The grouper industry is new but growing in Australia with recent new private sector investment in the hatchery in Cairns. However, all current grow out is affected by nodavirus outbreaks which have been both acute and severe. Without a solution the industry will not be able to continue. Fortunately, nodavirus is preventable by vaccination and there is local capacity to produce. Whilst there is currently insufficient demand to allow a fully privately financed vaccine initiative, with an emergency vaccine put in place and a registration data pack established, the industry is predicted to grow to a point where vaccine production by the private sector will become self-sustaining. This project will deliver an emergency vaccine to assist farmers through 2018/2019 grow out. It will build capability in vaccination of grouper in the industry. Most importantly it will provide the efficacy data, optimisation and formulation data with documentation appropriate for future licensing of a vaccine for use in Australia.
Project number:
2018-098
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure:
$567,695.00
Principal Investigator:
Andrew C. Barnes
Organisation:
University of Queensland (UQ)
Project start/end date:
28 Mar 2019
-
30 Jan 2023
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
SPECIES
1. An emergency vaccine to prevent nodavirus in the Queensland grouper cohort for stocking in spring/summer 2018
2. A data pack suitable for registration of an optimally formulated nodavirus vaccine for Australia
ISBN:
978-1-74272-399-0
Authors:
Rosemary Thwaite
Minami Kawasaki
Angus Li
Kelly Condon
Richard Knuckey
Bradley Cherrie
Mark White
Matt Landos and Andrew C Barnes
Final Report
•
2023-02-01
•
18.85 MB
2018-098-DLD.pdf
Rocky Point Aquaculture in southeast Queensland experienced a disease outbreak in cage-reared giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) in late summer and autumn 2018 resulting is severe losses caused by a Betanodavirus. Following a request from the farm owner, Serena Zipf in July 2018, Dr Andrew Barnes from The University of Queensland, designed and built a recombinant protein subunit vaccine against the Betanodavirus and supplied the construct and production outline to Tréidlia BioVet Pty Ltd (Sydney) for manufacture in September 2018. Under direction from Dr Matt Landos and Dr James Fensham (Future Fisheries Veterinary Services) and with permission from Dr Richard Knuckey (General Manager, The Company One), juvenile grouper were vaccinated under a research permit from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) at The Company One (TCO) Cairns hatchery in October 2018, and shipped for grow-out at Rocky Point Aquaculture in December 2018, less than 6 months after concept discussion. Vaccination coincided with a reduction in the severity of outbreaks and from mid-2019 to 2022 the farm was free from nodavirus outbreaks. In summer 2022, a persistent low-level outbreak was recorded at the farm in vaccinated fish, although again well below the mortality levels of the 2018 outbreak. In controlled laboratory challenge studies by Dr Kelly Condon at James Cook University, the vaccine has been shown to be >90% effective. Vaccinated juveniles have also been purchased by Noosa Ecomarine and the vaccine has also coincided with substantially reduced mortalities by nodavirus in their recirculating aquaculture facility.
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2018-157
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
Evaluation of Cobia and Giant Groper production and health in multiple growout systems, as an alternative species to farm in WSSV affected areas of South East Queensland
1. Generate data on the production and health performance of Giant Grouper and Cobia in RAS, cages in a saline lake and in outdoor pond growout systems.
ORGANISATION:
Rocky Point Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-143
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Transitioning cobia aquaculture research and development in Queensland to industry
1. Expand cobia production: (a) supply of biosecure broodstock from BIRC to RPP
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-103
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
The evaluation of two species, Cobia and Giant Grouper, as alternative species to farm in the WSSV affected areas of South East Queensland.
1. Study tour of South East Asia to determine alternative farming methods for Cobia and Giant Grouper and investigate optimum market parameters.
ORGANISATION:
Rocky Point Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd