Director of Aquatic Diagnostic Services International Pty Ltd. (ADSI)
Rested harvesting
ADSI has been going strong since it’s beginnings in 1995 and is an independent, veterinarian based, private diagnostic company that provides clear interpretation of results, practical management strategies and comprehensive extension services to minimize losses caused by aquatic disease pathogens.
He obtained a PhD in parasitology from the Department of Parasitology University of Queensland in 1996. Previously to this, he has had 6 years experience in water quality analysis. He has been involved with aquaculture industry in Australia for over 10 years in a disease diagnostic role and has been involved in the development of disease monitoring and management for aquaculturalists, from abalone, oysters and pearl oysters, sea horses, crayfish, prawns, barramundi, silver perch and crocodiles. He has also formulated a range of Australian made ornamental fish feeds and has formulated and is trialling a specialised crocodile diet.
ADSI brings to the Australian aquaculture industry tried and tested quality international products that compliment their Aquatic Animal Health Professionals approach to aquaculture, in particular NRA approved spawning products and the only NRA approved aquatic anaesthetic used to harvest food producing animals, AQUI-S. AQUI-S compliments humane practices that are part of ADSI’s philosophy.
Rested harvesting using AQUI-S as well as being humane to the animals also produces a quality, fresher product but does not taint the product and it’s use has helped achieve consistently higher market prices for silver perch for one producer in the Sydney fish markets over the last 12 months.
Rested Harvesting
Rested harvesting is the practice of conserving intra-cellular energy reserves during harvesting and suppressing the release of stress related hormones and chemicals, resulting in improved product quality and consistency. Most fish demonstrate an emergency response when threatened in any way. This may follow a sudden disturbance from a net, a noise or other unexpected activity, or when they are removed from water. The response usually involves a change in heart rate; increased production of cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline; and vigorous muscle contractions. The increased exertion exhausts the normal aerobic energy resources of the muscles forcing the muscles to rely on anaerobic glycolysis for the production of ATP (energy). An associated build-up of lactic acid results in a reduction of muscle pH and overall reduction in muscle energy reserves.
It has been reported that even the simple act of dip netting a fish will deplete the aerobic resources of the muscle, accelerating the process of post harvest autolytic spoilage. Therefore, most existing methods of harvesting farmed fish will result in stress, leading to a reduction in product quality and consistency. True rested harvesting can only be achieved by careful, stress free marshalling of animals followed by sedation using an anaesthetic that does not produce any adverse reaction.
AQUATIC
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL