One of the key objectives of the WA Department of Fisheries Business Plan is to ensure ecological and environmental sustainability of the pearling industry. The proposed project will be of direct benefit to the Western Australian pearling industry in that it will document the existence, if any, of the Haplosporidium and its effect on Australia’s most important commercial pearl oyster species.

Given the difficulties in detection and identification of Haplosporidium by current techniques (histology and light microscopy), there is a need for alternative, reliable, and cost-effective methods for detecting and speciation of Haplosporidium.

In the context of a pearling industry that is undergoing a process of intensification in which disease management continues as a priority issue, this lack of basic diagnostic capability needs to be addressed.

Such diagnostic tools will help assess the parasite’s impact on the pearl oyster and its potential threat to the industry, as well as providing tools to assist in diagnosis, epidemiology and surveillance of disease. This could be of key importance in trying to determine the true geographic extent of the parasite, to assess why the outbreaks have been sporadic in nature, and to assist in the early detection and management of possible future outbreaks.

In addition, there is an international shortage of pathologists with expertise in molluscan pathology and a national need for research projects that are suitable for the postgraduate training of aquatic animal health specialists.

The FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram (AAHS) and Scientific Advisory Committee has reviewed the preliminary research proposal and assessed it as high priority.