VOLUME 4
Dr.
Thomas Losordo,
Professor
/ Extension Aquaculture Specialist
North
Carolina State University
Dr.
Tom Losordo is a Professor
in
the Departments of Zoology and Biological & Agricultural Engineering at NC
State University in the United States. Dr. Losordo has earned a Bachelor
degree in Biology and a Masters Degree and Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering
(with an emphasis in aquacultural engineering). For his Ph.D., Dr. Losordo
pursued a minor field of study in business management.
Involved
in aquaculture for more than 25 years, Dr. Losordo currently heads a program of
applied research and extension (public service) in the area of recirculating
aquaculture production systems.
Known
as the North Carolina Fish Barn program and in its tenth year of development,
this program develops, evaluates and demonstrates new technology for intensive
fish farming at the commercial scale. The program is currently centered
around a commercial scale recirculating production system located on the campus
of NC State University. In it’s first 14 months of operation, the NC
State Fish Barn produced over 46 tonnes of product (tilapia). While
focusing on tilapia, the Fish Barn program has investigated the production of
rainbow trout, hybrid striped bass, yellow perch, flounder, ornamental gold fish
and koi carp.
| Aquaculture Association of Queensland Inc. |
| 5 Neill Street Burnett Heads |
| Queensland 4660 |
An
introduction to recirculating systems.
Defining
recirculating systems
Other
production options
Good
reasons to use recirculating technology
Critical
considerations before designing recirculating systems.
Impact
of feed on growth, metabolism and water quality
Critical
water quality parameters
Tank
hydraulics
Solids
waste generation
Dissolved
nutrient generation
Oxygen
uptake
Disease
control with ozone and UV
An
introduction to the Unit Processes concept.
An
introduction to the Mass Balance approach to design development.
Component
options for use in recirculating production systems.
Solids
removal
Nutrient
removal
Dissolved
gas addition and removal
Monitoring
options
Developing
an appropriate design for your aquaculture application.
The
North Carolina Fish Barn approach
Examples
from around the USA and Europe
The
management of recirculating systems.
Daily
operations
Harvesting
and fish transfer strategies
Emergency
systems
Economic
considerations in creating, evaluating and operating recirculating systems.
Investment
costs
Variable
costs
Fixed
costs
Waste
creation and management issues.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Carson
This
year our after dinner
speaker will be the owner of Aquasonic, Richard
Carson. Richard has been one of the AAQ’s regular speakers. In fact he was
the first industry speaker for the AAQ some years ago. In the past Richard has
given us many passionate lectures on water
quality management. His understanding of this subject seems to be second
nature to him. Last year his CO2 demonstration was very eye opening indeed! This
year we have not asked Richard to talk on water quality, as he will be available
throughout the conference for delegates to consult with. Instead we have asked
him to share some of his experiences from
overseas. Through his company (Aquasonic), Richard travels overseas
frequently to set up his aquaculture systems and to act as aquaculture
consultant to his clients. Recently his travels took him to China where some of
our native fish are being grown, notably Silver Perch. We believe the activities
and interest shown by other countries in our natives will be of interest and
benefit to those attending the conference.
ED
MARRIAGE
Operator
of ISIS DELIGHT
“From
a dream to a reality”
Isis
delight is a small Silver Perch grow-out farm just south of Childers. This farm
has only two small ponds but still produces a modest income for Ed and his wife
Lynn. Find out “how to”, from Ed at the conference.
The
hardships and joys of starting in aquaculture and practical help to establish
your grow-out system to marketing superb quality fish. Take a look at how to
succeed on a low budget as well as day to day operations and the essentials for
any grower large or small. The vital every day stuff.
Taking you
on the paddle wheel express with the Department of Primary Industries, the
benefits for consolidating ideas for growing, finishing and marketing your
product.
Reasons why
purchasing good fingerlings from a reputable hatchery and feeding on approved
high quality feed pays dividends.
“You can
have your fish ready for market in from twelve to eighteen months provided the
cormorants don’t beat you to it.”
Robert
Bartley
Director
of Finance
Condabilla
Fish Farm.
Partner
and manager of what is said to be
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
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 talking at the conference about how and why they are developing
“Condabilla” which is currently Queensland’s largest aquaculture license
holder for Silver Perch. 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 combernation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An overview of freshwater finfish
Bruce Sambell
Managing
director, Ausyfish Pty. Ltd.
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
ACQ (Aquaculture Council of Queensland)
Ø
Freshwater MAC
(Ministerial Advisory Committee)
Ø
Fisheries Regional Development Committee, Hervey Bay
Ø
Fisheries Regional Development Committee, Bundaberg
In
1999 Bruce was made “Patron” for ANGFA ACT. (Australian New Guinea Fishes
Association.)
In
2000 he was appointed to the, “working group” for the Conservation
Genetics Inventory Project for Murray Darling River Fish.
This
talk will cover freshwater finfish aquaculture, including;
All forms of aquaculture require an aquaculture license.
Ornamental fish
Pond production of ornamental fish has
a number of limitations and restrictions, as well as environmental
responsibilities. Some of these issues will be covered in this talk.
Fingerlings for stocking
A range of native fingerlings are available for use as recreation fish, in both dams on privately owned land and public waterways The most common fish required are, Silver Perch, Australian Bass, Sleepy Cod, Murray Cod, Sooty Grunter, and Golden Perch. Jungle Perch are also being developed as a future stocking species. These fingerlings are stocked strictly in accordance with translocation regulations. Only those species allowed in the catchment of the dam may be stocked.
Community stocking groups and the
Queensland Government stock hundreds of thousands of fingerlings each year. The
stocking of public waters is subject to a permit issued by the Queensland
Government. Each catchment is subject to strict controls to prevent the unwanted
translocation of any species and to ensure that the bio-diversity of the
catchment is not adversely affected. Recently the introduction of a permit
system to fish many of the impoundments in Queensland was introduced. This has
resulted in the increase in demand for fingerlings, as well as additional funds
for the purchase of fingerlings.
The production of fingerlings for the
stocking sector requires a permit to collect brood stock from the wild. These
permits can only be granted to licensed fish farms and usually require
permission from aboriginal land councils under “native Title”.
Fingerlings for table fish
grow-out
For
many years now many Australians have been quietly developing farming techniques
for Silver Perch. There is now no doubt as to the great potential this species
has as a farmed food fish. A number of producers in Australia are now supplying
the market with many tons of this fish. It has one of the highest omega-3 levels
of over 200 species tested by the CSIRO, yet it is not a fatty fish to eat. A
thick fillet of Queensland Silver Perch is an extremely good feed!
Recently
Queensland Jade Perch (Barcoo Grunter) have also been grown by Australian fish
farmers. These fish have been found to be extremely fast growers in ponds. The marketing
name of Jade
Perch was chosen because of the distinctive greenish colour
displayed by the fish as the light catches the scales. Barcoo Grunter does not
sound as pleasant as Jade Perch. Jade also suggests something of value, and
valuable they are. They eat very well and have a firmer, slightly flakier flesh
than Silver Perch. They grow extremely fast and will be highly suited to
districts having moderate sub-tropical to tropical temperatures. This fish has
been tested by the CSIRO for it’s omega-3 content and contained the highest
level of 0mega-3 of all the species tested to that time. (Over 200 had been
tested.) This is a great marketing tool, however the fish is almost unknown in
the market place and will need to be marketed well if high prices are to be
maintained. One of the fish’s best benefits is the high omega-3, however this
also makes it too fatty to the taste of some people. Early indications are that
the fattiness can be controlled by diet and feeding regimes.
Species
for recirculating systems
Sleepy
Cod. Jade Perch. Barramundi. Murray Cod.
Suitable
species for this form of table fish grow-out will be discussed. Many have tried
this form of aquaculture, usually with poor results. Often the wrong species
have been used. A better understanding of the general aquaculture industry will
help to guide potential entrants into this particular field.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brett
Tucker Rural Industry Business Services, QDPI, Bundaberg.
Is
it time to take another look at marketing?
Are
you thinking about group marketing?
Small
and medium size rural enterprises are finding making a profit out of farming
increasingly difficult. Striking a
fair deal in the marketplace in the 2000’s is no easy task if you are a small
player with little marketing clout. Buyers
are now asking for large even lines with QA and a host of other conditions.
The
bottom line is that the market place is consolidating to deliver the demands and
expectations of the growing supermarket chains.
Consumers are driving the change process.
Look at 1990's consumers and you will begin to understand what is
happening in your farm environment.
Whether
you like it or not the consumer is the boss.
The consumer makes the final decision to buy or not to buy.
In fact, to put you in business or out of business!
Consumer
purchasing values are crucial to this process.
These may include:
·
efficient
purchasing method - that is, buy from supermarkets
which offer everything;
·
absolute
guarantee over food safety
- in fact breach this consumer trust and they could put you out of business;
·
presentation
- appeals to consumer's image of a superior product. Image is an essential part of consumers decision-making;
·
brand
recognition
- recollection by advertising or previous association - product is reliable and
consistent;
·
value
for money
-
fair product for a fair price;
·
flexibility
-
product can be prepared in a multitude of food dishes without long preparation
times;
·
consumer
information
-
supplied with product to assist a more knowledgeable consumer to make efficient
buying decisions;
·
availability
-
product in the form and place required by consumer.
Supermarket
chains are providing to consumers all over the world that being effective at
saving shopping time, presenting a brand image, and protecting food safety
perceptions works.
Whether
we like it or not, 1997 retail share percentage figures show supermarkets
continuing to increase control over consumer purchasing.
Current retail domestic sales according to "Foodweek" (16
December 1997), have the supermarket chains holding 89.1% of national sales with
Woolworths and Coles/Bi Lo controlling 64.2% of that figure.
What
are the implications for food producers?
How
do you as a small/medium size primary production unit do business with the might
of such large product consumers? What
are their needs?
Crucial
factors are that efficiencies must be achieved in the supply, handling,
coordination, processing, pricing, communication and contracting of each and
every food/commodity product. Put
yourself in their shoes and think about having responsibility for purchasing
tens of thousands of individual products not just beef, pork or chicken, but
everything.
The
least steps in the buying chain not only makes things easier, but more efficient
and cost effective. This is the
"Why and How" to do business with the large customers. Large consistent supply of QA assured product simply provides
for efficient management of the process that leads to exchange of goods, that
is, effective marketing.
Doing
business with large customers can be achieved in several ways:
.
Developing the critical size yourself to supply large volumes and
deal direct with customers.
.
Develop a personal working relationship with secondary companies that
do the hard work accumulating your products - deducting a charge for their
efforts.
.
Develop cooperative linkages between producers in similar situations
to your self focusing on developing the large volumes required to do
business with large customers.
Developing
a group approach
Lets
concentrate on the third point - developing a group approach to marketing.
Don't kid yourself, working in groups is hard work to the novice not used
to the processes.
The
bottom line is that the more ideas you have to respond to group challenges, the
more competitive economic advantage you can achieve.
So how do you coordinate each member's ideas, attitudes and approach in
dealing with an issue?
The
process in group formation and functioning is summarised as follows:
·
Discuss
group marketing among your industry colleagues.
·
Engage
an independent facilitator to assist in running meetings.
·
Call
an open public meeting of interested persons on the topic of group marketing.
Discuss current market situation. Focus
on future market possibilities. Call
for expressions of interest in group marketing from persons attending meeting.
·
Follow-up
with interested people at an additional meeting with the facilitator introducing
a process that allows for the adoption of new skills - particularly group and
team concepts, for example,
·
WIGS
Program - support by MRC;
·
Building
Rural Leaders Program - supported by QDPI.
·
Focus
on group objectives, building critical volumes, developing group quality
programs, supply arrangements and ultimately how to fund these goals.
·
Developing
a corporate structure, develop team roles and new procedures for doing business.
·
Develop
a new corporate business plan in which each and every member can share in the
corporate mission, goal, aims and responsibilities.
·
Implement
a business plan, monitor performance, provide feedback to members, and adjust
action plans where appropriate.
Group
values
·
A
believe in the future and values of family farming operations.
·
A
desire for cooperative progress.
·
A
commitment for learning new skills.
·
Dedication
in trusting supportive behaviour.
·
Willingness
to participate, share ownership, commitment to group goals and vision.
·
Responsibility
for actions and learning from those actions.
·
A
believe in human progress as a positive approach resolving challenges.
·
Shared
team leadership.
Summary
The
longer you refuse to accept responsibility for the situation you are in, the
longer it will take before you will develop the privilege of changing the
situation.
Act
now - talk to your neighbour about developing a market for your product
together.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr
Daniela Tikel
Queensland
Department of Primary Industries,
Bribie
Island Aquaculture Research Centre.
Mitochondrial
DNA as an informative marker
This work is part of the “Conservation Genetics for Murray Darling Fish Project”, funded by the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), Murray-Darling Fish Rehabilitation 2001 Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry of Australia. The project is coordinated by a steering committee consisting of: Bruce Malcolm (representative for the commercial, native fish hatchery industry), John Koehn (Victorian Department of Natural Resources & Environment (DNRE)), Andrew Bearlin (DNRE), Clive Keenan (Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre (BIARC)), Dani Tikel (BIARC), and Stuart Rowland (NSW Fisheries).
Over
the past hundred years there have been significant human induced impacts on
Australia’s waterways. Large-scale modification and habitat destruction have
resulted in a dramatic decline of many native freshwater species. Hatcheries and
aquaculture are playing an increasingly important role in the management of fish
species, particularly with respect to restocking programs in the Murray-Darling
Basin.
There
is a need to develop guidelines that ensure hacheries
are producing viable, genetically variable offspring without compromising
their commercial viability, or the wild populations to which stockings occur.
The project will identify what improvements can be made towards management of
genetic resources within and between hatcheries.
To achieve this aim, the Natural Heritage Trust has supported this study
which targets three Murray-Darling Basin fish species in order to assess the
genetic variability of their captive and wild populations.
Stocks of the species of interest are depleted in the wild.
However, hatcheries house significant populations of these species for
aquaculture.
Project
objectives:
To
amount baseline genetic information that will enable:
1)
assessment of the genetic variability in wild populations and hatchery stocks,
and
2) an understanding of the wild population structure of three Murray-Darling
Basin fish species: silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus),
Murray cod (Muccullochella peelii peelii)
and trout cod (Maccullochella
macquariensis).
To
review current breeding programs within hatcheries.
To
present “Best Practices” recommendations for hatchery operators including:
broodfish collection, management and turn-over, mating procedures, mixing of
eggs, larvae or juveniles, and stocking procedures.
Considering
the population structure and genetic diversity of each fish species, present
“Best Practices” recommendations for conservation managers and restocking
groups for translocating and restocking.
In
examining the suitability of one of the gene markers for genetic variability and
population structure, effective species markers have been established (in
addition to silver perch, Murray cod and trout cod) for the: Mary River cod,
golden perch, Australian bass, blackfish, eel-tailed catfish, Nile perch,
barramundi, Welch's grunter, and Macquarie perch.
On
presentation of this study, the background of the project will be provided, as
well as the progressional findings of the genetic diversity and population
structure of our species of interest, and a summary from the hatchery surveys.
Feedback and discussion from industry is encouraged, which will be
considered in the recommendations from this project.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John
Burke
Senior
Policy Officer with the Department of Primary industries
The
Ol Grey Fox Returns To His Lair
...dual presentations on
water quality and seafood safety”
John Burke is a Senior Policy Officer with the
Department of Primary industries who is currently on secondment to Safe Food
Queensland. John’s role with this
new statutory authority is to advise on the implementation of food safety
programs for the seafood industry.
Prior to this appointment, John was Manager of the
Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre, after having played a pivotal role in
the development of new aquaculture methods, which contributed to the success of
a variety of new aquaculture ventures in South East Qld.
John is a long term DPI stalwart having served in various roles in the
Department over the last 30 years. His
aquatic pursuits over those years have led to a range of publications in
Australian and international journals covering a diverse range of subjects from
fish and wildlife diseases through to water quality control and aquaculture
breeding techniques.
But in spite of his academic pursuits, John has
maintained a close working relationship with the aquaculture community. He is never happier than when he is swapping fish breeding
yarns with ‘the faithful’, preferably over a cold beer or three and up to
his waist in water. He is also
renowned as a public presenter who will go to any length to hold his
audiences’ attention. He has been known to resort to some eyebrow raising
antics, which have passed into the stuff of legend.
You would be well advised not to drop off in any of his sessions. He is known to his close associates as the ‘Ol Grey Fox’,
for some obscure reason.
However, this time the Fox has promised to behave
like a proper public servant and bore your socks off with dual presentations on
water quality and seafood safety. And
I am here as your patron to warn you that he can’t be trusted. Because he
always reverts to form once he’s back on his old turf.
All I can assure you is that yes, he will talk on those two subjects and
yes you will go away with an entirely different view of the subject matter.
And bored you will not be.
1st
Presentation. ........
Things
You Always Wanted to Know About Water Quality–
But
Were Too Afraid To Ask
And so, to the subject matter – Just how much do
you know about water quality? Sure,
it all seems so simple – doesn’t it? Until
things go pear shaped and that pesky pond starts defying nature, and worse
still, your fish start sunbaking – belly up – even though you’ve thrown
everything but the kitchen sink at it. By
that stage, the Sumner-Miller response of ‘Why is that so?’ – just
doesn’t seem quite adequate. Particularly
when the bank manager is knocking on your door.
So let’s go back to basics and make sure we haven’t thrown the baby
out with the bath water (if you’ll excuse the pun).
And who better to lead us through this little revival session –
you’ve guessed it. The Ol Grey
Fox. Cos he’s been there folks.
He may not be able to regurgitate every book ever written on the subject,
but more importantly he’s got his feet wet.
Both at the research centre and on the farm, he’s put theory into
practice and learned the ‘hard way’. And
yes, he’ll admit to killing some fish, which according to the Fox is ‘the
steepest learning curve of them all’.
One other thing, The Fox likes to work his
audience. So come along and be
prepared to share your experiences. With
a couple of hundred people in the auditorium, the collective experience on hand
is awesome and you’d be mad not to take home a piece of the action.
2nd
Presentation........ How
Safe is that Fish?
And then, just when you thought it was safe to come out of the water –
there’s food safety to worry about. Or
is there? How many customers have
you killed in the last few years, Jack the Ripper?
Not many eh? But more to the
point, is that awful prospect a possibility?
Just how safe is your product? What
steps do you undertake to ensure that it is safe and
remains
safe
all the way to the consumer? And can you prove that you did everything possible to prevent
your product causing illness?
These days, ‘duty of care’ is a reality in
every profession and people who get sick have been known to
- litigate–
AND
NOW I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION, EH?
And rightly so, because a good lawyer and a class
action can see you off the paddock big time.
Pleading ignorance wont get you off the hook either.
If you don’t already know it, you soon will be aware that all seafood
is regarded as a high-risk product because of the potential for contamination.
Your handling procedures should reflect that fact and have a number of
in-built safeguards to ensure that you keep the farm.
Even if it’s only to get back at the kids for all the pain and
heartache.
But don’t panic yet.
The Fox is going to share some little gems with us on how to stay squeaky
clean and keep the judge on side. He
can give us the inside drum on the new statutory authority, Safe Food Queensland
which has the responsibility for ensuring that you produce safe food. And he can
share with you the logic of adopting a Code of Practice developed with and for
your industry, which will enable you to maintain a consistently high standard of
safety and quality.
And
if that doesn’t set off the sound of cash registers in your head, maybe you
should sell the farm, before you
get into really deep water.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hear an overview of how Extension Officers may be able to assist your operation, presented by
Rod Cheetham
(B.
ED. Env. Sci)
Extension
Officer with
Queensland
Fisheries Service, DPI.
Originally from Victoria, Rod 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
responsible for setting up 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 and decision
making. (He has also discovered the Broncos, State of Origin and the Queensland
way of doing business and has absolutely no plans to move south!)
Based in
Kingaroy in SE Queensland he is heavily involved with the QFS, DPI Freshwater
Fish Restocking program. He has a passion to see silver perch become a highly
sought after gourmet food, and for Queensland to become a major supplier.
Recent
activities of significance to AAQ members include, a fact finding tour to NSW
for silver perch growers in Queensland, major displays at AgShow in Toowoomba,
and assisting with the launch of the new silver perch brochures.
After
5 years on the job in Queensland, it is time to hear an overview of how
Extension Officers within QFS may be able to assist your particular operation,
and some observations from this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular
GUEST SPEAKER
Richard
Carson
Managing
director of Aquasonic
Aquaculture
consultant
Richard is an excellent speaker, able to explain complicated subjects so that even the newest beginner can understand. ( It is for this reason that Richard is one of my favorite speakers, Bruce Sambell, president AAQ.) Richard speaks with considerable passion and has an indisputable depth of knowledge on many subjects that are of real interest to anyone involved in aquaculture, whether it be in ponds or closed systems.
Aquasonic
will also have a comprehensive trade display at the conference. An excellent range of products and equipment was on
display last year, and I am sure this year will be even better.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL
GUEST SPEAKER
Genetic
improvement programs for aquaculture – what are we waiting for?
Presented
by Dr
Dean Jerry
Research
Scientist (Aquaculture Genetics)
CSIRO
Livestock Industries
Genetic improvement of terrestrial
livestock has been used for thousands of years to increase their productivity.
The application of selective breeding technology to the improvement of
aquaculture species has not been as widely documented. Reasons for the slow
adoption of genetic improvement programs in aquaculture are multi-fold and
include a lack of maturity of industries, problems associated with conducting
improvement programs on aquatic animals, and a misunderstanding of the potential
economic benefits of initiating breeding programs. Of these, a misunderstanding
of the benefits a selection program can have on productivity appears to be the
major limiting factor.
Dr
Dean Jerry has a PhD in fish population genetics and is presently employed as a
research scientist for CSIRO Livestock Industries, specializing in the genetic
improvement of commercially important aquaculture species.
His other research interests include conservation genetics and taxonomy
of Australian freshwater fishes.
Dean’s current involvement in
research projects includes genetic improvement
programs for the yabby (Cherax destructor)
and the Kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus).
These programs aim to increase the productivity and sustainability of
farming these species through domestication and selective breeding.
Dean sees genetic improvement as an important step in ensuring the
long-term viability of Australia’s fledgling aquaculture industries and an
area of industry development that has not been fully utilized to date.
He is the author of over 20 papers published in international and
national scientific journals, as well as industry reports on the genetics of
Australian freshwater fishes.
Ross Mammino
One of the association’s accomplished Silver
Perch growers, (also the secretary of the AAQ), will provide one of the
highlights of this conference. Last year Ross covered the subject on Sliver
Perch grow-out extremely thoroughly. The demand for video copies of his talk
proved his talk to be the most popular of the 1999 conference. This year he will
cover this subject with a little more focus on marketing
with a long-term outlook to the industry. He will also shed some light on Jade
Perch (Barcoo Grunter)
grow-out, (which he has been trying for about a year)
Remember this is a real grower talking, he’s doing it. Be prepared to hear
some home truths, warts and all. We know Ross will not hold back telling his
audience the real
facts, no rosy pictures, just a balanced
close look at the grow-out industry!
If
you are thinking of entering this sector of aquaculture this talk alone is real
value.
Dr.
Peter Graham
For the last couple of years the DPI’s fresh water fishers research facility at Walkermin (Atherton Tablelands) has been involved in research to explore the possibility of developing the Golden Perch and the Sleepy cod as grow-out species for the table fish market. One of the researchers in this project is Dr. Peter Graham. Peter’s talk will bring us up-to-date with this work. We will hear the latest developments on attempts to have these species take artificial food in ponds and in re-circulating systems. Of special interest to many will be any new knowledge regarding Sleepy Cod. (See the page on Sleepy Cod on this site.) We may even gain some information on the latest market acceptance (in Australia) for this new species of native table fish. Already this work has assisted those pioneering Sleepy Cod, and we know it has encouraged some new ventures into this highly prized and priced fish. If you have an interest in growing fish in re-circulating systems this looks like being the most promising species for this form of aquaculture. Don’t miss this chance !