PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-101
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
261 results
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-082
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Ensuring monitoring and management of bycatch in Southern Rock Lobster fisheries is best practice
Bycatch is an important issue in fisheries worldwide, with the impacts of fishing activities on non-targeted species and the wider marine environment receiving increasing public attention. Issues such as the potential wastage of resources through discarding of unwanted catch, ecological impacts on...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-049
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Monitoring abalone juvenile abundance following removal of Centrostephanus and translocation
A new system of Abalone recruitment modules (ARMs) have proven to be successful in collecting
juvenile abalone in Tasmanian waters. This design was subsequently transferred to the Eastern Zone,
Victoria, where IMAS staff and Eastern Zone Abalone Industry Association (EZIZA) members installed
ARMs at...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-033
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-026
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-013
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Rebuilding Southern Rock Lobster stocks on the east coast of Tasmania: informing options for management
Understanding relationships between fisher behaviour, their expectations/aspirations, responses to changes in stock status and to management intervention is critical when implementing effective management strategies. This project aims to inform on the practical challenges to achieving the stock...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
Future oysters CRC-P: Advanced understanding of POMS to guide farm management decisions in Tasmania
Project number:
2016-804
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$694,773.00
Principal Investigator:
Christine D. Crawford
Organisation:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date:
2 Jan 2017
-
29 Jun 2019
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
The OsHv-1 virus was first detected in Tasmanian oysters in January 2016 with massive mortality of oysters on farms in several major oyster growing areas, including Pittwater, Pipeclay Lagoon, Blackman Bay and Little Swanport. In other regions such as Bruny Island and Great Swanport the virus was found in oysters but mortalities were low. Reasons for these differences between oyster growing areas are unknown and there is an urgent need for Tasmanian oyster farmers to have region and site specific information on the period of infection of the virus in Tasmania and to better understand the POMS virus dynamics, leading to the development of a predictive framework and early warning for oyster farmers of POMS disease outbreaks. Oyster farmers in Tasmania also desperately need support to develop farm management techniques that enable them to operate successfully in POMS infected areas, especially during the next few years while selective breeding for POMS resistance is being developed.
1. To determine i) the periodicity of infection of OsHV-1 virus in Tasmania, ii) advance the understanding of the drivers of POMS disease outbreaks, and iii) develop a predictive framework that allows the Tasmanian oyster industry to forecast danger periods for POMS.
2. To develop farm husbandry and handling protocols to maximise oyster production in POMS infected growing areas by investigating oyster survival in relation to: i) subtidal versus intertidal culture, ii) high water flow areas compared with low flow, iii) reduced handling, iv) size and timing of spat onto growout farms, and v) stocking density.
3. To enhance commercial production of Pacific oysters in a POMS infected area through analysis of past farm production and management records, and a contemporary study of farm production systems and oyster survival.
Final report
ISBN:
Print: 978-1-922352-09-5
Electronic: 978-1-922352-10-1
Authors:
Christine Crawford
Sarah Ugalde
Final Report
•
2019-08-01
•
4.07 MB
2016-804-DLD.pdf
The objectives of our research have been to determine the high-risk periods for POMS infection and to develop a predictive framework so that the farmers can forecast danger periods for POMS. This includes developing a better understanding of where the virus exists in the environment and the factors that drive POMS disease outbreaks. We also aimed to work with the oyster industry to develop farm husbandry and handling protocols that maximise oyster production in POMS infected growing areas. Additionally, we surveyed the oyster farmers affected by POMS to get an overall view of the impact of POMS, especially socio-economic aspects.
Our research supports other studies that warm water temperature is a major driver of POMS outbreaks, with temperatures in south-eastern Tasmanian growing areas of 19 °C and above for around one week providing a high risk for a disease event to occur. The risk period for POMS disease outbreaks ranges from mid-November to late March. Other environmental factors likely to be important include water movements and density of infected oysters in a water body. Growing areas with extensive intertidal flats and poor water circulation, such as Pittwater, or with a high biomass of farmed and feral oysters in a relatively small area, such as Pipe Clay Lagoon, have shown to be more susceptible to POMS disease than the other farming areas. As feral oysters in Pipe Clay had a relatively high prevalence of OsHV-1, they may be contributing to the reservoir host of the virus.
Studies on farming practices conducted in close collaboration with oyster growers suggest that density of oysters in culture containers has limited effect on mortality rates, and that some
handling is required during the POMS season to reduce biofouling and maintain stocking densities conducive to good growth and survival. Younger and smaller oysters are more susceptible to infection that larger and older juvenile and adult oysters. For oysters of the same age cohort, fast growers had higher mortalities than slow growers.
handling is required during the POMS season to reduce biofouling and maintain stocking densities conducive to good growth and survival. Younger and smaller oysters are more susceptible to infection that larger and older juvenile and adult oysters. For oysters of the same age cohort, fast growers had higher mortalities than slow growers.
The surveys of oyster growers on the impacts of POMS on their farming operations has shown that mortalities from POMS have rapidly declined from an average of 67% of stock in 2016 to 9% in 2018/19. Changes to farming practices that have occurred during this time include a large increase in stock selectively bred for POMS disease resistance, reduced and more careful handling of oysters during the summer POMS season, selling a higher percentage of stock before the POMS high risk period, and purchasing spat when temperatures are declining.
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2016-235
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Improving post-harvest survival of live held Southern Rock Lobster
This report details the results of a multifaceted research program led by the Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania in collaboration with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide. The work was undertaken to better evaluate post-harvest...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2016-228
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES
Waste to profit in urchin fisheries: developing business opportunities to ensure fishery sustainability and safeguard reef dependent fisheries from destructive urchin grazing
Project number:
2016-208
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$54,102.30
Principal Investigator:
John P. Keane
Organisation:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date:
30 Jun 2016
-
27 Feb 2018
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Increasing the viability of urchin fisheries is particularly important for the range-extending Centrostephanus rodgersii which is threatening the productivity and profitability of the lucrative abalone and rock lobster fishing grounds as far south as the Tasman Peninsula (south-eastern Tasmania). Waste products from urchin fisheries account for over 85% of the harvested biomass, with up to 180 tonnes of sea urchin waste produced annually. Developing saleable by-products from waste will increase the viability and profitability of urchin fisheries by 1) creating new business opportunities 2) reducing waste disposal and transport costs and 3) enabling increased harvest levels temporally (longer seasons), spatially (further from port) and at an increased density.
Cost effective control of Centrostephanus is a key priority of the Tasmanian Government as well as the Tasmanian Abalone and Rock Lobster Council. Similarly, the State Government of Victoria and the Eastern Zone Abalone Industry Association have highlighted the need to control the destructive overgrazing of urchins. A profitable Centrostephanus fishery is seen as the best way to achieve this. However, profitability in the fishery is currently low given the species lower average roe quality. Methods to reduce costs and increase profitability are vital for a prosperous fishery and control of destructive urchin grazing.
Processors, encouraged by initial trials and results, believe there is a high potential to develop a commercial product from the waste. However, cost and lack of expertise have impeded the timely development of waste-derived products within industry.
1. To determine the biochemical composition and volume of urchin waste and identify applications for the agricultural sector.
2. To assess the potential for using sea urchin as rock lobster bait.
Final report
ISBN:
978-1-922352-84-2
Authors:
Keane
J.P.
Campus
P.
Swarts
N.
Final Report
•
2021-03-01
•
3.24 MB
2016-208-DLD.pdf
This report examines two potential applications of Longspined Sea Urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) via pitot scale trials; processing waste as an agricultural fertiliser and use as Southern Rock Lobster bait. The biochemical composition of Longspined Sea Urchin waste products was analysed, and the project extended to include growth trials of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) using dried urchin shell waste as fertiliser. Positive results from the greenhouse growth trial indicate high bioavailability and uptake of macro and micro-nutrients that warrant the further investigation and commercial trials. Southern Rock Lobster preference trials utilising Longspined Sea Urchin as potential bait were less promising, with trials showing limited application and strong preferences by lobsters to alternate species including traditional fish bait.
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