PROJECT NUMBER
•
2011-235
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Huon Aquaculture Group Ltd
SPECIES
34,051 results
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2011-233
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Land and Water Canberra
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2011-232
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Abalone Association of Australasia Inc
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2011-231
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Strategy First PR and Marketing
Tactical Research Fund - Empowering Industry: energy audit of prawn trawler with auxiliary sail power
Project number:
2011-229
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$14,680.00
Principal Investigator:
Giles A. Thomas
Organisation:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date:
2 Oct 2011
-
10 Jun 2012
Contact:
FRDC
Commercial fishing is one of the most energy intensive food production methods today and the Australian industry consumes approximately 205 million litres of diesel fuel per annum. The fishing industry needs to radically improve the energy efficiency of its operations primarily due to the rising cost of fuel and its effect on operating margins. The recent rapid increase in cost of diesel has reduced margins to such a low level that it is rapidly becoming uneconomical for operators to continue to trade. This has significant flow-on effects down the whole production-processing-retail chain.
In addition there is a global need to reduce the emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel combustion. The global fisheries industries emit annually more than 130 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Trawling is a very energy intensive fishing method, for example Australian prawn trawlers incur fuel costs of approximately 35% of total production costs. The use of alternative auxiliary powering systems, such as sails, has the potential to radically reduce fuel consumption by a combination of providing supplementary propulsive thrust and reducing vessel motions and consequent drag.
Several fishers in Australia have installed sails onto their vessels with the aim of reducing fuel consumption, but no investigations have been conducted to ascertain the effect the auxiliary systems actually have on fuel consumption, performance and costs. The results from an energy audit on such a vessel would provide valuable information to other fishers on the benefits, or otherwise, of fitting such a system to their vessel.
The need for this work was highlighted by the results from recent FRDC sponsored energy audits of fishing vessels. The 1st International Symposium on Energy Efficiency in Fishing was held in May 2010 and clearly emphasised the need for continuing RD&E in this area.
1. Energy audit (level 2) on prawn trawler fitted with auxiliary sail system.
2. Collect data on effect of use of sail system on fuel consumption in varying environmental conditions.
3. Analyse energy audit data to determine effect of sail system on fuel consumption.
4. Disseminate information on effect of sail auxiliary power system to owners and operators of fishing vessels.
Final report
Tactical Research Fund: using industry expertise to build a national standard for grading of live mud crabs
Project number:
2011-225
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$65,620.00
Principal Investigator:
Chris E. Calogeras
Organisation:
C-AID Consultants
Project start/end date:
21 Sep 2011
-
31 Oct 2012
Contact:
FRDC
Differing interpretations of grading standards for live mud crabs between fishers and buyers is highly emotive and greatly impacts industry revenue and relationships throughout the supply chain. Live mud crabs are the Sydney Fish Market’s second most valuable product and one of its most problematic, mainly due to grading issues. The urgent need for national grading standards is illustrated by the high level of confusion existing within all industry sectors.
This is compounded by the current environmental conditions that created an oversupply and low mud crab prices at market. Recent floods resulted in old crab with little meat content entering the market in higher than normal proportions, as well as an abundance of newly moulted ‘empty’ crab that are more susceptible to mortality within the supply chain and are lower priced. With newly adopted improved handling practices, harvesters are looking for new markets and experiencing various grading interpretations.
Lack of consumer confidence in purchasing a ‘full' crab impacts industry revenue. Having purchased a crab with poor meat content, consumers are unlikely to purchase again.
There is overwhelming Industry support to develop a universal, objective, agreed and workable standard. To achieve this national standards needs to be developed to ensure all harvesters, buyers and marketers agree on consistent grading standard for live mud crab. Many currently active industry members indicated they are unclear of grading parameters for live mud crab.
With the Qld crab-review in progress, the development of grading standards is timely and will assist the transition to any adjusted management regime.
As the catch of mud crab is a major component of the recreational fishery in many jurisdictions it is important to educate them on how to tell if a crab would be best returned to the water.
1. To identify key industry representatives from the live mud crab supply chain across key states and territories to attend a forum
2. The forum to develop a universal, industry-driven, Australian grading standard for live mud crabs
3. Extend the agreed standard to all sectors
4. Evaluate adoption of standards
5. Production of professional media extension capturing outcomes from the workshop
Final report
ISBN:
978-0-9871427-2-6
Author:
Chris Calogeras
Final Report
•
5.10 MB
2011-225-DLD.pdf
This project lead to a large number of outcomes that provided significant benefit to the Australian live mud crab industry supply chain. These include:
- Agreement on an easy to use, national, industry-driven, grading scheme for live mud crabs (the Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme) and the development of a range of material to extend the scheme widely
- Industry ownership and support for the grading scheme has been evident, with many sectors, individuals and groups taking the scheme on board, including the Sydney Fish Market (SFM) adopting the Australian Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme as part of its grading guidelines.
- Improved revenue return to the supply chain through a reduction in downgraded live mud crab, resulting in maximum price per unit. Even though not formally adopted until December 2012, data indicates up to a $1.40/kg increase in value for properly graded product at the SFM since the forum.
- Supply chain partners have indicated greater consumer satisfaction and less disagreement due to the development of the extension material and easy to use grading scheme. With the formal launch of the scheme on 3rd December 2012, in conjunction with the SFM, the linking with key sector sites and groups, and all of the material going live, it is anticipated that as consumers become better informed in their decision making process when choosing mud crab, there will be elevated consumer confidence to buy premium quality, live mud crab, engendering more frequent purchases.
- The linking of project 2010/302 and this project has seen far greater utilisation of Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) resources along the supply chain. Six trips were undertaken jointly to meet with key people and groups along the supply chain (NT x 2, NSW x 2, Vic x 1, Qld x 1), and the linking of best handling and grading became intertwined. In addition, when work on either project has taken place by the individual project teams, the opportunity to cross reference the projects has allowed the combined knowledge of the projects to be further extended.
- The forum methodology, which focused on providing optimal input from industry, was extremely well supported and can serve as a template for future whole of supply chain meetings.
- The benefits of using professional media/design personnel as part of capturing outcomes from the workshop and developing extension material proved very successful and resulted in production of high quality, client focussed, targeted material.
Keywords: Mud crab, grading scheme, quality, facilitation, extension, industry, supply chain.
Project products
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2011-224
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2011-223
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)
SPECIES
Development of a cohesive industry-wide policy on Eco-Certification for Australian commercial fisheries
Project number:
2011-222
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$27,203.26
Principal Investigator:
Annie Jarrett
Organisation:
Pro-Fish Pty Ltd
Project start/end date:
24 Jul 2011
-
24 Nov 2011
Contact:
FRDC
There is growing producer and consumer interest in, and demand for, environmentally sustainable seafood products, both nationally and internationally. Australia is a world leader in sustainable fisheries management and the Australian fishing industry is highly supportive of ecosystem based management. However industry continually bears the cost of implementing measures to improve and demonstrate fishery and environmental sustainability, without deriving the benefits which can flow from demands for sustainable seafood.
It is therefore imperative that Australian fisheries progress rapidly to eco-certification, to derive benefits from existing best practice applied in management of our fisheries, encourage continual improvement in fishing practices, and to provide a clear point of difference in the marketplace to cheaper imported products which are typically not subject to the same strict environmental and management constraints.
In order to achieve this there is a pressing need to address the existing policy vaccuum at government level regarding third party eco-certification for fisheries, including development of funding mechanisms which will facilitate the pursuit of third party eco-certification.
Key drivers for the development of this proposal include:
- Increasing focus from the fishing industry on the need to pursue eco-certification as a means of differentiating Australian seafood in domestic and international markets to maintain market access, increase market demand and maximize competitive advantage.
- The opportunity to better inform consumers about the sustainability of Australian seafood and inform choices that consumers make when buying seafood
1. The primary objective of this project is to facilitate the development of government policy and programmes, including funding mechanisms, that support third party eco-certification for Australian commercial fisheries
Final report
Author:
Annie Jarrett
Final Report
•
2015-03-24
•
1.40 MB
2011-222-DLD.pdf
The project facilitated on-going discussion within industry on eco-certification for the Australian seafood industry.
The project demonstrated that clear benefits can be gained from eco-certification and that there are numerous certification programs available to industry. This is consistent with the outcomes of the October 2011 environmental workshop that future access to eco-certification programmes must be voluntary and non-discriminatory.
The project also highlighted that there are varying views within some sectors of industry, including the National Seafood Industry Alliance (NSIA) on the need for and the benefits of eco-certification.
The project has resulted in on-going support by the Commonwealth Fisheries Association (CFA) for the development of a whole of government eco-certification policy (including funding) for Australian fisheries. This position has been incorporated into a CFA policy paper as part of the CFA 2013 Federal Election policy platform.
The NSIA is still developing its position on the proposal for a government policy on eco-certification however at least two members (WAFIC and CFA) support the approach. A key recommendation in this report is that any FAO-compliant ‘Australian Standard’ which may be developed in the future should be available to commercial fishers on a voluntary basis under an eco-certification policy.
RFIDS: identifying the health and well-being benefits of recreational fishing
Project number:
2011-217
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$29,459.89
Principal Investigator:
Alexandra McManus
Organisation:
Curtin University
Project start/end date:
30 Jun 2011
-
30 Dec 2011
Contact:
FRDC
Recreational fishing is a form of outdoor recreation providing physiological, psychological and social benefits to the community. These benefits, while widely recognised, are inherently difficult to identify and quantify. This project will collate research efforts, initiatives and programs currently underway in Australia around the topic of recreational fishing, health and well-being. This investigation will increase understanding of the health and well-being benefits derived from recreational fishing for different community sectors and stages of life.
Determination of the health and well-being benefits to communities from recreational fishing will allow for consideration of these factors in allocation of resources. As an outdoor pursuit that can be enjoyed throughout life, it is important that the recreational fishing sector is recognised for promotion of well-being. Factors requiring consideration include a positive impact on mental health, perceived well-being, prevention of chronic disease and associated reductions in health care burden. These and other factors need to be considered for the true value of recreational fishing to be recognised. Recreational fishing is one of the few outdoor recreational activites that can be enjoyed at almost any age regrardless of skill, experieince or disability. Outcomes of Australian Institute of Criminology research investigating sport, physical activity and antisocial behaviour in youth, as well as international efforts such as the UK 'Get Hooked on Fishing' initiative aimed at providing diversions for youth from antisocial behaviour, will be included in the final analysis. This project represents a first step in consolidating the value of recreational fishing across Australia.
1. Identify current research activities and programs in Australia relating to recreational fishing and health or well-being.
2. Investigate the impact of recreational fishing on the health and well-being of Australian Society
Final report
ISBN:
978-0-9872086-1-3
Author:
Alexandra McManus
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