009-10, with production forecast to increase by 1.6 per cent to reach $2,267 billion in 2008-09.

Pearls

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Exports by numbers In 2007-08 most rocklobsters (55 per cent) were exported to Hong Kong. Other markets included Japan (16 per cent), and Taiwan and the US (11 per cent each). Most tuna and prawn exports go to Japan, which accounts for 87 per cent and 36 per cent of total Australian exports of these products respectively. Abalone is mainly exported to Hong Kong (64 per cent), Japan (16 per cent), Singapore (10 per cent), China (3 per cent) and the US (1 per cent). Wildcatch and cultured pearls are exported mainly to Hong Kong (48 per cent), Japan (20 per cent), Europe (13 per cent) and the US (8 per cent).

Increased prawn production in northern Australia will drive this growth, a result of a more pronounced wet period in early 2009. Higher rocklobster beach prices in the early part of the 2008-09 financial year will also help. A further four per cent increase in the gross value of fisheries production is forecast in 2009-10 because of investment in capacity in the tuna ranching industry. Tuna farmers are investing steadily in R&D and, as a result, have been gradually increasing the sectors’ growth and feed conversion rates. Increased productivity in the tuna industry is expected to generate a significant increase in gross value of production in the sector, which is forecast to increase by 25 per cent from 2007-08 levels by 2009-10, to about $270 million. The recent depreciation of the exchange rate is also expected to support export demand over the period to 2009‑10, as Australia’s export competitiveness has improved.  more information: Robert Curtotti, ABARE Fisheries section manager, rcurtotti@abare.gov.au

June 2009 FISH

special feature: Fisheries Review Story Julian Cribb

A decade in review During the past decade the FRDC has invested more than half a billion dollars in fisheries-related R&D, helping the sector move forward. In this, the final instalment of a two-part series that tracks the FRDC’s past decade, that industry-driven approach to R&D is outlined

he past decade has seen Australia’s fishing sector embrace the future. Through research and development, aquaculture has emerged as a major high-tech industry; environmentally sensitive technologies or management plans have been adopted; and seafood has been repositioned as a high-value health food. The decade has also seen the forging of a genuine partnership between fishers, managers and scientists and the appearance of recreational angling as a potent sector in its own right. Yet, despite the many fisheries research success stories leading up to the decade’s midway point (2001), reflected in an increase in industry contributions, market and institutional failures in the supply chain continued to dog the industry in capitalising on its opportunities. In 2002 Seafood Services Australia – previously a series of joint-venture researcher projects – formally incorporated to become an engine for industry-wide innovation. This covered value-adding, product design and quality, management systems for ecologically sustainable development (ESD), market development, fish names and technical advice. In particular it embodied development activities springing from FRDC research. The thirst for knowledge around Australia’s fisheries appeared insatiable and, despite steady growth in industry revenues, the FRDC found itself only able to fund two out of five of the research applications before it – those of the very highest priority. These included a harvest strategy model that allowed managers to predict the maximum sustainable yield of the trawler industry around the Great Barrier Reef, and a major habitat study of the Southeast Trawl Fishery, designed to better manage its impact on the seabed. Efforts were being

made to take the boom/bust cycle out of scallop dredging around southern Australia through a better understanding of both biology and environmental impacts, and studies of line fishing were carried out with similar aims in mind. A watershed national survey of recreational anglers found that about 19 per cent (or 3.6 million) of the population fished, in the process taking about 125 million individual fish, crustaceans and molluscs totalling 35,000 tonnes, and spending $1.3 billion on their activity. At the same time an audit of the nation’s 971 estuaries revealed that half were significantly modified as far as fish were concerned, the rest being close to pristine. “It was an eye-opener,” says Patrick Hone, the FRDC’s executive director. “It highlighted that recreational angling is both a big business and a complex one involving many different species, interests and activities. It led to distinctive research being carried out to make it more sustainable.” From bycatch exclusion there were signs the professional fishing industry was moving at a gratifying pace towards embracing ESD. “The fishing industry is like any other: there are saints and there are sinners,” said bycatch principal investigator Julie Robins. “Fortunately, some are willing to share their knowledge, experience and vessels with us so the industry could accept bycatch-reduction devices. They could see this was a necessary step towards sustainable trawling.” In other developments, Australia’s richest aquaculture industry at the time – pearls – underwent an environmental risk and impact assessment and took on board advice on how to improve its performance. In Western Australia, eight years of research into freshwater crayfish farming was starting to pay off in new ways to breed, feed and husband yabbies and Marron, enabling farmers to produce marketable animals

FISH June 2009

illustration: Paul Dickenson

that grew at twice the rate of their wild cousins. Major outcomes that year included a national ESD In 2002-03 the major challenge was still fiscal – finding reporting framework and website, a ‘how to’ guide to enough money to carry out all the research needed – and wild fisheries and a guide to assist in the choice of the ESD remained the central goal of research policy. The right environmental management systems. At the same fishing industry produced 233,000 tonnes of product worth time, research into under-utilised fisheries was under $2.4 billion, up from $1.8 billion a decade earlier. way, including pilchards in southern waters, longlining By now aquaculture was firmly established as one of the for broadbill, swordfish and tuna in the Pacific, and nation’s glamour growth sectors, its value trebling in a decade the Patagonian Toothfish Fishery off Heard and to $733 million and a real growth rate year-on-year of 11 per McDonald Islands. cent. Already it was supplying nearly a third, by value, of the The FRDC stepped up its role as a major publisher, total fish harvest, rising to 45 per cent by the present day. producing works explaining to anglers how to catch and Greater research effort was also going into helping release fish safely, the Story of Seafood in Australia, a field traditional fisheries, operated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait guide to sharks and rays, and studies of scallop culture and Islander people under customary laws, which fell outside estuary health. normal fisheries regulation. A 2001 High Court decision Energetic research focus was now being devoted to gave Indigenous people the right to fish the seas wherever reducing waste; the waste of fish in the processing pipeline the traditional relationship had been and the use of fish in the global maintained, adding that this should stockfeed trade, where almost a third of coexist with other rights. Lately this the world’s catch was ending up. The has developed into a quest to see how goal was to find stockfeed substitutes fishing can help address the health, that would free up more of the actual With its partners, the Australian fitness and social wellbeing challenges fish caught, their oils and other Government and the seafood industry, the facing Indigenous communities. products for human consumption, FRDC has invested more than $500 million By the early 2000s, one of the rather than feeding them to animals. in fisheries-related R&D during the greatest challenges for the FRDC’s Better understanding of the nutritional past decade. It is an investment that research managers – how to measure needs of salmon, Murray Cod, abalone covers natural resources management the return on investment, especially and snapper enabled researchers to and sustainability to building industry in non-monetary areas such as ESD design superior aquaculture diets. capacity and people development. – was gradually being mastered. Five The accent was also strongly on Decisions on where and what to invest major cost-benefit analyses were putting more dollars in fishers’ pockets in have been driven largely by Australian commissioned each year to gain insight by increasing the market value of Government priorities and the needs of into this. The corporation’s research their catch through novel products, the seafood industry, which clearly sees goals were fine-tuned to fit the Howard value-adding, more environmentally value and a return on its investment. Government’s new National Research sustainable methods and the Industry’s contribution has more than Priorities, such as environmental development of new markets. doubled from $3.2 million in 1997-98 to sustainability, a healthy community, The Tasmanian rocklobster industry $7.5 million in 2007-08. frontier technology for industry and provides convincing evidence of safeguarding the nation. the changes taking hold in fisheries

Investment

management over the past five years. Using satellite tracking, computer models and an understanding of larval biology, researchers were able to clarify the larval lifecycle and recruitment patterns, convincing fishers of the need to protect breeding stock to ensure a sustainable catch in future years, and highlighting the value of partnership between fishers, managers and researchers. By 2004-05 a similar partnership approach had brought about a remarkable turnaround in the northern tiger prawn industry after some years of being rated as ‘overfished’, with stocks rebuilt to levels deemed ‘sustainable’ in the future. On the other side of the continent, snapper in Shark Bay were on the way back following intensive monitoring of catches and bycatch, while in South Australia the Spencer Gulf prawns had also rebounded from a dip. Research achievements included the world-first measurements of activity and oxygen metabolism in caged Southern Bluefin Tuna as part of the Aquafin Cooperative Research Centre. Most significantly, the fishing industry’s ESD framework was adopted by Australia’s farming sector: clear proof of the intellectual leadership that was now emerging from the fishing sector. At the same time, industry financial contributions had begun to climb strongly. In 2004 they surpassed the figure matched by the Commonwealth by 14 per cent, indicating that fishers and companies were now seeing a real return on their scientific investment. By this stage it was calculated that the nation was earning $3.85 from every dollar put into fisheries research. The following year saw fresh advances in stock assessment: a better grasp of mortality in Southern Bluefin Tuna led to greater confidence in stock estimates; and shark risk assessment blazed the trail for a national risk assessment template for marine species. New environmentally friendly trawl gear was introduced. Clever isotope analysis of what oysters eat enabled Clyde River oyster farmers to fine-tune production according to the food supply and better manage the riverine environment. Research began into fish that migrate between fresh water and the sea – a group of species potentially at risk from land-based development and fishing in both environments. National conferences on rocklobsters and directions in seafood continued to deliver the latest findings to industry, activities that were clearly paying off as industry, in turn, doubled its unmatched funding component to 28 per cent, a figure that rose again the following year. By 2006-07 the total value of Australia’s commercial and recreational fisheries had reached $4 billion, underpinned by a combined annual research budget of $53 million. Queensland fishers were leaping onto the new square-mesh codends, which significantly cut bycatch without reducing the target catch; WA found, to its pleasure, that species’ abundance and richness was not significantly different in fished and unfished parts of its seas; the Great Barrier Reef had been mapped in its entirety, enabling sustainability indicators to be developed; Australian seafood received

June 2009 FISH

star billing at the European Seafood Expo in Brussels; and researchers found a new use for old lobster heads – helping to alleviate the pain of arthritis. In Sydney, 10 leading seafood companies took part in the nation’s leading restaurant trade show and in WA the nation’s rising young chefs went on a public seafood tour. A crowning outcome to a decade of rising investment in fish research were two scientific world-firsts, both signifying the extent to which industry had now embraced the idea of doing its own R&D to secure its future. In WA, MG Kailis successfully produced juveniles of the succulent Tropical Rocklobster for the first time, and in the south the Stehr Group produced the first Southern Bluefin Tuna larvae, laying the ground for totally sustainable harvests. It was an unambiguous signal that, in less than 10 years, Australia’s fishing industry had come a long way and could now see its future founded on science and sustainability. Looking back, Peter Dundas-Smith sees the gravitational role of research in drawing together the different parts of the industry – managers, fishers and scientists – and the different jurisdictions, federal and state, as one of the most significant but rarely mentioned outcomes. The emergence of two strong, vibrant and new activities in aquaculture and post-harvest was economically of huge significance. On the sustainability front, the voluntary adoption by many of Australia’s fisheries of environment management plans based on scientific indicators was proof of the desire of fishers for their grandchildren to follow them. “Among the most important science was that which helped transform tuna from a wild-caught to a culture-based industry,” Peter Dundas-Smith says. “At the same time stockassessment methods improved dramatically, thanks largely to CSIRO, and it was this that led to Australia being seen as a global leader in fisheries management.” Patrick Hone, who took over as the FRDC’s executive director in 2005, sees the emergence of a national approach to managing research, combined with its regional development and implementation, as being of profound significance. “But the conference in Geelong in 2000, where ESD was adopted, was also a huge turning point,” he says. “Before that we had no real quantitative measures, no report cards. From there on we could say with confidence we had a complete picture of a fishery. That changed the landscape completely – and was picked up round the world.” Another subtle but far-reaching change, he adds, is the recognition that fisheries management is more about people – their skills, hopes and aspirations – than about managing fish. This has led to a five-fold increase in the investment the industry now makes in training and developing its human capital. After a decade of transformation, today there is little sign the pace of change in fishing is easing. In fact, as global catches dwindle the Australian approach is becoming more relevant than ever – science and cooperation are securing the future. 

scholarships

FISH June 2009

Story Catherine Norwood

Tour to take in world’s best prawn processors

he winner of the inaugural professional development scholarship for women in the Australian seafood industry, Anni Conn, will visit the world’s leading prawn processors in Europe and the US this year to further her industry education. The business manager for Queensland prawn producer Seafarm, Anni Conn has been awarded a $6000 scholarship, jointly sponsored by the FRDC and the Women’s Industry Network Seafood Community. The scholarship will contribute to the cost of a study tour of some of the world’s largest and most innovative prawn processing facilities. She hopes to bring back information on novel technologies and more efficient processes that could benefit the Australian prawn industry. “There is also a lot of interest in the seafood industry about what happens to our product post-harvest: how do we present our product better and make it easier, more convenient for consumers to select seafood? “I am planning to visit some of the leading European and US supermarkets to look at how they are presenting their seafood, and then to follow the processing and marketing back through the supply chain, which I hope will give me some ideas about the kind of processing and marketing options that might work in Australia.” Her tour will include state-ofthe-art, fully-automated prawn processing plants in Europe, such as those operated by Lyons Seafoods at Warminster in the UK; Goldfish B.V. in Volendam, Holland; Heiploeg in Zoutkamp, Holland; and Pescanova-

owned U-Antartida in Spain. “The sheer scale of these set-ups will be valuable to observe,” Anni Conn says. “It will also be useful to understand the logistics involved in the transportation and delivery of post-harvest product that supplies the plant.” In addition to her study tour, Anni Conn is also taking part in the FRDC’s National Seafood Industry Leadership Program this year, which she says is a great opportunity to gain valuable professional leadership skills and contribute to a sustainable future for the seafood industry. Anni Conn is originally from England and, after graduating with a Masters in Fisheries and Aquaculture from the University of Plymouth, she migrated to Australia in 1998. She worked for the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, in the Freshwater Fisheries section at Snob’s Creek, near Lake Eildon, for four years before joining Goulburn River Trout, Australia’s largest rainbow trout farm. In her five years with the company she has moved from a technical to a business and sales role. Moving to Queensland in 2006, she joined one of Australia’s largest prawnfarming companies, Seafarm, as business manager at the company’s Mossman site, north of Port Douglas. There she facilitates production of 250 tonnes of Crystal Bay prawns a year. She says it is a rewarding position, producing a topquality product that receives accolades from the market. “It is satisfying to be able to pleasantly surprise people unfamiliar with farmed seafood with the sweet flavour and delicate texture of our prawns,” she says. 

Seafarm business manager Anni Conn is winner of the inaugural professional development scholarship for women in the Australian seafood industry.

Nuffield scholarship up for grabs Applications for a Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarship worth $27,000 close this month. The FRDC-funded scholarship – available to an aquaculture and/or fish producer – is one of 20 being offered by Nuffield Australia for 2010. The scholarships aim to improve Australian agriculture’s capacity to respond to growing global economic and environmental challenges. Nuffield Australia chairman David Brownhill says it has never been more important for Australian farmers to gain first-hand knowledge of global agriculture, which has entered a new, highly volatile era. “Nuffield Australia gives young farmers and farm managers the opportunity to explore these issues as they are occurring, bringing back the latest ideas from their international travels to help Australian agriculture develop strategies to meet these challenges,” he says. This is the third year the FRDC has sponsored a Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarship. Previous recipients are South Australia’s Lester Marshall, a Coffin Bay oyster producer who travelled to the UK as a 2008 scholar; and Adam Butterworth, an oyster seed producer from SA, who is travelling to Israel, the US, Japan and China this year as a 2009 scholar. The 2010 scholarship includes participation in a compulsory six-week Global Focus Program to Canada, the US and the UK, followed by a further 10 weeks of international travel as part of each scholar’s individual study tour. Scholars are selected for their farming and leadership capabilities, and potential to make a valuable contribution to Australian agriculture. They join a growing international network of Nuffield scholars, which has more than 200 members in Australia and 1300 members worldwide. Successful scholars will be announced in October 2009. Application forms are available from Nuffield Australia and applications close on 30 June 2009. more information: Nuffield Australia, 03 5480 0755, enquiries@nuffield.com.au, www.nuffield.com.au

stock assessment

June 2009 FISH

Story Rebecca Thyer

The search is on to find missing lobster recruits James Scandol

Unusually strong upwellings could be behind recent below average rocklobster numbers.

Used to help fisheries managers build economically and environmentally sustainable management plans, stock assessment is also uncovering more about Australia’s underwater populations

he usual ‘balancing of the books’ for stock assessment delivered a bit of a shock for those charged with monitoring Tasmania’s Southern Rocklobster population. The fishery, with a market capitalisation of about $300 million, has undergone an annual ‘stocktake’ for the past 12 years. Yet, as Caleb Gardner from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) perused stock assessment results last year, he became increasingly worried. After a long period of very healthy rebuilding, which saw the amount of legal-sized stock double between 1995 and 2007, Southern Rocklobster numbers were starting to decline – a result researchers now know is due to belowaverage recruitment, caused in part by a change in ocean currents. Although the decline in Tasmania has been slight compared with West Australian Rocklobster fisheries, it is still of concern to an assessment scientist like Caleb Gardner because essentially it may warrant a change in the equations that help assess stocks. “We certainly can’t manage the ocean currents, which is what drives recruitment, but we can try to manage catches,” he says. The first assessment of this fishery was completed more than 130 years ago, although regular assessments of Southern Rocklobster stocks began in 1997 following sustainability concerns. “In fact, in that year two assessments were completed because of the concern about the downward trend in stocks,” he says. That information fed into a management plan, completed in 1998, which until recently had seen stock numbers rising. Stock assessment can be likened to the manner in which

businesses complete annual reports, he says. “Given the scale of Tasmania’s Southern Rocklobster business, this ‘annual reporting’ is crucial.” However, stock assessment is more than “just counting fish”, says James Scandol, a senior scientific officer at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, who regularly undertakes assessments of NSW fisheries. “Using a complex range of procedures, including collecting, cleaning and interpreting data, scientists do not necessarily find out how many fish are in a certain spot, but rather how many fish can be caught if spawning stocks are to be kept above a certain threshold,” he says. The task is difficult given that the biomass being estimated is not normally seen. “We have to infer what is there from other sources of information, such as surveys, commercial catch and effort data, or age and length compositions of individual fish,” James Scandol says. Scientists use a variety of statistical and mathematical tools to do these calculations. Computers, which were introduced to the process in the 1980s, have made a huge contribution. “Millions of calculations can be done, which allows thousands of scenarios to be examined. This lets scientists estimate the odds (or the probability) of various outcomes. For example, we could now say that there is one chance in 10 that a particular total allowable catch will result in the spawning biomass being overfished.” In Australia, there have been two developments for assessing single species. One implements harvest-control rules, which are valuable for fisheries managed with total allowable catches. The other formalises the weight of evidence approach, often used for input-control fisheries.

FISH june 2009

James Scandol says that many harvest-control rules link stock status indicators, such as catch per unit effort or age composition, to the level of catch that will enable spawning stocks to move towards an agreed target. With the goal of stock assessment to provide effective decision support, “we may not need to know the actual biomass or the fishing mortality to improve outcomes”, he says. “Some of these rules are faster and easier than a full assessment. And if stakeholders have agreed to use these rules, there should be less controversy and uncertainty about the result.” It is the approach used extensively by the Commonwealth and some state fisheries. The second approach, called weight of evidence, is different because the assessment models form only one part of a ‘body of evidence’ used to infer stock size or fishing pressure. Other evidence, James Scandol says, could include the age and length composition of a catch, independent surveys, commercial landings, catch per unit effort, recreational fishing surveys, compliance reports and stakeholder observations. He says that although these information sources might not be easily integrated into a single computer model to estimate spawning biomass, they are often adequate for indicating whether changes to management arrangements are needed. It is an approach that many state agencies are formally adopting and one that Caleb Gardner uses for his work within TAFI’s Resource Security and Future Harvest division. Caleb Gardner says this approach includes the use of ‘triggers’. “A simple example is catch rate. If catch rate falls below a certain level then the trigger goes off and a review is conducted,” he says. The review for example, could find that the catch rate had fallen because prices were low, so fishers decided it was not worth catching the fish and therefore the trigger acts as a function of the market and not the stock (an economic decision), warranting no management change. Alternatively, if the trigger appeared to be due to a decline in abundance of the stock, then a management response would be warranted (a sustainability decision). The downside to this approach is that most fishery statistics can be debated. “Although this doesn’t necessarily lead to over-exploitation, as proponents of the harvest-control rules often argue, it does lead to inertia against change.” Tasmania’s Southern Rocklobster assessments occur continuously throughout the year. “When one finishes, another starts.” And given problems of low recruitment across southern Australia, anything of relevance is included, such as data from other affected fisheries or information on processes that may cause that pattern, like oceanographic summaries. Scientists, managers and fishers are aware of the cost of assessments, therefore finding an efficient and cost-effective method is important, Caleb Gardner says. “We also try to include summaries of any discrete projects that may be under way, so last year we included some habitat research. The aim is to summarise any information that can help to manage the fishery.” Stock assessment is proving valuable for Tasmania’s Southern Rocklobster industry, especially because stocks are in decline. “Having knowledge of this gradual deterioration emphasises the value of assessments because management has responded and is on alert – just as a business should respond to concerning trends highlighted in annual reports.”

The devil is in the detail No matter what assessment method is used, the quality of an assessment’s outputs – catch and stock data and management decisions – rely heavily on the quality of its inputs. James Scandol says there are many useful strategies for getting as much out of available data as possible, but often these methods are complex, time consuming and costly. “There is also the danger that using more and more complex models will hide the underlying limitations of available data and researchers will become overly confident in the results.” For scientists and fisheries managers alike, any ‘stocktake’ method invariably faces another challenge – that of cost. “Every fisheries agency in Australia has limited resources for stock assessment and for many the question becomes – should we do an elaborate stock assessment on three species or a simple assessment on 30?” James Scandol says. However, with increasing moves towards ecosystem-based fisheries management, there could be room for efficiencies. “A tenet of ecosystem-based fisheries management is consideration not only of target stocks, but also byproduct and discard species, habitats and food-webs,” he says. “With the sorts of skills needed in stock assessments similar to those required in assessing fishing’s possible ecological impacts, there is a push to develop more efficient and encompassing methods for providing assessment-based advice to management agencies.”

Currents behind low recruitment? The first evidence of a dwindling number of Southern Rocklobsters in Tasmanian waters occurred after the fishery’s 2007 stock assessment, following a period of increasing numbers. Researchers soon found below-average recruitment to be the cause. Caleb Gardner says the quota was set with an expectation of ‘average’ recruitment. “We expect below-average recruitment half the time, like the flip of a coin, and this would normally be a reasonable strategy to ride out the peaks and troughs. But in this case the low recruitment has been exceptionally prolonged.” Just why recruitment has dropped is something that has researchers baffled. “It seems to have a widespread cause,” Caleb Gardner says. “Catch rates have been declining for several years now in Southern Rocklobster fisheries in Victoria and South Australia, which suggests widespread low recruitment, although unusually strong upwellings and new marine protected areas could also have contributed.”

Caleb Gardner says the industry is about to start a statewide discussion on new management initiatives. “This debate and possible significant change could only have been possible if industry was aware of the trends in the stock through assessments and had guidance on the relative merits of different management options, which is also part of our assessment process.”  Further research on Western Rocklobster stock levels has been funded in the latest FRDC funding. See pages 6 to 9. more information: James Scandol, 02 9527 8540, james.scandol@dpi.nsw.gov.au; Caleb Gardner, 03 6227 7233, caleb.gardner@utas.edu.au

aquatic pests

June 2009 FISH

Story Kellie Penfold Carp caught in the Lachlan catchment, also in the tub are some wild goldfish and goldfish/carp hybrids.

FIGURE 1 SITE MAP FOR LACHLAN CARP PROJECT

Warren

Lachlan Control catchments

Narromine Dubbo LAKE CARGELLIGO Condobolin LAKE BREWSTER Euabalong Forbes Hillston Cowra GREAT CUMBUNG Lake Cowal Oxley LAKE WYANGALA Booligal SWAMP Balranald

Hay

Narrandera Wagga Wagga

75 150

300

450

LAKE COWAL Canberra

600 kilometres

Lachlan trial Photos: NSW DPI

for carp removal From fishing competitions to fish pheromones, a suite of tactics and tools is being used to control carp in the Lachlan catchment of the Murray–Darling Basin

exual ‘calling cards’ could one day be used to ensnare one of Australia’s most notorious pests – the European Carp (Cyprinus carpio). Australian researchers are closely monitoring the efforts of US researchers to isolate and purify the pheromones left by sexually mature male carp to attract females. The pheromones could provide an efficient method of trapping and removing the fish from waterways. Using pheromones, however, is just one of many tools

being investigated or implemented as part of an Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) project that seeks to rid the Lachlan catchment, part of the Murray–Darling Basin, of carp – which is regarded as an ecosystem vandal. Called the ‘River Revival – Lachlan River Carp Cleanup’, the project involves local communities, fisheries researchers and government bodies. The Lachlan catchment is uniquely positioned for testing

FISH June 2009

Carp being measured and tagged as part of the Lachlan catchment eradication program.

The cost of carp

Project team member, Dean Hartwell, from NSW DPI, measuring water quality at one of the carp monitoring sites.

According to the Invasive Animals CRC, the greatest impact of carp is on the abundance of invertebrates and aquatic plants that are the basis of aquatic food webs. A mid-1990s survey of native fish species found in the Murray River region, found there were only 2.6 native fish species identified at each site, compared with 4.6 native species in Darling River region sites. It is estimated there are 600,000 Australians who regularly fish in inland waters where carp are a problem. The economic impact of carp, measured in management and research costs and environmental impact, is estimated at $15.8 million annually. There are approximately 70 licensed carp fishers in Australia and the total gross value of the industry in 2002 was $1.7 million.

various carp control methods because it is largely isolated from the rest of the Murray–Darling Basin and only connects with the Murrumbidgee River in exceptionally high flow – such as a one-in-20-year flood. Within the catchment there are three known and two other potential carp ‘hot spots’: the Great Cumbung Swamp (near Oxley), Lake Brewster (Hillston), Lake Cargelligo, Lake Cowal (West Wyalong) and Lake Wyangala (Cowra). All are part of efforts to control carp populations at their source. The project has brought together a large body of expertise – the Invasive Animals CRC, the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the Victorian Department of Sustainability and the Environment (VDSE), Kingfisher Research, K&C Fisheries, NSW’s State Water, the Lachlan Aboriginal Natural Resource Management Group and the community, including shire councils, recreational fishing clubs, Landcare and Fishcare. In the project’s first two years, now being completed, there were several goals: • to benchmark the status of the carp population; • to determine recruitment levels in hotspots; and • to explore riverbank stability, water quality, aquatic vegetation cover, macro-invertebrate and native fish community composition, and social attitudes towards carp.

A team led by the NSW DPI’s Dean Gilligan has recorded ecological data and found that carp dominate the fish population throughout the catchment, making up 76 per cent of the fish biomass in the Lachlan River alone. Interestingly though, no close links between carp biomass and aquatic health parameters, such as native fish diversity, aquatic vegetation or bank stability have been found, suggesting, he says, a few possibilities. It may indicate, for example, that the aquatic ecosystem components that persist today are those that are the least sensitive to carp presence. It is not an unexpected finding given these fish and plants survived the worst period of carp invasion in the 1980s. “Also, it is possible that perhaps carp may not be the environmental villain we perceive them to be and other factors may be the cause of poor ecosystem health,” Dean Gilligan says. “Or we may need to reduce carp densities to a much lower level than even the lowest we have observed in the catchment in order to see any environmental response.” To do this, his team has installed carp exclosures at three sites in the catchment to assess the impact of carp on aquatic vegetation, benthic macro-invertebrates and native fish. By excluding carp from certain areas, Dean Gilligan aims to quantify the expected rate of ecosystem recovery and provide a visible focal point for demonstrating carp control to the community.

aquatic pests

Work to exclude adult carp from Lake Brewster and Lake Cargelligo will also start this year. It will trap carp moving towards and out of these wetlands, remove existing carp in these two locations using commercial fishing gear, remove migrating carp in the river channel using fishway traps, and promote recreational harvests through community fishing competitions. And with more than 3000 tagged carp in the Lachlan catchment, Dean Gilligan says that the effectiveness and cost efficiency of each control technique can be assessed. Freshwater program leader Wayne Fulton says CRCfunded research into carp control measures could prove valuable in eradicating the pest in the catchment. Although interest has been piqued by pheromone work, other ‘blue sky’ measures, such as daughterless carp technology (where carp are genetically modified to only produce male offspring) and the koi herpes virus (a fatal disease which could be released to control carp) are in the development stage with the CRC. They could also prove to be longer-term control measures. The continuing drought has helped contain carp populations, but researchers are still hoping for further government funding to let them install more cages before any large rainfall events. Carp segregation cages were trialled at Lake Brewster by SARDI, the Lachlan CMA and State Water in 2007, and the NSW DPI’s Aquatic Ecosystems Unit is now trialling a Williams carp separation cage. The cage traps carp within fishways and has the potential to be of value to commercial fishermen, who can sell fish for a variety of products including pet food and fertiliser. The Williams cage works because migrating carp tend to jump out of the water when faced with a barrier, something native species usually do not do. It encourages carp to jump into a holding cage, allowing native fish to pass through. Preliminary data from the Murray River suggest that these fishway traps can remove 88 per cent of migrating carp from the river. Working with State Water, which owns and maintains the trial trap location at Island Creek Weir, east of Condobolin in central NSW, the trial will run until at least mid-2010. The trap is designed to hold up to 500 kilograms of carp and during the warmer months, which are peak time for carp movement, the trap may need to be emptied up to twice a week. On another front, the project also seeks to engage the public’s interest in research and management activities, what carp do to their river systems, and how they can help. Lachlan CMA catchment officer Michelle Jefferies oversees the CMA’s involvement in the project from Hillston and is responsible for many of the campaign’s ‘grassroots’ activities, such as organising carp fishing competitions and working with the NSW DPI to take the specially designed River Revival display trailer to the public. She says people can be confused about carp and their impact. “People often assume carp are just big goldfish, but we put what is sold as a goldfish in the tank to show the difference and then people realise we are talking about

June 2009 FISH

The River Revival Trailer creates interest wherever it travels with its display of carp and native fish species in tanks. It is one aspect of the Lachlan catchment carp eradication program, which aims to engage the community in eradicating the pest.

The NSW DPI’s Gary McLean (left) demonstrates the model carp separation cage for Booligal locals during the Booligal Carp Fishing Competition earlier this year.

different kinds of fish,” she says. The trailer is fitted with three fishtanks filled with a selection of species found in catchment waterways. One of the star performers is a particularly large carp named Colin. The trailer also displays information on fish species and has a television showing DVDs about carp impact. Local fishers are encouraged to report catches of tagged carp to help with the monitoring and in return they receive a gift for providing the project team with valuable catch data. The CMA is also working with the Forbes-based Lachlan Aboriginal Natural Resource Management Group and the Lake Cargelligo Wetlands Committee to establish the viability of carp harvesting by local Indigenous people.  It is hoped funding for the River Revival – Lachlan River Carp Cleanup project will be ongoing and allow carp removal programs to continue until 2035, when stakeholders suggest that much more suitable native tenants will have moved back in. more information: Invasive Animals CRC, www.invasiveanimals.com; Michelle Jefferies, 02 6967 2897, michelle.jefferies@cma.nsw.gov.au; to report captures of tagged fish call 1800 185 027 or go to www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/forms/fw-fish-tagging

FISH June 2009

Drought forces business rethink Like many primary producers across Australia, carp fisher Keith Bell has seen the drought take its toll on his business, but sees hope in value adding

Existing domestic carp markets include: • S ydney and Melbourne’s wholesale fish

markets for whole fish;

• t he rocklobster industry, where the carp is

used as bait; and

• t he fertiliser industry. K&C has been the

main supplier of carp to the Deniliquinbased fertiliser producer Charlie Carp since that company’s inception.

Keith Bell Photo: Rebecca Thyer

Their habitats are becoming muddier, murkier and shallower as the drought wears on, but in spite of these hardships, Australia’s carp are surviving. It is a fighting spirit in which Keith Bell, long-time carp fisherman and expert, sees similarities. “In the harshest of times, they are one of the great survivors. When there is drought and only muddy water, they are – for better or worse – still alive.” And so is his business. As carp levels have dropped with river water levels, so too has his business’s sole input. However, by adding value to the carp he catches Keith is working to move his business model from one that has been high-input, low-return focused to a lower input, higher returning one. Essentially, K&C Fisheries Global, which Keith runs with his wife Cate, needs to turn a profit on lower catch levels. For someone who has been in the business for as long as Keith – he started the company in 1984 after time spent on and off fishing boats at Victoria’s Lakes Entrance – today’s carp levels make a marked difference to the busier times and bigger fish of a decade or so ago. “Back in the late 1990s we used to get huge carp – about 20 kilograms in size. Now drought and other measures have reduced their size.” Keith’s history has seen him become a carp expert, a valuable resource for researchers and managers dealing with carp through the Invasive Animals CRC, and an advocate for using the resource. “For whatever reason, carp are here and need to be managed, and will probably need to be for a while still, so we recognise that and use the resource as best we can.” Six years ago K&C had its best year, catching 1000 tonnes of carp, although

and in a good year we could sell 100 tonnes of it to our existing client … the worldwide market could take a 1000 tonnes a year if we could get it. But the irony is that last year we had to import the raw product from Argentina, process it and then send it to Germany to fill our orders.” When carp are in good condition, roe comprises about 10 per cent of a catch. These days Keith is lucky to get one per cent roe from a catch. “There are fewer females in good egg-producing condition. For the environment it is a good thing because the fish are not in a good state to reproduce.” He does not expect conditions to change soon. “Even if it rains tomorrow it will take time for stocks to rebuild. The carp grows at one kilogram a year and the best fish for roe are – Keith Bell three kilograms or more in size.” But he still plans to concentrate his business efforts on carp. “My job is to keep our markets open for when fish numbers return and to work on new opportunities.” Higher-value products are also important environmentally because if a resource is worth more, fishing pressure increases. “Just think of what lucrative markets have meant to some high-value Australian fisheries.” The idea of improving carp’s perception and with that its value is one that Keith has had for a long time. “Back in the early days fishers were not even allowed to keep the carp they caught – we had to throw it back in. Instead, if it had been sold, given a marketing push that showed people how to cook it, we could have increased its value and put a greater fishing pressure on it. Times may have changed, but as an industry we’ve not really been able to increase the value of carp.” Often considered muddy tasting, many Australians tend to turn their noses up at carp, which is different to its perception globally: smoked, tinned or fresh, carp is the world’s most eaten fish. China produced more than 1.23 million tones of carp in 2007. It is a point Keith Bell is keen to share with others and, via opportunities such as cooking competitions or community work with recreational fishers, he encourages people to try tasting it. “Because many older people are already turned off carp, we target younger people and show them what – Rebecca Thyer to do,” he says.

“ For whatever reason, carp are here and need to be managed, and will probably need to be for a while still, so we recognise that and use the resource as best we can.” it could have quadrupled this catch if it had ready markets. “We were Victoria’s top fishery in 2003. It was the start of the drought and with less water, the fish were pushed into a congested area so it was easy to catch them.” Keith, who is licensed to catch carp via electro-fishing, netting and traps in most parts of Victoria and New South Wales, has since seen average catches drop to current levels of about two tonnes a week. Although he acknowledges the drought’s impact on carp is good for the environment, it has been tough on business. It is why he has been branching out into new high-value carp products. “Our business plan is to develop products that are much higher in value so that we can catch just 100 tonne a year and still be viable.” Newer niche markets include carp leather and potentially animal feed supplements, but to date K&C’s most important high-value market has been Germany’s roe industry. Roe is the egg mass found in female carp and K&C started exporting it in 2001. Germany has since become its main export market, with Keith building a special ‘roe-ing’ machine to meet customer needs. It removes eggs from their sack and then separates them from each other. Sent to Germany in 25-litre containers, after further processing it changes from a washed-out grey coloured product to a vivid orange one. “The product only works with carp

SOCIAL RESEARCH

June 2009 FISH

Story Kate Brooks*

Social impacts of access a research priority

dentifying industry characteristics and understanding values around resource access, the impacts of any access change, and management styles and options have been recognised as priority areas by the Social Science Research Coordination’s Steering Committee and Technical Reference Group, which had its first meeting in early May. Researching ecosystem impacts would also be important, they suggested. With priorities now identified, the Commonwealth and state Fisheries Research Advisory Boards are being asked for their input. Once this feedback has been collated and the draft strategic plan approved by the FRDC Board, full details of the research plan will be made available. This will include dates for submitting both pre- and full proposals. Pre-proposals to be reviewed by the Social Sciences Research Coordination

6th National Rocklobster Congress Hosted by the South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Council

more information: www.frdc.com.au/social/index.php

Invitation to attend

Adelaide 14th – 16th September 2009 The 6th National Rocklobster Congress will focus on issues and developments central to the Industry today including: Industry Profitability Market development Promotion Levies Stock management Aquaculture Environment: Climate change, fuel miles & carbon trading The Next Generation

Preliminary Program: Monday 14th September Tuesday 15th September Afternoon: SRL Annual General Meeting

All Day: Sessions/ Presentations

Evening: Welcome and Reception

Evening: Congress Dinner/ Taste Off

Wednesday 16th September All Day: Sessions/ Presentations

Conference Venue The Oaks Plaza Pier - 16 Holdfast Promenade, GLENELG, SA 5045

For further information, sponsorship opportunities and/or to register for the Congress please contact: Alison Wallis Southern Rocklobster Limited Level 1, 16 Unley Road, UNLEY SA 5061 Telephone: 1300 853 880 Facsimile: 08 8272 7767 Email: alison@corvel.com.au

Program must be submitted via FishNET by 20 July. Steering Committee members have been selected from industry representatives and include: • Glenn Hurry – Australian Fisheries Management Forum representative; • Gavin Begg – Bureau of Rural Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; • Emily Ogier – Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council; • Brett McCallum – representing the National Aquaculture Council; and • Louise Nock – Sydney Fish Market. The Steering Committee has the responsibility for bringing industry’s social research issues to the program’s attention, guiding social sciences research funding and providing the industry with information on priorities and activities. The Technical Reference Group (TRG), while not a common feature of FRDC programs, has been implemented to ensure an achievable nexus between the program’s aspirations and available research methodologies and resources. TRG members -- selected on the basis of rural industry sustainability knowledge and their roles in active research networks – include: • Anna Carr – Bureau of Rural Sciences; • Stephen Sutton – James Cook University; • Trevor Webb – Food Standards Australia New Zealand; and • Daniela Stehlik – Curtin University of Technology. The group’s responsibilities are specifically to: provide technical research input to the program’s issues and priorities; take the lead in communicating these to the research community; and encourage an increase in targeted quality research applications, which are in line with the priorities of the fishing industry -- commercial, recreational and indigenous. 

Major Sponsor

* Kate Brooks is manager of the FRDC Social Science Research Coordination Program.

Priority areas Social research priority areas include: 1 I dentifying industry characteristics (demographic and attitudinal) Regional community reliance on industry and resilience in both quarters to any impacts of fisheries and environmental management decisions. 2 Understanding values around resource sharing This includes values around access to the fisheries resource between recreational and commercial fishers; values of the community in regard to the impacts of pressures put on the sharing of resources by green non-government organisations and interest groups, such as tourism. 3 Resource Access This includes understanding the impacts of changes in resource access (as created by Marine Protected Areas, closed areas, oil and

NEWS

FISH June 2009

Fuel tax credit reminder With the end of the financial year in sight, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is reminding businesses about claiming fuel tax credits, because different rates apply depending on how business fuel is used. The ATO recommends the following steps are used to claim fuel tax credits on business activity statements (BAS).

Step 1: Claim for eligible fuel types, usage and business activities

Work out how many eligible litres of fuel you have acquired for each business activity that has a different fuel tax credit rate.

Step 2: Apply the correct rate

 17.143 cents per litre for fuel acquired on or after 1 January 2009 and used in vehicles with a GVM greater than 4.5 tonnes travelling on a public road.  38.143 cents per litre for fuel used in specified activities that have been eligible since 1 July 2006.  19.0715 cents per litre for fuel used in other activities, machinery, plant and equipment.

Step 3: Calculate your fuel tax credit amount

You can work out your fuel tax credits using the online fuel tax credit calculator (at www.ato.gov.au/fuelschemes) or by using this formula: Litres of eligible fuel x Relevant fuel tax credit rate = Fuel tax credits Write your calculated amount at label 7D on your BAS.

Heavy diesel vehicles and environmental criteria

If you use a heavy diesel vehicle on a public road and your vehicle was manufactured before 1 January 1996, you must meet one of the environmental criteria to claim fuel tax credits. more information: ATO, 13 28 66, www.ato.gov.au

gas production, ports and planning regulations) to commercial and recreational fisheries industries and regional communities; predicting behavioural responses and identifying potential mitigation measures to management (fisheries and environmental) changes. 4 Management Arrangements This includes understanding the most acceptable and efficient management styles and options, such as co-management; ownership or stewardship of resource management (commercial, recreational and customary); the means and frameworks to achieve the inclusion of social inputs in management; and methods of increasing regulation compliance and decreasing illegal take. 5 Ecosystem impacts This is a broad area of both industry and general public concern and includes issues of ‘bycatch’ reporting, resource stewardship, impacts of opportunity cost tradeoffs.

June launch for streamlined FRDC website

he FRDC is overhauling its online presence to focus more on its core business of research, a decision that has led to a new and more functional site. Due for completion in June, the new site will be more streamlined, offering better navigation and presenting information in an easy-to-read format. The new site will make the FRDC’s vast bank of research knowledge more accessible. An improved search function combined with access to free electronic reports (available for download) ensures quicker access. It will also be possible to search for and view information on current projects. Short summaries in plain English on key subjects, such as better practice guides, will also be available. In addition the new website will host a video-sharing page where research clips will be available, including all the FRDC research stories screened on the television program Escape with ET. And for those wanting the latest results, the site will have a ‘research alert’ system. This will send out an email when a new research report or publication is placed on the website.  more information: Peter Horvat, 02 6285 0414, peter.horvat@frdc.com.au

education

june 2009 FISH

Expanded centre enhances research capacity Situated in the heart of South Australia’s fishing and aquaculture industries, the expanded Lincoln Marine Science Centre is a model of positive collaboration between researchers and industry as well as an educational facility

decade after the Lincoln Marine Science Centre was established at Port Lincoln, South Australia, a $6.59 million expansion has been opened, almost doubling the facility’s size and enhancing its capacity for world-class marine, wild catch and aquaculture research. The facility is an initiative of Marine Innovation South Australia (MISA) and its location, overlooking Boston Bay at Port Lincoln, puts marine scientists and students right on the doorstep of their research environment and seafood industry partners. MISA program manager Stephen Madigan says the expansion increases

Neil MacDonald, general manager of Wildcatch Fisheries South Australia.

the number of researchers, students and project officers who can work from the centre at any one time from 20 to 35. It brings together leading experts in marine science and seafood production including staff from Flinders University, the FRDC, the South Australian Research and Development Institute and the South Australian seafood industry. Stephen Madigan says the expansion will allow a new cetacean ecologist to work from Port Lincoln, rather than Adelaide, to study dolphin and whale populations that migrate across the Spencer Gulf each year. It will also allow a new MISAappointed shark researcher based in Adelaide to spend more time closer to the Neptune Islands off Port Lincoln where White Sharks commonly prey on the Australian Sea Lion populations associated with the islands. Although ecological research features in many new projects the centre’s core focus will remain improving the competitiveness of SA’s seafood industry. Speaking at the official opening in March, Wildcatch Fisheries SA general manager Neil MacDonald said the centre has already delivered important, industry-driven research during its first decade. This includes improvements in finfish health, product quality and value-

Clean Seas chairman Hagen Stehr (left) with South Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry and Trade Kevin Foley.

adding opportunities for kingfish and tuna aquaculture, as well as the wildcaught Australian Pilchard industry. The expansion will intensify research in product quality and value-adding, innovation to create new industries, and increase yields of existing food harvests. It will also ensure that the impacts of fishing, aquaculture and ecotourism industries are properly understood and managed, and work to identify and protect against the biosecurity threats posed by invasive marine species and diseases. Chief executive officer of the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) Industry Association Brian Jeffriess says he believes the positive collaboration between researchers and industry provides an international model for regionally based research. He says the Eyre Peninsula is pioneering many aquaculture industry sectors including Southern Bluefin Tuna, abalone, Blue Mussels, Yellowtail Kingfish and Mulloway. The unique collaboration at the Lincoln Marine Science Centre allows industry to quickly identify emerging issues and develop research and technological solutions. “What the expanded centre provides is not just the right infrastructure for further progress, it is proof that the industry, researchers and government are committed to the same goal – growing a sustainable seafood industry,” Brian Jeffriess says. “It reinforces SA’s place at the forefront of temperate seafood research and production, and I think it will become the educational and research base for the southern hemisphere.”  The expansion of the Lincoln Marine Science Centre was supported by $4.49 million in funding from the South Australian Government and $2.1 million from Flinders University, provided through the Federal Government’s Capital Development Pool scheme. more information: Lincoln Marine Science Centre, 08 8683 2500, lmsc@flinders.edu.au

education

FISH June 2009

Virtual dive opens up Bondi’s ‘under’ world

Visitors to Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach can now go diving without getting wet, thanks to a new exhibit in the Bondi Pavilion’s Marine Discovery Centre

he standout attraction at the new Underwater Bondi Experience – a virtual dive site – takes visitors through a series of audio-visual experiences, including concealed aquariums, to show them Bondi Bay’s marine life. The Underwater Bondi Experience opened in April and is part of the Bondi Pavilion’s Marine Discovery Centre. Visitors get to see six different hidden habitats starting at Bondi Beach: the surf, the shallows, the rockpools, the boulders, the deep (home of the bizarre and uniquely Australian Weedy Seadragon) and the open ocean. Viewers also get to witness giant cuttlefish changing shape and colour, friendly Blue Gropers, harmless Port Jackson Sharks and electric blue sea spiders. Marine biologist and Underwater Bondi Experience curator Will Jones says the new visitor attraction showcases Sydney’s underwater environment. “Sydney has the most amazing underwater environment of any major city in the world. From seadragons to sharks, you can see it all at Bondi.” The attraction aims to transport visitors beyond the familiarity of the beach and give them an insight into the teeming wildlife below. “There is a perception that Bondi is just a stretch of sand and water and little else. But just below the surface is an amazing cornucopia of marine life, which is both exciting to see but at the same time extremely vulnerable to human activity. “Five million people come to Bondi Beach every year, most are oblivious to the wondrous sites that lie just off the beach or the impact they have on ocean life. We’re hoping to inspire visitors to the Underwater Bondi Experience to take some simple, practical actions to help protect this precious environment,” Will Jones says. Bondi Beach’s Marine Discovery Centre is a not-for-profit conservation organisation and all proceeds go towards marine conservation and education. It is one of 10 Marine Discovery Centres across Australia, all of which are run by Marine Discovery Centres Australia (MDCA). Each state has a

The opening of the new Bondi Marine Discovery Centre.

centre, helping to educate more than 500,000 Australians annually about fisheries and marine issues. The centres aim to provide curriculum-based education for early childhood, school and tertiary groups, as well as programs for the general community. Many also offer specialised programs, such as guided tours of dunes and rockpools, volunteer training and revegetation programs. Although the approach taken by each centre differs slightly, most include aquaria, laboratories, classrooms, resource rooms and gift shops and are located to integrate field activities. FRDC communications manager Peter Horvat says the MDCA network is an excellent pathway through which to promote research results and educate the public, particularly schoolchildren, about marine science and the Australian fishing industry. “The MDCA and FRDC will work together over the next 18 months to develop new models and approaches to pass on research results.” MDCA will also aim to ensure a consistent approach to issues such as sustainability, climate change and fishing practices is adopted by all centres. 

more information: Underwater Bondi Experience, 02 930 0242, www.underwaterbondi.com; Tim Hoile, director, Star of the Sea Marine Discovery Centre, SA, 08 8356 8943, thoile@star.adl.catholic.edu.au

seafood CRC

June 2009 FISH

Stories Rebecca Thyer

Australia lands British A leading light in Britain’s seafood industry has jumped ship, moving to Australia to head the Seafood CRC’s commercial processing division and hopefully increase consumer demand for seafood

hen a small UK-based seafood processor tempted its customers to move from frozen to chilled product – which changed how seafood is sold to sandwich retailers, pub chains and supermarkets – it helped to create one of London’s favourite sandwiches. By using The Big Prawn Company’s chilled crayfish, London’s popular Pret a Manger, the 190-strong sandwich chain that prides itself on using natural, preservative-free ingredients, had established a new signature sandwich for its menu. Eight years on, the crayfish and rocket sandwich remains a popular choice for Pret’s customers. Driving the change in seafood retailing was The Big Prawn Company’s managing director Bob Fleming, who has recently been appointed the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre’s (CRC) commercial seafood processing manager. Bob says that until the company’s chilled product, which is preserved in brine, was introduced, many seafood users – sandwich chains like Pret a Manger or popular pub chains that wanted to include a seafood dish on their menus – relied on frozen seafood, which created logistical problems for kitchens unsure of demand. Instantly, a ready-to-use chilled product met its customers needs, he says. “These new products specifically reduced

waste because customers could move from frozen to chilled products and simply use what was required and not have to estimate, defrost, and dump any leftovers. Also, the increased shelf life over non-brined product meant reduced order patterns, thereby smoothing demand and reducing logistics costs.” It is this insight into consumer needs and wants that Bob brings to Australia’s seafood processors and retailers, and with that a plan to increase seafood demand, to ensure it can compete better with other proteins, such as red meat and chicken. After all, he says, “Australia has access to such fantastic raw material and there is more that could be done with it. It is a substantial task, but together we will look at value-adding where we can and reducing processing costs where we can.” Bob started at the CRC in late March and believes his retail background and ability to look at the industry from a consumer perspective will be valuable to the Australian industry. His initial plans are to “get up to speed” with the CRC’s projects and assess the needs of its members. It means Bob, who is based in Adelaide, has had little time to explore his new surrounds. Instead he has been to Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Port Lincoln, meeting with CRC

Balanced Diet important for growing larvae Research into Yellowtail Kingfish larvae could help to reduce live-feed production costs

Research into the feeding habits of Yellowtail Kingfish larvae is showing that commercial hatcheries could reduce live-feed production costs without hampering fingerling production. The work is part of a Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and Marine Innovation South Australia (MISA)-funded project designed to improve the survival and quality of hatchery-reared Yellowtail Kingfish by exploring standard hatchery feeding protocols. It is a collaboration between Clean Seas Tuna, one of Australia’s leading producers of Yellowtail Kingfish, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Flinders University, the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI), New South Wales Fisheries and the Darwin Aquaculture Centre. Yellowtail Kingfish larvae are normally fed rotifers – tiny, multicelled animals – when they start feeding, about three days after hatching, until they are 10 to 12 days old and are moved to a diet of Artemia. SARDI project leader Wayne Hutchinson says this ‘live’ feeding regime is costly to commercial hatcheries and just how many rotifers and Artemia are needed by Yellowtail Kingfish larvae, and for how long, has not been scientifically tested before. “This is one aspect that we set

out to explore,” he says. Because the rotifer feeding stage is important in establishing first feeding and maintaining healthy Yellowtail Kingfish larvae, nine different rotifer feeding schedules were tested to quantify what rotifer levels were critical for larvae growth, survival and quality. Results showed that different rotifer feeding levels did affect Yellowtail Kingfish larvae survival but not growth rates. Keeping a relatively high rotifer density in tanks from the onset of first feeding was more important than progressing to a higher rotifer density, and the balance needs to be right: although a relatively high density achieved the best survival rates, too high or too low a density was detrimental to survival. When it comes to feeding the larvae Artemia, a move that is necessary for the increasingly hungry and developing larvae to keep growing, the research found that Artemia densities similar to those used by industry resulted in the highest survival rates. Results also showed there is no benefit in co-feeding rotifers and Artemia for prolonged periods. “Industry often keeps rotifers in the feed mix for a long time and we’ve been able to show this brings no benefits,” Wayne Hutchinson says. “Instead, by dropping them from the

FISH june 2009

h seafood innovator members to get a feel for the industry. Always an ambition of Bob’s to move to Australia, he heard through a friend that the CRC was looking for a commercial seafood processing manager just as his role at The Big Prawn Company was coming to an end. It was an opportunity he did not want to pass up. Bob says his consumer experience means his approach to the job will be to look at challenges with a consumer’s eye. “Using applied, not pure, science I will tackle issues from a consumer angle and not as a way of seeking further research funding.” A chemistry-based apprenticeship with Heinz UK started Bob’s career and led him to jobs around the world during his 10 years with the company. After leaving Heinz he joined Cumbrian Seafoods, which produces a range of fresh fish, shellfish, coated and value-added seafood products for UK retailers. Bob recalls that it was his first experience with an ‘own-label’ business. “It was a huge culture shock and had a huge influence on me with the high-level

commitment to customer service.” It is an ethos he adopted and carries with him to Australia and his new seafood clients. Although he is still exploring the intricacies of Australia’s seafood industry, his initial observations are that it is somewhat fractured with many small, but effective, operators competing for a slice of the protein market. “It might be difficult for some to consider, but I think one approach we’ll need to look at is for smaller businesses to cooperate and collaborate with each other to give them critical mass.” He also plans to help initiate a retail transformation by answering the questions: ‘Can Australia’s seafood industry improve its retail offering?’ and ‘What are the protein price points and can the seafood industry compete against other proteins?’ He sees increasing Australia’s domestic throughput as an issue “dear to my heart”. “Launching new products into the retail sector is something I have done for many years. And it would be great to have the same success here with seafood.”  more information: Bob Fleming, bob.fleming@seafoodcrc.com

The Seafood CRC’s new commercial seafood processing manager Bob Fleming.

Seafood CRC postdoctoral fellow Bennan Chen.

feed mix after a few days, industry could save money and better deploy the time it takes to grow rotifers and prepare them to feed larvae.” The research found that Artemia densities similar to those normally used by industry resulted in the highest survival rates. Previous research on the development of the digestive system of Yellowtail Kingfish, by Seafood CRC postdoctoral fellow Bennan Chen, who is also working on the current project, found that larvae may be able to accept Artemia and an inert diet at an earlier age than present industry practice. “This means that further studies which look at earlier introduction of Artemia and inert diets to the Yellowtail Kingfish larvae may provide opportunities to further reduce costs and improve hatchery productivity,” Bennan Chen says. * Specific results cannot be disclosed because the research is commercially confidential. more information: Wayne Hutchinson, 08 8207 5444, hutchinson.wayne@saugov.sa.gov.au

Awards

June 2009 FISH

Story Rebecca Thyer

Honour for steering fishers through dark days NSW industry stalwart Graeme Byrnes has been honoured for helping to lead the case for compensation in the face of fisheries closures

n a year that his family celebrates a centenary of professional fishing it is fitting that industry advocate and professional fisher Graeme Byrnes has been honoured with the ‘Star of the Sea’ award at Sydney Fish Market’s 2009 Seafood Excellence Awards. Awarded in March, it celebrates a seafood ‘ambassador’, someone who is responsible for significant industry development, and this time the judges felt the honour should go to Graeme. Originally from Wollongong, Graeme Byrnes and his family moved to Forster on the NSW mid-north coast five years ago to continue fishing following the commercial fishing estuary closures he, and others, fought so hard to stop. It is for this work that he is most noted. Graeme Byrnes provided leadership for commercial fishers during 1995–2003, a time he refers to as a “dark age” and which saw the then NSW Fisheries Minister introduce a Bill that proposed closing many estuaries to commercial fishing without compensation. As part of a team of key industry leaders, he helped present a balanced approach to the NSW Parliament that stopped the introduction of this legislation. Although the compensation debate was won, the war on keeping these sustainable estuaries open to commercial fishing was ultimately lost. “Some 30 estuary fisheries were closed,” he says. “Many had been commercially fished for more than 100 years, some for more than 200 years – and nearly all with levels of commercial catch unchanged since records began.” About 300 fishers were forced to leave their lifelong profession. “The impacts on families was profound, depression was commonplace, suicides happened,” Graeme Byrnes says.

FRDC executive director Patrick Hone (left) congratulates Andrea and George De Costi of De Costi Seafoods on their win in the Seafood Business Award category. De Costi Seafoods also won Best Retailer in the Sydney Fish Market.

Seafood consumers, especially in places such as the south coast of NSW, were also affected. “Fresh local seafood is now almost unprocurable,” he says. Today, Graeme Byrnes, who hails from a family that has fished NSW estuaries for four generations and had a long involvement in advocacy work, continues to work with government to create a better future for the NSW fishing industry. (He is deputy chair of the NSW Seafood Industry Advisory Council, a role that has seen him chairing the Structural Adjustment working group, participating in various other forums and providing advice to governments.) He has also seen a “quantum leap” in attitudes, with a NSW Fisheries Minister and department committed to helping the industry. “We must turn this good will into securing our industry’s future, linking our fishery shares (which provide proportional access to resources) to fully tradable output and input controls, and finally bringing about meaningful rightsbased fisheries management,” he says. Winning the ‘Star of the Sea’ award was thrilling. “It is very gratifying to win recognition. It is greatly appreciated,” he says.  more information: www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au

Photos: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Star of the Sea recipient Graeme Byrnes (left) with Sydney Fish Market's managing director Grahame Turk.

Oysters, crabs and mussels in vogue South Australia’s Pristine Oyster Farm and Queensland’s Spanner Crabs are joint winners in the 2009 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards in the ‘From the Sea’ category. Tasmania’s Spring Bay Mussels won the ‘Food Heritage/Sustainability’ award in the magazine’s May awards and was also a medallist in the ‘From the Sea’ award, as were SA’s Ferguson Australia lobster products and Tasmania’s Woodbridge Smokehouse Smoked Ocean Trout. The awards aim to celebrate and uncover the best Australian producers and suppliers. The winners will be featured in the June/July issue of Vogue.

FISH june 2009

Sydney Fish Market 2009 Seafood Excellence Award winners

Calling all young innovators, this one is for you… • Do you have an innovative idea that will boost Australia’s rural industries? • Do you need up to $50 000 to make your idea reality? • Do you want to kick start your career and build professional networks? • Do you want media training to help promote your ideas?

If so, then apply for the 2009 Science and Innovation Awards now!

AWA

2009

2009 Science And innovAtion AwArdS For Young PeoPle in Agriculture, FiSherieS And ForeStrY

S S P

Category Winner Highly Commended Star of the Sea Mr Graeme Byrnes — Best Fish and Chips – Sydney Ocean Foods, Drummoyne — Best Fish and Chips – Regional Bub’s Fish and Chips, Nelson Bay — Best Seafood Restaurant – Sydney Yoshii Restaurant , The Rocks Finefish, Neutral Bay Best Seafood Restaurant – Regional Fins Seafood Restaurant, Byron Bay Ocean Restaurant, The Entrance Inspired By Seafood Annie Watt, Universal Restaurant Kevin Lin, Garfish Jamie Blows, Rocksalt Newcastle Excellence in Environmental Practice GG & M Howard Bribie Marine Fisheries Cleanseas Seafood Promotion Award Kinkawooka Shellfish Peter Evans De Costi Seafoods (Holdings) Seafood Business Award De Costi Seafoods (Holdings) Commercial Fishermen’s Co-operative JD’s Seafood Export Contractors Best Supplier Aquaculture Kinkawooka Shellfish Sundown Fish Farm Clem Jones Qld Prawn Farm Best Supplier NSW Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Co-operative Commercial Fishermen Co-operative Best Supplier Interstate or Overseas OPC Fish and Lobster, New Zealand Good Fortune Bay Fisheries Abacus Fisheries Best Seafood Retailer – Suburban & Regional Costi’s @ Westpoint Pty Ltd Penrith Seafoods at Wetherill Park Best Seafood Retailer – Sydney Fish Market De Costi Seafoods, Sydney Fish Market Christie’s Seafood Pty Ltd

Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Grains Research and Development Corporation Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Sugar Research and Development Corporation

The awards are open to young people aged 18 to 35 who want to make a real difference to Australia’s rural industries. See how your idea measures up — apply now!

Applications close 5pm Friday 3 July 2009

For more information and to download an application form, visit www.daff.gov.au/scienceawards or call the Science Awards Manager 02 6272 5039

www.daff.gov.au/scienceawards Applications close 5pm Friday 3 July 2009

www.frdc.com.au

june 2009 fish

Coming events

FRDC educates with ET

he FRDC has decided to fund additional segments on the television show Escape with ET, building on the success it has had in educating the community about its work. Over the previous two seasons (Series 9 and 10) the FRDC has helped produce more than 35 stories on R&D. These have been seen by a cumulative audience of more than 18 million viewers. And to make sure readers of FISH get the chance to see these segments, a DVD containing all the stories covered in Series 9 is attached to this edition. Keep an eye out for stories from Series 10, which will accompany the December edition of FISH. FRDC communications manager Peter Horvat says it is an FRDC priority to educate the community on the research being undertaken with and by the Australian fishing industry. The FRDC will continue to work with Escape with ET’s producers to identify stories, provide background material and ensure accurate stories are presented. “The objective is to showcase the different aspects of the R&D work the fishing industry is participating in,” Peter Horvat says. Although Escape with ET is a recreational fishing show, the FRDC segments cover all industry aspects. Stories run on the program so far include released fish survival, catch and release, gene tagging Spanish Mackerel, Samson fish, Southern Rocklobster, and farming Southern Bluefin Tuna and Kingfish.

Date

Coming events event

ET (left) with Fisheries Minister Tony Burke.

FRDC also support Escape with ET’s enviro-tip competition. The competition receives hundreds of entries each week, especially from younger viewers. It requires them to remember the information covered on the show to be able to win prizes.  more information: Peter Horvat, 02 6285 0414, peter.horvat@frdc.com.au

contact

12-15 May Queensland Coastal Conference 2009 – ‘Waves of Change’ Sea World Resort, Gold Coast, www.iceaustralia.com/qldcoast09 20 May SA FRAB Meeting Bron Roy, 08 8226 0370 25-29 May World Aquaculture 2009 Veracruz, Mexico, www.was.org 31 May-5 June 8th Indo Pacific Fish Conference and Fremantle, WA, cari@eecw.com.au 2009 ASFB Workshop and Conference 9-10 June FRDC Board Meeting 105 Queenscliff/Geelong, 02 6285 0400, frdc@frdc.com.au 17-18 June Restaurant 09 Melbourne Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, http://restaurantandbar.com.au 23-25 June Food Service in Focus Expo Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, www.foodserviceexpo.com.au 1 July ComFRAB 55 meeting Sally McCarthy, AFMA, 02 6225 5403 19-24 July 7th International Abalone Symposium Pattaya, Thailand, www.mascat.org/ias2009 10-11 August Restaurant 09 Sydney Hall of Industries, Moore Park, NSW 19 August SA FRAB Meeting Bron Roy, 08 8226 0370 23-28 August 4th International Otolith Symposium Monterey, USA, http://tundra.iphc.washington.edu/ios 26-27 August FRDC Board Meeting 106 Canberra, 02 6285 0400, frdc@frdc.com.au 22-23 September ComFRAB 56 meeting Sally McCarthy, AFMA, 02 6225 5403 4-7 October 8th IAFI World Seafood Congress Agadir, Morocco, http://worldseafoodcongress.org 14 October SA FRAB Meeting Bron Roy, 08 8226 0370 9-12 November Keep it Real 2009 Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston, Tasmania, www.tqainc.com.au 24-25 November FRDC Board Meeting 107 Townsville, Queensland, 02 6285 0400, frdc@frdc.com.au 25 November SA FRAB Meeting Bron Roy, 08 8226 0370 2010 23-26 May Australasian Aquaculture 2010 Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, Justin Fromm, www.australian-aquacultureportal.com

Fish june 2009

www.frdc.com.au

Movers and …

New FRDC faces take on industry challenges The FRDC has welcomed two new staff members who will work on improving research into industry development and natural resources

amily backgrounds in farming – on the land and in the sea – combined with a passion for the marine environment are behind the two new faces at the FRDC. Kylie Giles joins as project manager for research in industry development and Carolyn Stewardson as project manager for natural resources and sustainability. Both will work under the direction of programs manager Crispian Ashby. Kylie grew up in Whyalla, South Australa, in a family of professional Spencer Gulf net fishers and Southern Rocklobster fishers, and Carolyn in Victoria’s Western District on a sheep and cattle property, yet both share a love of the sea, a passion that prompted them to study marine science and pursue careers in fisheries research. From a wildcatch background, Kylie’s family has expanded into aquaculture after seeing potential in Yellowtail Kingfish farming, and established Southern Star Aquaculture in 2001. Kylie says that because the business is run somewhat as a “family affair” she has always been involved on the farm. This has included monitoring fish health and feeding requirements, participating in net changes and harvesting, and assisting with routine bathing practices. It made her decision to study marine biology at Adelaide’s Flinders University an easy one to make. “I think I was drawn to it because of my DNA,” she says. After completing that degree, Kylie went on to undertake a double degree in innovation and enterprise (business), also at Flinders University. And while based at the South Australian Research and Development Institute and the Lincoln Marine Science Centre, she completed her honours project by looking into abalone’s post-mortem quality characteristics. Kylie moved to Canberra in early 2008 to start a graduate program with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, where she worked on domestic aquaculture policy. For Carolyn, a childhood spent exploring Australia’s southern coastline created a lifelong love of the ocean. “The Southern Ocean has always been a source of fascination and inspiration to me – the marine organisms, ecosystems and complex process within it.” The decision to study marine science at the University of New England was, she says, a natural progresssion, and followed work with the Victorian Government on disease management of livestock. After completing her science degree, Carolyn embarked on a PhD at the Australian National University. It saw her spend time in South Africa and work with that country’s fishing industry. “South Africa was one of few countries in which I could study the Southern Ocean, so I secured a contract that enabled me to conduct my research there, a large component of which included working with the fishing industry – trawl, purse seine and squid jig.” She says it is experience that has given her an appreciation of the challenges industry faces – “the long hours, changing weather conditions, and the constant urgency to deliver a

good catch in a timely manner to fill market demand”. Before joining the FRDC Carolyn spent five years working as a scientist at the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS), in the Fisheries and Marine Sciences Program. In this position, Carolyn also worked on the BRS Fisheries Status Reports and is a recipient of the Alison Furbank Award for Communications Excellence in 2007 for work with the fishing industry. Over the past year Carolyn has been on secondment with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority working on Marine Bioregional Planning. In her FRDC role she will be responsible for managing the FRDC’s Program 1 – natural resource sustainability. It is a program that encompasses the FRDC’s challenges to maintain and improve aquatic natural resources’ management and use to ensure their sustainability, and optimising the fishing industry’s resource access, allocation and opportunities. She will manage projects that include marine planning and spatial management, ecosystem-based fisheries management, mitigating fishing interactions on the aquatic environment and fish stocks, and developing processes and methods for resource access and allocation. For Kylie, her new FRDC role sees her responsible for managing Program 2 – industry development. This involves the FRDC’s challenge to respond to and take advantage of increased demand for seafood, recreational and customary fishing experiences, and enhancing industry profitability. Projects include those relevant to aquaculture production, improving industry efficiency and profitability, supply chains, traceability, food safety and post-harvest processes.  – Rebecca Thyer more information: Carolyn Stewardson, 02 6285 0419, carolyn.stewardson@frdc.com.au; Kylie Giles, 02 6285 0416, kylie.giles@frdc.com.au

Carolyn Stewardson (left) and Kylie Giles. Photos: Julie Haldane

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RD&E Framework

june 2009 fish

Patrick Hone

Work starts on harmonising research spending By Patrick Hone, FRDC executive director

fisheries and aquaculture sector and start developing a strategic RD&E plan. Together we are working on the National RD&E Framework for Fisheries and Aquaculture. It is an initiative that aims to facilitate greater coordination among different Commonwealth and state governments, CSIRO, research and development corporations (RDCs), industry and university sectors to better balance their roles in primary industries-related RD&E and ensure that they work together effectively to maximise net benefits to Australia. The National RD&E Framework not only supports a strong collaborative culture, but it also seeks to strengthen national research capability to better address sector and cross-sector issues. It aims to focus RD&E resources so they are used more effectively, efficiently and collaboratively to reduce capability gaps, fragmentation and unnecessary duplication. The implementation of the fisheries and aquaculture RD&E framework is being led by the FRDC and supported by Primary Industry Standing Committee agencies. Those interested in contributing to this process, please contact the FRDC on 02 6285 0400.

nderstanding how the range of processes that influence expenditure on research, development and extension (RD&E) could complement a national framework is a critical goal of a working group established to harmonise RD&E spending. The working group includes Victorian Department of Primary Industries fisheries executive director Anthony Hurst, the South Australian Research and Development Institute’s Aquatic Sciences chief Mehdi Doroudi, Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries and Water Marine Resources director Robert Gott and chair of the group FRDC executive director Patrick Hone. The working group met in early May to discuss fisheries and aquaculture’s planning and priority-setting landscape. This group seeks to better understand how the processes behind RD&E expenditure -- including national priorities, the FRDC’s plan, Commonwealth and state government priorities, plus sector plans – would fit within a national framework. The group’s next activity is to undertake a review of the

Relationship map NRMMC Primary Industries and Environment Ministers www.mincos.gov.au/home

DAFF

NRMSC Primary Industries and Environment Department Heads

DAFF Rural R&D priorities

OPSAG

A Marine Nation: A national framework for marine research and innovation www.opsag.org

RDCs MACC Senior Officers of Fisheries and Environment Departments, including Fisheries Managers

FRDC Developing a Marine R&D Plan Chair – Kate Wilson

PI Standing Committee (PISC) Primary Industries Department Heads National Primary Industries RD&E Framework

PISC R&D Committee National Areas of Collaboration Chair – Bruce Kefford

Fisheries and Aquaculture National Primary Industries RD&E Framework

FRDC R&D Plan

AFMF Fisheries Managers Chair – Will Zacharin

AFMF National Research Priorities

PIMC Primary Industries Ministers www.mincos.gov.au/home

National R&D Priorities

State and Sector plans

AFMF Australian Fisheries Management Forum DAFF Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry MACC Marine and Coastal Committee NRMMC Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council NRMSC Natural Resource Management Standing Committee RDC Research and Development Corporation OPSAG Oceans Policy Science Advisory Group

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Fish june 2009

Movers and ...

Peter Appleford has resigned as executive director of Fisheries Victoria and is moving on to the Department of Sustainability and Environment. Anthony Hurst will act as Fisheries Victoria’s executive director from 30 March 2009. Gail Richey has recently resigned from her position as executive officer of the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association. Duncan Leadbitter has left the Marine Stewardship Council. Duncan spent eight years as the Asia–Pacific regional director. John Webster has resigned as managing director of Horticulture Australia Ltd. The Western Australian Fishing Industry Council’s new chief executive officer is Anna Cronin. James Scandol is leaving the NSW Department of Primary Industries at the end of June to set up a Sydney-based consulting business.

Enhancing abalone growth rates

Chris Barlow has been appointed head of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Clean Seas Tuna has appointed Clifford Ashby as chief executive officer. And sadly, we say goodbye to projects manager – research Ana Rubio who made Feedback FRDC welcomes your quite a contribution to the FRDC office. comments Ana is moving to Sydney, but we hope frdc@frdc.com.au to see her around. Movers we’ve missed? Info please to Julie Haldane, 02 6285 0415, julie.haldane@frdc.com.au

Final reports

2001/254 Responsible native fish stocking

This project has improved the Australian abalone aquaculture industry’s confidence to pursue a genetic improvement program through: staff training; demonstration of industry capability to establish 100 families in one month; developing methods to establish breeding objectives for different production scenarios; and developing methods of assessing investments in genetic improvement programs. Preliminary genetic analysis suggests that selective breeding can achieve genetic improvement in both body and processing traits. The investment appraisals of the abalone genetic improvement program using the breeding objectives developed in this study show favourable economic benefit and benefit/cost ratio over a 15-year period. The analyses also show that due to a significant negative correlation between harvest weight or growth rate and survival, the program would result in a reduction in abalone survival from 80 per cent to about 70 per cent after five generations. However, this result needs to be treated cautiously because the correlation analysis was undertaken on a very small population size. The methods used in the breeding objective and selection index development, and the sensitivity analyses to selected parameters, can assist in identifying research areas worthy of greater attention and in making decisions to obtain optimal return from investment. More information: Xiaoxu Li, 08 8207 5400

Seafood industry leadership program 2008/309 Fifteen individuals graduated from the 2008 national seafood industry leadership program. Twenty-eight applications were received and 17 people commenced. The promotion and selection processes ensured a that broad cross-section of industry participated. More than 60 per cent of participants were fishers or in representative roles in the industry. Recreational and indigenous participation was achieved. The diversity of participants and the challenging guest-speaker program ensured that an industry-wide perspective was developed. At the conclusion of the project the industry welcomed 15 graduates as leaders who have a clearer understanding of making a positive impact on decision-making processes at all levels of the industry. More information: Jill Briggs, rti@dragnet.com.au

2007/057

A major outcome of this project was identifying and prioritising major management issues related to the ecological impacts of fish stocking and reporting of appropriate research methods that can be used to investigate these issues. This information is vital for development of relevant research projects that will lead to stocking activities aligned with world’s best practice – a requisite for ecologically sustainable recreational freshwater fisheries. A survey of stakeholders from around Australia was used to give a prioritised list of key management issues relating to the impacts of native fish stocking. Issues that received high priority were flagged as potential topics for discussion at a future expert workshop. Identified high-priority issues fell into the following areas: marking techniques, genetics, population dynamics, introduction of pathogens and exotic biological material, and ecological, biological and conservation issues. At the expert workshop in early 2008 participants agreed on a range of methods for addressing priority sustainability issues and decided under what circumstances these methods should be used. It is anticipated that future projects will adopt many of these methods to address sustainability issues. This will help to ensure that industry and the community continue to enjoy the benefits of fish stocking. More information: John Russell, john.russell@dpi.qld.gov.au

R&D plan for tasmania

2004/313

The Tasmanian Fisheries and Aquaculture research and development plan was developed following extensive consultation between industry, government and community end-users of marine living resources. All stakeholders agreed that strategic planning was essential for the growth and development of the fishing and aquaculture sectors. The aim is to ensure that economic, environmental and social benefits from marine resources are achieved within a sustainable use framework. This plan places a greater emphasis on the whole of chain, from production to plate, than the previous strategic plan.

Interested in an FRDC final report? If you are interested in a copy of an FRDC research project final report, please contact the FRDC on 02 6285 0400 or email frdc@frdc.com.au

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june 2009 fish

Final reports

Seventy-three industry, government, community and research provider representatives undertook two separate planning workshops (one for wild fisheries and one for aquaculture) to develop strategic R&D priorities for Tasmania. The resulting list of priorities was used to drive the development of sector-specific planning, which was finally reviewed by the Tasmanian Fisheries Research Advisory Board (TasFRAB). National and state plans and strategies were all incorporated into the overall strategic plan. The next step was the development of individual sector plans to identify issues, needs, opportunities, priorities and a timeframe for the planned work. The outputs are presented as a strategic plan in hard copy with a CD of individual sector plans. The format will enable annual updating of the sector plans in response to changing needs. The adoption of the plan by industry, government and other stakeholders as well as TasFRAB and the FRDC has provided a solid platform for sustainable economic growth of fisheries and aquaculture in Tasmania, while at the same time taking account of the sustainability of living marine resources. More information: Colin Buxton, 03 6227 7256

International travel bursary

2008/314.04

As part of the FRDC’s People Development Program, a travel bursary was awarded to John Diplock to visit the South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute in Guangzhou to investigate research into artificial reefs. He also made presentations on the management of recreational fisheries in Australia and on the research being conducted on artificial reefs in NSW. The China Society of Fisheries also invited John Diplock to present a paper on the management of recreational fisheries in Australia at the 2008 China (Xiamen) International Recreational Fisheries Expo and high-level forum. He presented another paper describing the artificial reef situation in Australia at the artificial reefs workshop conducted in conjunction with the expo. The visit provided access to information on Chinese artificial reefs otherwise unobtainable in Australia. More information: John Diplock, john.diplock@bigpond.com

Blue Swimmer Crab flesh quality

2007/244

The occurrence of mushy flesh in Blue Swimmer Crabs can slow processing through excessive time spent checking for flesh quality. This affects profitability and can threaten the product’s premium market position. This project clarified the causes of flesh deterioration and provided advice on alternative harvesting and processing strategies. The following issues were investigated:  the presence of parasites and their impact on flesh quality – two groups of parasites (Hematodinium spp and Acanthocephalans) were provisionally identified;  the impact of the moult cycle stage on post-cooking flesh quality – postmoult crabs have reduced texture on cooking due to an increase in flesh moisture content; and  the likely impact on flesh quality of cooking time; time taken for crab core temperature to reach 80˚C and post-cook chilling. The project suggested a practical method for monitoring the impact of moulting periods. Post-moult crabs may be graded out using a simple squeeze test, either on the boat sorting table or at the loading of the cooking conveyor at the factory. Soft crabs could also be returned to the factory for hardening if desired. A cooked-flesh monitoring program is suggested to provide information on the periodicity and extent of mushy flesh. Further parasitological studies are needed, with information required on variation in prevalence by area and season and external signs, which may be useful in grading before cooking. Suggestions are made for alterations to boat and factory infrastructure, particularly cooking and cooling processes. Onboard handling could be

improved, particularly with regard to the storage of crabs on deck once conventional storage bins are full. Reduced cooking time by pre-warming crabs and ice slurrying after cooking would improve cooking efficiency and reduce tissue breakdown and crab weight loss. More information: Richard Musgrove, musgrove.richard@saugov.sa.gov.au

Southern Bluefin Tuna aquaculture Key outcomes of the Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) aquaculture sub-program of the Aquafin CRC have been:  facilitation of the development and distribution of a new SBT aquaculture strategic R&D plan for the industry;  continuing strong involvement in the Aquafin CRC;  development, initiation and management of a wide range of research projects;  further development, training and education of industry and research personnel;  publication and distribution of extension material to industry; and  further development of the SBT aquaculture subprogram website to act as a comprehensive depository of information for the industry. More information: Steven Clarke, 08 8207 5443

Western Rocklobsters show suitability for aquaculture 2003/213 A series of tank experiments showed that Western Rocklobsters have many biological attributes that are consistent with their suitability for aquaculture. Most significantly post-pueruli, year 1 and year 2 post-settlement juveniles can be stocked at very high densities without adverse effects on growth. Male pueruli held at 23˚C can potentially reach legal size within 2.3 years, whereas females can reach legal size within 2.5 years. These are substantially faster growth rates than wild lobsters. Lobsters consumed formulated pellet diets reasonably well, but grew faster when supplemented with fresh mussels. A novel, rigid plastic mesh shelter design significantly improved survival compared with the brick shelters that have been used in many other growout studies. The biochemical composition of aquacultured and wild-caught lobsters was investigated in relation to their size and aquaculture holding treatments. A solid foundation of biological data and recommendations for culture parameters are now available for potential investors within the aquaculture and fishing industry to maximise survival, growth and production of Western Rocklobster post-pueruli and juveniles in future commercial operations. In addition, a number of areas require further work before P. cygnus culture would be a commercial proposition. Development of a more palatable, nutritionally complete diet specific for P. cygnus is essential for the economic viability of commercial operations. Commercial-scale trials need to be conducted to determine optimum tank specifications. An economic analysis needs to be undertaken to identify the parameters that are most sensitive to the profitability of a Western Rocklobster growout venture. More information: Roy Melville Smith, 08 9203 0173

Impact of environmental variability on the West Coast Prawn Fishery 2005/082 The project outcomes have contributed to:  the information base for stock assessment and co-management of South Australia’s West Coast Prawn Fishery;  a greater understanding of the impacts of El Niño episodes and upwelling events on fishery stocks;  the development of a framework for a spatial DSS that integrates biological, environmental and economic data for effective real-time management of the fishery; and

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Fish june 2009

Final reports

 the development of a case for application to the Commonwealth Government for an amendment to policy for inclusion of wild fisheries in the Exceptional Circumstances Scheme using the West Coast Prawn Fishery. The project has highlighted the need for maintaining consistent and rigorous fishery-independent sampling, the capture of vital logbook commercial catch effort and environmental data over the long term. The study of the economic performance of the fishery showed substantial economic impact to licence holder livelihoods attributable to environmental variation induced by El Niño episodes and cold water upwelling. More information: Neil Carrick, 08 8431 3148

length-based mortality estimation

2003/041

Length-based approaches for estimating mortality from length samples were developed and applied to data for various fisheries. The approaches included a length frequency analysis, catch curve analysis, relative abundance analysis, an analysis of the change in size composition that results from a change in minimum legal length, and a dynamic fishery model. Application of the various approaches using length data for selected fisheries showed the overall potential value of these techniques. Some caution should be exercised in introducing length-based approaches, as these should supplement rather than displace other approaches. Review of sampling protocols, to ensure that samples are representative and that appropriate effective sample sizes are collected, should be considered a prerequisite for introduction of length-based approaches. The software developed in this study has the potential for further enhancement to become a valuable stock assessment tool for fishery scientists. More information: Norman Hall, normhall@murdoch.edu.au

Economic viability of Pipi reseeding

2008/071

Falling Pipi harvests in NSW have led commercial fishers to consider the potential for reseeding local beaches to re-establish Pipi supply and look for future growth opportunities. A preliminary economic assessment was done to demonstrate the feasibility of pipi reseeding and an ‘economic decision tool’ was constructed to assist future reseeding efforts. At an average weight of 31 grams, the reseeding program is expected to generate in excess of 110 tonnes of additional harvest. The economic decision tool can be manipulated by researchers and fishers to test sensitivity to changes in input costs, key biological variables (growth and survival) and market prices. This tool has highlighted the importance of limiting hatchery production costs and ensuring adequate survival in reseeding viability. Significant progress has been made with respect to fishery management and the permit applications to facilitate a reseeding program. The Shellfish Quality Assurance Association (SQAA) has instituted a minimum size for commercial collection and introduced a closed season for Pipi collection for six months of the year. A scientific permit for Pipi collection has been obtained from the NSW DPI, and the NSW Marine Parks Authority (MPA) has indicated that there are no foreseeable issues with the research proposed. More information: Mark Phelps, 02 4982 1232

Empowering industry stakeholders

2007/304

The ‘empowering industry’ project was intended as a one-year trial to investigate the issue that a lack of capacity and/or resources to develop and submit R&D projects was hindering industry involvement in R&D. The project sought to provide a process that allowed industry R&D ideas to be captured and developed into project proposals that could become part of the standard R&D funding process. Industry members were encouraged to be investigators on the developed projects and to become proactive in identifying

and linking with an expanded range of appropriate R&D research providers. The project also sought to establish a broader network of funding sources. More than 50 stakeholder groups were contacted and briefed about the project and its potential benefits. This led to about 40 presentations being given across Australia to an audience of more than 200 industry people. As a result of this contact, 35 potential R&D projects were developed with input from the project. In all instances (except one) an industry person, or equivalent, was the investigator. Of these potential projects, 20 full proposals were developed and submitted to various funding agencies. Projects focused on environmental performance, industry profitability and efficiency, people and industry development, and product development. Sixteen proposals were successful in obtaining funding. The project identified that there were numerous opportunities for more extensive industry involvement in R&D, but in many instances this input needed to be actively sought and assistance provided to work through the R&D process. Based on the success of this trial, industry representatives have called for the development of an ongoing mechanism to deliver a similar service to the broader seafood and fishing industry, ensuring that: it is cost-effective, inclusive and transparent, operates at a national or regional scale, and provides opportunities for the existing funding process to be improved. More information: Ian Knuckey, fishwell@datafast.net.au

ITQs in the coral reef FIN Fish fishery

2004/030

Individual transferable catch quotas (ITQs) have long been proposed as a way of increasing the profitability of fisheries by introducing a rights-based, tradeable permit system that fosters stewardship of resources. The ecological consequences of ITQs are seen especially in multi-species fisheries such as the Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFFF). Because the potential effects of ITQs and related management strategies on the harvest, spatial distribution of fishing effort and stock effects on Common Coral Trout and Redthroat Emperor are unknown, there is a need to develop ways to determine the effectiveness of quota-related management strategies in the CRFFF. This project simulated the ITQ system and its effect on the Queensland CRFFF. It built on the multi-species population and vessel dynamics models (ELFSim) previously developed for Common Coral Trout and Redthroat Emperor. The model considered initial quota allocation to vessels, seasonal fish prices and individual variable costs, fishing efficiency and experience, and constraints on vessel movement. The results from the simulations were examined with respect to various stakeholder management objectives. In general, the effect of the management strategies on the biomass of both species was overwhelmingly influenced by the amount of Coral Trout total allowable catch (TAC). As the Coral Trout TAC increased, catches increased and the ability to satisfy objectives related to conservation, stock and catch-per-unit-effort, declined. The results showed that under the management strategies examined, increasing the Coral Trout TAC led to increased vessel profits. However, increasing the current Coral Trout TAC to one that was 50 per cent higher resulted in only a marginal increase in profit, which was not proportional to the increase in harvest. With such a marginal benefit, the risk of lower stock sizes of Coral Trout, and possible fisheries declines that are associated with them, become more relevant to decision making. The project also investigated the effect of a change to the ratio of the TAC for Coral Trout to that for Redthroat Emperor. This ratio had important implications for Redthroat Emperor. For example, when the TAC for Coral Trout

Interested in an FRDC final report? If you are interested in a copy of an FRDC research project final report, please contact the FRDC on 02 6285 0400 or email frdc@frdc.com.au

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june 2009 fish

Final reports

was high relative to those for Redthroat Emperor, the discard of Redthroat Emperor increased substantially. Such effects are expected in multi-species fisheries under ITQ management systems. It is possible that negative effects of quota management strategies on slower growing, less productive species may be greater than for Coral Trout or Redthroat Emperor. It is generally believed that ITQ systems should halt over-capitalisation and improve the economic performance of a fishery. As a result of the ITQ system, and agreeing with recent empirical data, effort appeared to decrease through the projection period of the simulations as did the variability, and the maximum number of days fished. Simulation results also examined the effects of the various TAC-related management strategies on the regional distribution of catch per unit effort (CPUE) and effort. Although some shifts among regions were noted in both effort and CPUE, there was no obvious localised depletion. More information: Richard Little, rich.little@csiro.au

Post-harvest survival of Mud Crabs

2003/240

The supply chain for Mud Crabs in Australia relies solely on live product and the major outcome of this project was increased survival of crabs through the chain. This was achieved through identification of stress biomarkers that were used as tools to understand which handling steps along the chain impose the greatest stress on the crabs. With this information, alternative handling practices were developed to minimise stresses and consequently improve survival rates. Working with industry stakeholders the project was able to demonstrate the benefits of additional alternative handling practices through the supply chain. Feedback from harvesters, wholesalers and the retail sector indicated increased survival and improved vigour of Mud Crabs when the alternative handling methods were used. Industry has reported a 50 per cent reduction in mortalities in the processor sector and a further 10 per cent reduction at retail level. Mud Crabs reach the consuming public in premium condition, raising public confidence and perception of the commercial operators. The information from this research provides a sound basis for commercial decisions with respect to operational procedures. It has created an ability to supply distant markets, including export markets, with greater confidence. Sustained adoption of the results from this project will also result in improved market perception of Mud Crab quality, leading to greater market demand and increased revenue for the industry. Increased survival of the crabs within this fishery not only improves resource sustainability, but also improves public perception of commercial activities within the Mud Crab fishery. Greater resource sustainability has flowon effects for the recreational sector and the indigenous community. More information: Sue Poole, sue.poole@dpi.qld.gov.au

Maximising survival of bycatch

2005/056

The project resulted in the measurement of immediate and short-term mortalities and contributing factors for key bycatch species discarded from the main estuarine fishing gears in NSW and simple mitigation strategies. While mortalities varied considerably, irrespective of the fishing method, these could be mitigated by:  using selective gears;  choosing when and where to fish (to avoid high temperatures, jellyfish abundances and low salinities);  minimising the duration of gear deployments;  changing the methods by which fish and crabs are removed from nets; and  sorting in water. Adoption of the recommended handling protocols should ultimately contribute towards the sustainability of commercial fishing in NSW estuaries. More information: Matt Broadhurst, 02 6648 3905

acoustic pingers and dolphin bycatch

2004/068

This project showed that ‘Savewave’ acoustic pingers appear to be ineffective in keeping dolphins out of the trawl net in the Pilbara Trawl Fishery. However, a possible mechanism for reducing dolphin catches in the Pilbara Trawl Fishery has been identified. A semi-flexible selection grid constructed from a combination of braided stainless wire and pipe appears to reduce dolphin catches. The grids appeared to be successful at reducing dolphin catches on two vessels, but there is a need for trials to be conducted with a power sufficient to detect differences in the dolphin catch with grids deployed and not deployed. If 400 shots were observed with the grid deployed and 400 shots with the grid not deployed, at the current capture rate 10.2 per 1000 shots, a dolphin catch of two or less would indicate, with a power of 0.9, that grids reduce the dolphin catches. More information: Peter Stephenson, stephenson@fish.wa.gov.au

Indigenous rights: The NZ Experience

2008/311

A multi-sector seafood and fishing industry fact-finding mission to New Zealand sought to provide Northern Territory industry stakeholders with information to augment ongoing consultation and negotiations between stakeholders and government for resolving the access and management issues for indigenous and non-indigenous fishers in the NT. The outcomes that the project results are likely to contribute to are:  NT stakeholder groups gaining a greater understanding of how indigenous fishing rights have been recognised and incorporated into the day-to-day use and management of fishery resources in New Zealand;  developing an environment for the adoption of best practice outcomes and identifying issues that, in New Zealand, have led to ongoing conflict between stakeholders, or have not achieved optimal outcomes;  providing significant personal development for all members of the delegation and giving them the ability to effectively transfer the knowledge to government and other seafood and fishing industry stakeholders;  allowing stakeholders to be in a position to use the knowledge and skills gained from the trip to identify new opportunities to grow or develop business opportunities;  acknowledgment by the NT Government of the ‘key principles’, ‘key lessons’ and ‘the way forward’, as identified in the summary of the deputation’s findings; and  the deputation’s findings and suggested processes will assist in the development of well thought out strategies for future directions and subsequently enable stakeholders to reach an agreed position. More information: Chris Calogeras, info@c-aid.com.au

Understanding the tuna environment

2005/059

This project has produced an integrated hydrodynamic, sediment and biogeochemical model of the tuna farming zone (TFZ) and surrounds that encapsulates most of the knowledge available about the relevant processes acting in this region. In developing this suite of models, a substantial effort was also made to improve understanding of the processes operating in the TFZ. The result is a greater understanding of the hydrodynamics, nutrient cycling, sediment dynamics and phytoplankton ecology. For example, it was previously considered that the farming zone was hydrodynamically well connected to the southern Spencer Gulf, and that nutrients would likely be flushed out into the gulf itself. However, the project showed that not only is the farming zone relatively poorly connected to the rest of the gulf, but that nutrients tend to be moved inshore, and particularly to the north-west, where they accumulate in Louth and Peake bays. More information: Jason Tanner, tanner.jason@saugov.sa.gov.au

CHARTS

Sea Surface Temperature north-east 15 day composite

east 15 day composite

32 32 10°S 10°S

20°S

28 28

22°S 22°S

27 27

24°S 24°S

26 26

26°S 26°S

25 25

28°S 28°S

24 24

31 31

12°S 12°S

30 30

14°S 14°S

29 29

16°S 16°S

28 28

18°S 18°S

27 27

23 23

30°S 30°S

20°S 20°S

26 26 135°E 135°E

140°E 140°E

145°E 145°E

22 22

32°S 32°S

south-west 15 day composite

21 21

34°S 34°S 26 26

26°S 26°S

24 24

28°S 28°S

20 20

36°S 36°S

25 25

150°E 150°E

155°E 155°E

160°E 160°E

23 23 30°S 30°S

22 22

south-east 15 day composite

21 21 32°S 32°S

20 20

34°S 34°S

19 19

34°S 34°S

18 18 17 17

36°S 36°S

18 18

36°S 36°S

17 17

38°S

16 16

38°S

115°E 115°E

120°E 120°E

15 15

40°S 40°S

14 14 13 13

42°S 42°S

WORLD

Colour your

12 12 11 11

44°S 44°S 135°E 135°E

140°E 140°E

145°E 145°E

150°E 150°E

These 15-day composite sea surface temperature images are for April 23, 2009. CSIRO provides near real-time data tailored for fisheries and aquaculture:

www.cmar.csiro.au/remotesensing and chlorophyll charts derived from the NASA MODIS satellite instruments. Source: NOAA; temperatures degrees celsius

The FRDC is

Planning has now commenced for the development of the next FRDC R&D Plan. We want to know the five key things YOU think we should focus on. To view the current 2005-10 R&D Plan visit

Send your comments to

www.frdc.com.au/plan

frdc@frdc.com.au