The efficiency and effectiveness of selective breeding programs can be greatly enhanced through the use of DNA technology. The application of such technology will be used for pedigree information and identification of markers for economic traits leading to marker-assisted selection. Although various international laboratories and CSIRO have developed a bank of molecular markers for Atlantic salmon, the potential of these and other nuclear DNA markers such as AFLPs need evaluating.

Through this project we would be able to formally collaborate on an international mapping project for salmonids. This would give the local industry access to far more markers and genetic information than would be possible if we worked in isolation.

The extent of genetic variation within the Tasmanian population with respect to overseas endemic populations remains unclear. In time it may be considered advantageous to import new genetic material to enhance various characteristics of the local population. However, at present that is unlikely and the genetic status of the population, and of the effectiveness of breeding protocols, needs to be better understood. Significant progress was made with this and the search for sex differences (project 96/347), but funding is required to further the research.

There is a need for marron aquaculture to follow the example of traditional agriculture and develop domesticated varieties, rather than continuing to rely upon unselected wild stock. In fact, current husbandry techniques on commercial farms, in particular harvesting practices, are likely to result in the selection of slower growing marron for future broodstock (i.e. through early marketing of fastest growing individuals with broodstock chosen from the residual population), as is the case in yabby farming (Lawrence et al. 1998).

Investment in marron farming has grown rapidly in WA and SA with medium term potential of 1000 t p.a. ($20 million) in WA and 250 t pa ($6.25 million) in SA, based on current investment (conservatively $15 million in WA), anticipated expansion at these farms, performance of better farmers, and site availability (marron are grown from Geraldton to Esperance). As volumes increase the current excellent ex farm prices for marron ($16-32/kg) may decline and necessitate improved production efficiency. Consultation with industry has identified growth rate and size variation as the main factors affecting profitability of marron farming. Industry’s belief in the need for this research is reinforced with significant cash ($9000 from WA) and in kind contributions.

There is a need to i) compare production of farm stock with that of their ancestral populations to determine the effects of current farm management practices upon marron gene pools, ii) compare different wild stocks to identify the best marron strain for farming, and then iii) genetically improve the best strains

Just as traditional agriculture has increased growth rates of livestock and poultry by strain evaluation and selective breeding, there is a need to achieve similar gains with marron by developing a genetically improved strain which will result in greatly improved profitability for industry.

In addition, there is considerable debate amongst consultants and farmers as to what are the best methods for producing marron. While experimental trials have shown yields may be increased, demonstration and documentation of the "best practice" marron farming system has not been undertaken. There is a need for husbandry improvements that can both increase the quantity and improve the quality of farmed marron. The issue of improved quality is vital to farmers, as marron are exported alive but industry currently report mortality rates of up to 11%. Reducing mortality by ensuring marron being sent to market are in top condition will have clear and measurable improvements in profitability. With industry we have developed this proposal which combines the needs of industry with the proven freshwater crayfish expertise of Fisheries WA researchers along with facilities and expertise in animal breeding from the University of Western Australia. South Australian farmers and researchers are keen to extend such research activity and results to that state. To facilitate this the project involves SA industry, SARDI, PIRSA and the University of Adelaide.

Because Australia's rock lobster fisheries are at their maximum sustainable capacity, the value of the industry can be increased only through the development of aquaculture. In the immediate term, this could be achieved by on-growing of juveniles taken from the wild and the holding of adults for weight gain or niche marketing opportunities. In the longer term, domestication of the specie/s and hatchery propagation of the juveniles will enable a sustainable rock lobster aquaculture industry to develop. In Australia, these opportunities are seriously constrained by the lack of a cost-effective and efficacious rock lobster feed. This contrasts with the developing industry in New Zealand where waste from the large mussel industry is an available and inexpensive source of feed. If feed comprises from 40 to 50% of rock lobster production costs as is the case for prawn and finfish grow-out operations, the availability of a suitable formulated pelleted feed is seen as a necessity for commercial production.

Preliminary feed’s development work (FRDC 98/303) for juvenile and adult lobsters has been initiated in an 18-month project that terminated in December 1999. Although all lobster species consumed the developed dry feed pellets, the productivity of juvenile animals was inferior to the feeding of fresh mussels. However, with adult J. edwardsii held in sea cages, the pelleted diets were equal to fresh mussel in maintaining the condition (moult frequency, weight increase and survival) and colour of the lobsters The sub-optimal performance of the pelleted diets for the juveniles is thought to have been due to the reduced attractiveness and /or sub-optimal nutrient specifications of the diet for the lobsters. This project will seek to develop improved and more cost-effective pelleted dry lobster feeds for P. ornatus and J. edwardsii juveniles and to improve the feeds management of adult J. edwardsii. Dietary improvements made with the juvenile work will be applied to adult lobsters being held under commercial sea cage conditions in Professor Geddes’ ‘On-growing Project’ (98/305). A collaborative research approach involving CSIRO, TAFI and UA and other agencies in the RLEAS will give the best prospects for achieving our aims. The likelihood of the project being successful is high because:

1. The initial Feed’s Development Project has shown dry pelleted diets to be well accepted by the lobsters and further improvements are likely upon implementation of the proposed targeted research.
2. The project will build on the already established strong collaborative linkages between related rock lobster research being carried out at CSIRO, QDPI, TAFI, UA and by industry.
3. The assembled project team has considerable expertise and an established track record in delivery of successful feed development for other crustaceans (prawns) and finfish, and have established strong collaborative linkages with the aquafeed industry to aid the rapid commercialisation of the research.

This project provides the opportunity to develop a new mud crab aquaculture industry for tropical and sub- tropical Australia. It will provide the crablets needed by pioneering farmers to run the first grow-out trials.

Industry has identified the need to commercialise this technology, as can be seen by the involvement of Seafarm and McRobert Aquaculture Systems participation in this project.

Seafarm is determined to secure a reliable supply of crablets for its Queensland operation, following the initial success of the first crop of crablets recently grown and harvested from its ponds. The company has stated its intention to diversify into mud crabs, in addition to its core prawn farming business.

McRobert Aquaculture Systems is aiming to get involved with the supply of crablets to both Australian and international markets, using its new tank system. It is also keen to ensure its new tank system is fully field tested for mud crab larval culture, so that it can be marketed on a sound,scientific basis.

Aboriginal groups across northern Australia have expressed great interest in becoming involved with mud crab aquaculture development. This project will provide for the supply of commercial quantities of mud crablets, which will support their future involvement.

Both the Northern Territory and the Queensland Government agencies are dealing with a steady stream of inquires regarding the availability of crablets and also the release of mud crab farming technology. This project will help meet that demand.

Mud crab aquaculture will be the focus of both industrial scale aquaculture (similar to prawn farming) development and of appropriate, ecologically friendly farming systems for coastal aboriginal communities.

In time mud crab aquaculture will enable the marketing of mud crabs, both for the local and export markets to become consistent, reliable and of an assured quality. It will also provide the opportunity for the development of a range of products including soft shell crab, crabs of a variety of sizes and a range of crab meat products.

Scaling up of research results to commercial hatchery and nursery systems will overcome two of the major obstacles to development of mud crab aquaculture in Australia identified in the draft mud crab industry development plan (which was an attachment to our previous application this year).

This project will support diversification of pond based marine aquaculture in tropical and sub-tropical Australia.

Any animal which is being farmed intensively will encounter a range of health challenges. Identifying disease agents and developing effective management strategies for them is critical. Control of bacteria loading in larval culture was identified in the ACIAR project as a key barrier to overcome in the commercialisation of mud crab culture. This project contains a health component, which will benefit from preliminary work undertaken by Dr John Norton at QDPI Oonoomba over the last few years.

This project is a vital first step in the development of the mud crab aquaculture industry in Australia. Future activities will involve work on digestion, nutrition and grow-out system design to fully commercialise this farming sector.