A major problem facing abalone farmers in temperate Australia is the high operating costs associated with holding animals for 4 years until they reach market size. In other shellfish, selective breeding has substantially improved a number of traits (particularly growth rates & disease resistance), however no such program exists for abalone. An appropriately designed selective breeding program could produce abalone with growth rates enhanced by up to 30% over 3 generations of selection (6--8 years). This could shorten the production cycle by over a year, and thus substantially reduce farm operating costs.

With the continuing enthusiasm for abalone aquaculture both on-shore and off-shore across southern Australia, as well as developing in northern Australia, significant growth of the industry can be expected. Within the next decade it is possible that abalone aquaculture production will exceed the wild fishery in value.

(For FRAB Information repeated from Background)
How the Priority was determined –

The FRDC Board will remember that last year large, high cost approach was submitted that attempted to integrate all aspects of genetic development across all states. The FRDC Board rightly indicated that this was an expensive approach and concern was expressed at the time that all parties had not been properly integrated into the application. The FRDC Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram Steering Committee re-determined the critical R&D priorities with regards to development of a genetic improvement program for the abalone farming industry. The output was a defined plan that had 3 critical areas that needed to be developed. These were:

1) Development of a practical selective breeding protocol
2) Development of a R&D Genetic Business Plan
3) Commence the establishment of on-farm family lines and data collection

An expression of interest was called by the Steering Committee that addressed these three key research areas, for a set budget (approximately $130k), was national in its approach and for no more that 18 months. The application was seen as part of an ongoing research program that was to be established in abalone genetic breeding, with these three areas needing to be addressed before the next stage could commence. It also took advantage of the capacity of the industry to manage on farm selection both technically and physically.