Anyone who operates a recirculating system for grow-out of any type of table fish, or for finishing, (purging) table fish, or anyone growing ornamental fish. Especially anyone thinking of buying or building a system for any of the above uses! Anyone who wishes to improve their understanding of water quality will find the workshop particularly valuable. 

General control and management of water quality is essential when operating a closed system. Get it wrong, and add up the financial loss. This workshop is a small price to pay in dollars and time!

Those who attend the workshop will be offered video tapes of the workshop at a very discounted rate.

The workshop will commence at 8.45am, with registration from 8am, concluding approximately 5pm. Registration includes access to the trade displays, morning and afternoon tea, and lunch. Attendance will also make you eligible for farm visits after the conference.

Three of the country's leaders in their fields of aquaculture will cover the subject of "Recirculating aquaculture Systems"  during a workshop on Friday the 16th of August 2002

Roger will be talking on the future of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems in Australia and his experiences with his system. There will be ample time during the workshop to gain real insight into Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, especially the one used at Australian Aquaculture Products. This is a system that has proven itself, particularly with Murray Cod production. Roger will also be giving a condensed presentation during the weekend conference.

AAP is one of Australia’s leading aquaculture businesses and the largest producer of farmed Murray cod, Jade perch and cultured eels. These are some of the latest new seafood products to come on to the market from Australia’s fast-growing aquaculture industry.

Production from the world’s wild fisheries has reached a plateau and is unlikely to ever increase. It is estimated that there will be a gap between world demand and supply for fish and seafood products of around 15 million tonnes by 2010, which can be met only by further growth in the aquaculture industry.

Central Victoria is an ideal location to play a key role in the future growth of this dynamic young industry in terms of suitable climate and low land costs; access to markets, sustainable wild broodstock; biotechnology support; clean environments, and strong local government support.

AAP has competitive advantages in its unique high quality product, its professional management expertise and its state-of-the-art water re-circulation technology.

The company has successfully completed its initial production development phase with the establishment of the intensive fish farm and breeding complex at Euroa, and is now seeking to expand production capabilities in response to growing market demand.

Company History: Australian Aquaculture Products (formerly Australian Cultured Eels) was established in November 1997 to take advantage of both the growing market opportunities and the latest water purification and re-circulation technology.

This state-of-the-art technology was originally developed in Europe and enables the efficient and environmentally friendly farming of fish with total control over production cycles. One of the main advantages of this high level of control is the ability to grow fish to order in terms of product size. Closed system intensive fish farms can be built in virtually any location, offering unrivaled flexibility in selecting sites close to domestic markets, processing plants, airports or customers.

Using this new technology, Australia Aquaculture Products (AAP) has led the way into intensive fish farming for the Australian aquaculture industry. AAP is the first Australian company to successfully wean, grow and market Murray cod, Jade perch and eels in an intensive grow out system.

Since November 1997, AAP has successfully completed its initial product on development phase with the establishment of the intensive fish farm and breeding complex at Euroa, in Central Victoria. This plant is now fully operational with 65 tonne of Murray cod production as at February 2000. Estimated production in the year 2001/02 is 125 tonne of Murray cod.

The market response to fish produced at Euroa has been very positive with demand focusing on live Murray cod and Jade perch predominantly from within Australia, but also with strong inquiries from Japan and Hong Kong. More live product will be supplied to these lucrative export markets as production increases. An increase in production will also allow an economy of scale for fish to be processed into value-added products including filets, fresh chilled and smoked fish.

AAP is also involved in a continuous research program, closely linked with Victorian Fisheries in developing grow out protocols for Murray cod. The company is also conducting research into the suitability of new species (both fresh and saltwater) for intensive aquaculture.

Murray cod: As the name implies, the Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) is native to the Murray-Darling River Basin in south-eastern Australia. As Australia’s largest and most important freshwater fish, Murray cod is highly prized by Australians as a fine table fish.

The fish has a moist, brilliant white flesh which flakes easily and has a natural freshwater flavour. Farmed Murray cod is being produced at the size range of 450 grams to 1.5 Kg, which is the optimal size for taste, keeping qualities and serving convenience. It can be easily gilled, gutted and skinned to produce fillets, steaks or whole fish for the kitchen. Traditionally, larger fish are prepared in steaks to be grilled on the typical Australian barbecue.

Murray cod is a non-fatty fish which is very high in protein (one of the highest recorded for a fish species), high in essential amino acids and very low in carbohydrates. Farmed Murray cod exhibits an attractive fish oil profile (high in Omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturates) and is free of harmful chemical residues, making it a very healthy fish to eat.

As a new product, the marketing of farmed Murray cod is in its early stages. Preliminary market surveys conducted by Austrade have been very positive with overseas seafood traders keen to purchase the product. The highest return is in live sales of Murray cod, rather than gilled and gutted or fresh frozen. Live fish are being sold in both Sydney and Melbourne and overseas markets, mainly Asia. Target product size is plate size at 500-800 grams. This can be achieved in 10-15 months, or fish can be held for specialty Chinese banquet markets and grown to 1.5 Kg or any other size required by regular buyers.

Murray Cod has proven to be easy to breed and farm, readily adapting to artificial environments and pelletised feeds. Under farmed conditions, the young fish grow rapidly in the first 12 to 18 months and are usually sexually mature at 4 years of age. Under wild conditions, some individual fish can reach 64 cm in the fifth year, and have been known to attain up to 1.8 meters in length and 113.5 Kg in weight.

Roger will be talking on the future of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems in Australia and his experiences with his system. There will be ample time during the workshop to gain real insight into Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, especially the one used at Australian Aquaculture Products. This is a system that has proven itself, particularly with Murray Cod production.

Roger will also be giving a condensed presentation during the weekend conference.

Dr. Brett Ingram BSc (Hons) PhD 

Dr. Brett Ingram BSc (Hons) PhD Senior Scientist, Aquaculture Program, Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.

Over 15 years experience in fisheries and aquaculture R&D in both NSW and Victoria.

Brett has broad and extensive experience in the production of a wide range of aquatic organisms including the breeding and rearing of a range of freshwater, estuarine and marine fish species, and associated food organisms (algae, rotifers, brine shrimp and zooplankton). Much work has been on spawning and rearing of freshwater native species (Murray cod, trout cod, Macquarie perch, golden perch and Australian bass) for stock enhancement purposes. He has undertaken extensive research into the grow-out of eels and Murray cod, which has mainly focused on culture in intensive recirculating aquaculture systems. However, his R&D has also involved the growing of many different species using a range of culture methods including extensive pond culture systems, cage culture systems and semi-intensive and intensive tanks culture systems.

Brett has been an associate investigator on several major national and international aquaculture projects, including two FRDC-funded eel aquaculture projects, a NRMS-funded inland mariculture project (finfish and shellfish culture in saline groundwaters), an ACIAR reservoir fisheries and cage culture project (silver perch and salmonids), and a RIRDC Agriculture/Aquaculture Systems Integration project (silver perch). Brett is has just completed a three year project investigating the aquaculture of Murray cod, a project also funded by FRDC.

Brett will also be giving a condensed presentation during the weekend conference.

A sample of recent publications

Ingram, B. and Larkin, B. (2000) Murray cod aquaculture - current information and current status. In: Murray Cod Aquaculture A Potential Industry for the New Millennium. Proceedings of a Workshop (18th January 2000, Eildon, Vic.) (ed. B.A. Ingram). Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, Alexandra, pp 4-16.

Ingram, B.A. (ed.) (1999) Towards Best Practice in Land-based Salmonid Farming: Options for Treatment, Re-use and Disposal of Effluent. Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute: Alexandra, pp. 121.

Ingram, B.A. (2002) Advances in the weaning and rearing of juvenile Australian shortfin eels (Anguilla australis). In: Assessment of eastern Australian Glass Eel Stocks and Associated Eel Aquaculture. Final Report FRDC Project No. 97/312 (and No. 99/333) (ed. G.J. Gooley and B.A. Ingram). Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, Alexandra, Australia, pp 83-114.

Ingram, B.A., Barlow, C.G., Burchmore, J.J., Gooley, G.J., Rowland, S.J. and Sanger, A.C. (1990) Threatened native freshwater fishes in Australia - some case histories. Journal of Fish Biology 37 (Supplement A), 175-182.

Ingram, B.A., Gooley, G.J., De Silva, S.S., Larkin, B.J. and Collins, R.A. (2001) Preliminary observations on the tank and pond culture of the glass eels of the Australian shortfin eel, Anguilla australis Richardson. Aquaculture Research 32, 833-848.

Ingram, B.A., Gooley, G.J., McKinnon, L.J. and De Silva, S.S. (2000) Aquaculture - agriculture systems integration - an Australian perspective. Fisheries Management and Ecology 7(1-2), 33-43.

Ingram, B.A., Hawking, J.H. and Shiel, R.J. (1997). Aquatic life in freshwater ponds. A guide to the identification and ecology of life in aquaculture ponds and farm dams in south eastern Australia. Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology Identification Guide No. 9. Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, Albury. 105 pp.

Ingram, B.A., McKinnon, L.J. and Gooley, G.J. (2002) Growth and survival of selected aquatic animals in two saline groundwater evaporation basins: an Australian case study. Aquaculture Research 33(6), 425-436.

Ingram, B.A. and Rimmer, M.A. (1992) Induced breeding and larval rearing of the endangered Australian freshwater fish trout cod, Maccullochella macquariensis (Cuvier) (Percichthyidae). Aquaculture and Fisheries Management 24, 7-17.

Ingram, B.A., Rimmer, M.A. and Rowland, S.J. (1994) Induced spawning trials with captive Macquarie perch, Macquaria australasica (Percichthyidae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 114(2), 109-116.

Nguyan, S. and Ingram, B.A. (2001) Review of commercial fish farming using recycled farm water. In: Australian Water Association 19th Convention, A Water Odyssey 2001 (ed. AWA), Canberra, 1-5 April 2001, pp.

Rowland, S.J. and Ingram, B.A. (1991). Diseases of Australian native freshwater fishes with particular emphasis on the ectoparasitic and fungal diseases of Murray cod (Maccullochella peeli), golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) and silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus). Fisheries Bulletin No. 4. NSW Fisheries, Sydney. 33 pp.

  Lecturer in aquaculture in the Centre for Marine Studies at the University of Queensland. 

Dr Deb Ramage is a lecturer in aquaculture in the Centre for Marine Studies at the University of Queensland. Deb has been a member of the AAQ since 1997 and is committed to improving collaboration between the university and the aquaculture industry, particularly with regard to the identification of research priorities. Deb is currently coordinating several new undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering topics such as aquaculture management, production systems, nutrition, biotechnology, parasitology, and economics. Deb is currently supervising two students working on freshwater fish, and has several more enthusiastic students wanting to work at the recently rejuvenated Pinjarra Aquatic Research Station (P.A.R.S).

Presentation overview

This presentation will provide a brief overview of the recent progress in aquaculture research at the University of Queensland and our plans for the future. In addition, a proposed AAQ-UQ project addressing several issues identified by AAQ members will also be described.

We are planning to work on jade perch and address issues that have been highlighted by several farmers – the fat content and off-flavour in jades and minor use permits for chemicals needed in the freshwater finfish industry. We hope that this initial project will be the beginning of a concentrated effort to improve the amount of research in freshwater aquaculture systems.

Initially we plan to address the fat and off-flavour issue by:

1. conduct any experiments required and process the paperwork to get minor use permits for as many of the following chemicals as possible during the project: clove oil, formalin, oxytetracycline

2. growing fish under controlled conditions (eg. same temperature) and feeding them different diets at different rates (continuing on from Max Wingfield’s work, with his support)

3. growing fish at different temperatures to see whether the anecdotal observations that “southern” grown fish have more body cavity fat than “northern” grown fish, and whether this is due solely to temperature or to different ”strains” of fingerlings

4. expand the work already being done by one of my students to look for faster growing and low-fat strains that would aid in the formation of a “genetic management plan” for jades that could be implemented by hatcheries for the benefit of growers

5. try different pond management strategies (eg. grow jades in cages, growing jades in polyculture with another species that reduces nuisance algae) to reduce the incidence of off-flavour

It is important to note that the results from the jade perch work may be transferable to other species, and everyone in the freshwater aquaculture sector who is a member of the AAQ will benefit from the minor use permits for chemical use. Your ideas, comments and feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Formerly from England, Christine back-packed around the world until meeting her husband in Australia and becoming an Australian Citizen.

Christine has had a varied career from Personal Assistant to high flying CEO’s of multi billion dollar companies in the center of London to mixing concrete with her husband when they were contract fencing in the far north of Western Australia. She is currently a Family Day Care Provider to seven children to help with the cash flow until their aquaculture farm is in full production.

Chris, together with husband Graham built and run a redclaw crayfish farm and 18 months ago branched out into the fish farming industry. Chris works with her husband in all aspects of their aquaculture farm and has been guest speaker at various DPI Forums around the Mackay region and has done TV and radio interviews aimed at promoting the aquaculture industry in her region as a viable farming alternative.

Chris will give an insight into the transition from growing solely redclaw to becoming polyculturalists and growing out finfish and will give a detailed description of their farm and the benefits of their particular farming methods and some of the highlights and lowlights of their “fishing career” to date.

Max Wingfield specialised in aquaculture during his post graduate studies at James Cook University. He then worked in North Queensland as a biologist in private sector redclaw aquaculture, before moving into the public sector. His first appointment with the Department of Primary Industries was in South Australia, as Freshwater Aquaculture Extension Officer. Five years ago Max returned to Queensland and accepted a position at the Walkamin Freshwater Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre and he has recently transferred to the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre. In addition to his work as an Extension Officer, Max has volunteered to undertake a research project assessing the husbandry, diet and aquaculture potential of jade perch.

Jade Perch Research - Establishing the Aquacultural Credibility of the Species

Trials conducted at the Walkamin Freshwater Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre have provided sufficient information to allow for an informed assessment of the biological potential of jade perch as an aquaculture species.

Direct comparison of the performance of jade perch, with barramundi, grown under identical conditions and using standard barramundi husbandry practices (assessing growth rate, feed conversion and behavioural traits).

· Assessment of jade perch performance under a range of commercially available aquaculture diets (growth rate, feed conversion, flesh recovery and fat accumulation were all assessed). As well as providing information on the fish’s feeding requirements, the dissection process has provided information on fish dress-out and meat yield as well as establishing a definitive answer to “the pin-bone debate”.

· Assessment of the growth pattern “growth curve” of jade perch.

The results of the various trials will be summarised and all of the information will be brought together in order to evaluate the biological credibility of jade perch as an aquaculture species. This baseline production information will also be used to make comparisons between the aquacultural potential and traits of jade perch and some of the major Australian and international farmed fish species.

Skills and Responsibilities:

Management of accounting procedures,
Design and Construction Team, Operating procedures, design and implementation, Public Relations
Operational and Heavy Equipment (HR Qld. transport licence)

Rob is the vice president of the AAQ. His newly established grow-out farm is the most innovative silver perch farm in Australia. With a target production of between 400-800 tons this farm will lead the way to a potentially large export market.

Rob Bartley is a farmer who has been employed by the family business for 12 years. Rob has been involved in aquaculture since 1997 and is a member of the World Aquaculture Society, Aquacultural Engineers Society and the Aquaculture Association of Queensland Inc.

Initial involvement by way of a joint venture has allowed Rob to view the industry from the ground floor while providing time to fully research the methods and techniques that were to be employed in the development of their current operation Condabilla Fish Farm.

Rob will be discussing effluent management, discovering a new resource. Effluent production is one of the major constraints in increasing the productivity of pond culture. A compilation of some of the innovative treatment methods used around the world and a close look at research on irrigated pastures as a tool for nutrient assimilation will be discussed .

The talk will cover subjects such as cost of production, designs of flow through tanks, recirculating raceways and the Partitioned Aquaculture System from the USA and how to integrate your production system into a well oiled machine.

All these topics through the eyes of a qualified accountant with practical engineering and farming experience. A rare combination.

Almost a quarter of a century ago Bruce’s amateur status was lost when he entered the industry at a professional level. Working as a sales rep for a wholesaler to the pet and aquarium trade, then as he puts it “the dream job”, manager of an aquarium retail outlet. In 1978 he moved from Melbourne to Sydney where he built a chain of retail aquarium shops and a live ornamental fish wholesale business. This was where he became hooked on Australia’s native fish.

Finally in 1988 Bruce established a fish farm in Queensland. The farm, on 200 acres is the largest of its type in Australia. Features include 127 ponds, 4 storage dams, and a large hatchery building. Ausyfish Pty. Ltd., is essentially a fish hatchery. An extensive range of Australian native fish are produced at his hatchery, including Silver Perch, Jade Perch (Barcoo Grunter), Golden Perch, Saratoga, Welsh’s Grunter, Sleepy Cod and a few cross breeds. One of the farms specialties is the production of fingerlings suitable for grow-out as table fish. The farm is also one of the largest ornamental fish producers in Australia.  

Bruce is the president (5 years) of the Aquaculture Association of Queensland inc., (AAQ). He also sits on a number of Government bodies as an industry consultant.
 Including:

  Ø       QADAC (Queensland Aquaculture Development Advisory Council)
Ø       QAIF (Queensland Aquaculture Industry Federation)
Ø       Freshwater MAC (Ministerial Advisory Committee)

In 1999 Bruce was made “Patron” for ANGFA ACT. (Australian New Guinea Fishes Association.)  

• Bruce will discuss suitable species for recirculating aquaculture systems.

• Weaning sleepy cod

As president of the AAQ Bruce has been exposed to many of these systems and is familiar with their weaknesses and strengths. Bruce says, “I have seen many unnecessary failures due to the selection of the wrong species for a RAS.” Bruce will discuss the available species for freshwater table-fish aquaculture, and the issues for deciding which would be best suited for grow-out in a RAS. A better understanding of the general aquaculture industry will help guide potential entrants into this particular field. ____________________________________________________________

Update on Walkamin Research Station activities.

Brett Herbert

Brett Herbert has worked at Walkamin Research Station for the past 10 years, starting out running a freshwater fish survey of Cape York Peninsula to assessing health and water quality in tropical catchments to investigating aquaculture potential of native freshwater fish.

Rod Cheetham (B.Ed. Env. Sci) is an Extension Officer with DPI Queensland Fisheries Service. Originally from Victoria, he spent 15 years at the State Fish Hatchery at Snobs Creek. Here he gained a sound knowledge of trout in natural and aquaculture situations, and native fish breeding research. He was also responsible for the establishment and day to day running of the Visitor Centre, with world-class freshwater aquarium displays. Since becoming a Queenslander he has assisted many members and prospective aquaculturalists in refining their operations. (He also discovered the Maroons, Broncos, the weather and the Queensland way of doing business and has absolutely no plans to move south again!)

Based in Kingaroy in SE Queensland he is heavily involved with the DPI Freshwater Fish restocking program, and assists many groups with management plans and stocking programs. Aquaculture licensing and extension advice form a significant part of his workload as many AAQ members would know. Recent developments with noxious fish species have kept Rod busy over the last 2 years.

Some of the practical knowledge gained, particularly in relation to security of stock during this exercise will be passed on to farmers, as well as the implications of further outbreaks and the need for monitoring and vigilance.

Rod has now been a QFS Extension Officer since 1997 and over that time has seen some changes throughout the industry and will discuss this plus some practical observations at the August 2002 AAQ Conference. These will include current production levels and possible ways to maximise product quality on farm. Finally, a description of some joint promotional events with AAQ members may stimulate other industry ideas.