National Review of Ostrea Angasi Aquaculture: Historical Culture, Current Methods and Future Priorities
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National review of Ostrea angasi aquaculture: historical culture, current methods and future priorities Christine Crawford Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies ! [email protected] " secure.utas.edu.au/profles/staff/imas/Christine-Crawford Executive summary Currently in Australia Ostrea angasi oysters (angasi) are being cultured on a small scale, with several farmers growing relatively small numbers of angasis on their predominately Sydney rock or Pacifc oyster farms. Very few farmers are culturing commercially viable quantities of angasi oysters. There are several reasons for this. Although angasi oysters occur in the intertidal zone, they are naturally most abundant in the subtidal and are less tolerant of fuctuating environmental conditions, especially temperature and salinity, than other oyster species. They also have a much shorter shelf life and start to gape after one to two days. Additionally, angasi oysters are susceptible to Bonamiosis, a parasitic disease which has caused major mortalities in several areas. Stress caused by extremes or a combination of factors such as high stocking densities, rough handling, poor food, high temperatures and low salinities have all been observed to increase the prevalence of Bonamiosis. Growth rates of angasi oysters have also been variable, ranging from two to four years to reach market size. From discussions with oyster famers, managers and researchers and from a review of the literature I suggest that the survival and growth of cultured angasi oysters could be signifcantly improved by altering some farm management practices. Firstly, growout techniques need to be specifcally developed for angasi oysters which maintain a low stress environment (not modifcations from other oysters). These include growing the oysters low in the water column or subtidally, reduced densities and more careful handling. Improved broodstock management, including selective breeding and quality control of spat from the hatcheries should also lead to consistent and higher growth rates. Increased shelf life can be attained using methods already developed although they are very time consuming. Mechanisation and new methods of packaging such as modifed atmosphere or quick freezing should be investigated. R&D priorities identifed are: • Develop growout techniques specifcally for angasi oysters and their environment. • Determine improved farm management methods to reduce the effects of Bonamiosis disease. • Develop a structured breeding program with selection for Bonamiosis resistance and improved growth and condition characteristics. • Investigate cost-effective methods to extend the shelf life. • Develop and expand markets, including into SE Asia and to Europe. Information obtained in this review that is relevant to restoration of angasi reef habitat include: • Select sites carefully, with good food supply, low energy waters, and not subject to major fooding • Need good quality spat, low densities and handle them carefully. • Raise the oysters off the bottom to avoid predators and sediment build up. • Experiment with size of spat released into the wild to avoid predation. National review of Ostrea angasi aquaculture: 2 historical culture, current methods and future priorities Contents Executive summary ..................................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................4 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................5 Historical culture ......................................................................................................................................7 Natural spat collection/reproduction cycles. ......................................................................................7 Hatchery production & growing methods ..........................................................................................9 Husbandry, including feeding, growth and environmental conditions .............................................12 Disease and predators ....................................................................................................................16 Post harvest, transport and marketing ............................................................................................18 Summary of state differences, major successes, limitations and concerns .....................................19 Current farming ......................................................................................................................................20 Natural spat collection/reproduction cycles .....................................................................................20 Hatchery production and growing methods ....................................................................................20 Husbandry, including feeding, growth and environmental conditions ..............................................23 Disease and Predators....................................................................................................................27 Post harvest, transport and marketing ............................................................................................29 Summary of state differences, current successes,limitations and concerns ....................................30 Partnerships between O. angasi industry, tourism, education and conservation sectors ...............31 Information on Ostrea edulis .................................................................................................................32 Information relevant to re-establishing angasi reefs ...........................................................................35 Additional research to support angasi aquaculture ............................................................................37 Future priorities .....................................................................................................................................37 References .............................................................................................................................................38 Appendices.............................................................................................................................................41 Appendix 1: Farmers, government employees and researchers who provided information ..............41 Appendix 2: Recommendations for restoration of O. edulis .............................................................42 National review of Ostrea angasi aquaculture: 3 historical culture, current methods and future priorities Acknowledgments Many thanks to all the oyster farmers, Government managers and researchers who have provided information for this review. I hope I have accurately presented their views and information that they provided. I am also very grateful to The Nature Conservancy and The Thomas Foundation for providing the funding to support this review, and to Chris Gillies, their Australian Marine Manager, for his support and advice on the project. National review of Ostrea angasi aquaculture: 4 historical culture, current methods and future priorities Introduction Ostrea angasi (Sowerby 1871) is endemic to southern Australia with a wide distribution from Western Australia to New South Wales and around Tasmania, where it occurs from the intertidal to 30 m depths (Edgar 2012). Common names include the fat, mud, native, Port Lincoln or angasi oyster. It has been important in the diet of Australian aborigines for centuries, as evidenced by the distribution and abundance of angasi oyster shells in middens across southern Australia. Angasi oysters were also very popular with European colonists in the 1800’s who harvested the fat oyster beds extensively and indiscriminately using metal dredges that took everything in their path. As a consequence, this low profle reef (bed) habitat was largely extinct across its wide distributional range by the turn of the twentieth century. Today the only known remaining angasi reef habitat in its entire distribution is a few hectares remaining in Georges Bay, Tasmania. Although angasi oysters do still occur in most areas, they are in low numbers and as individuals or in small clumps. Natural recovery has been inhibited by low recruitment and a paucity of suitable settlement substrate. In recent years The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Australia has been leading efforts to re-establish angasi oyster reefs across southern Australia as part of its Great Southern Seascapes Program (http://www. natureaustralia.org.au/our-work/great-southern-seascapes/). These reefs were once a keystone habitat in estuaries and coastal waters of southern Australia, supporting abundant marine life, high biodiversity and fsh production, regulating water quality and providing protection for coastal landscapes. TNC, in conjunction with the Australian Government Department of Environment National Environmental Research Program, Marine Biodiversity Hub, has supported the production of a national review of shellfsh reef habitat and detailed reports from each State (Gillies et al. 2015). These State reports review presumed historical and current extent of shellfsh reefs, indigenous use and early settlement harvesting, ecological decline, and restoring and managing shellfsh reefs; they are available at www.shellfshrestoration.org.au