Development of industrial-scale inland saline aquaculture: Coordination and communication of R&D in Australia Geoff L. Allan1, Helena Heasman1 and Simon Bennison2 1 NSW Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Centre Private Bag 1, Nelson Bay, NSW 2315 Australia 2 National Aquaculture Council PO Box 254, Cottesloe WA 6911 Australia FRDC Project No. 2004/241 January 2008 NSW Department of Primary Industries - Fisheries Final Report Series No. xx ISSN 1449-9967 Development of industrial-scale inland saline aquaculture: Coordination and communication of R&D in Australia January 2008 Authors: Geoff L. Allan, Helena Heasman and Simon Bennison Published By: NSW Department of Primary Industries (now incorporating NSW Fisheries) Postal Address: Port Stephens Fisheries Centre, Private Bag 1, Nelson Bay NSW 2315 Internet: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au © NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation This work is copyright. 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ISSN 1449-9967 (Note: Prior to July 2004, this report series was published as the ‘NSW Fisheries Final Report Series’ with ISSN number 1440-3544) Table of Contents iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures .................................................................................................................................................. iv List of Tables.................................................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledements ........................................................................................................................................... vii Non-Technical Summary................................................................................................................................ viii 1. BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................................... 11 2. NEED .................................................................................................................................................. 13 3. OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................................................... 15 4. METHODS .......................................................................................................................................... 16 5. RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................ 19 5.1 Demonstration Facilities............................................................................................................ 19 5.1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 19 5.1.2. Challenger TAFE, WA – Application for Demonstration Facility and Summary of R&D Progress ..... 20 5.1.3. SARDI – Application for Demonstration Facility and Summary of R&D Progress.............................. 37 5.1.4. QDPI&F – Application for Demonstration Facility and Summary of R&D Progress.......................... 52 5.1.5. NSW DPI – Application for Demonstration Facility and Summary of R&D Progress ......................... 63 5.2 Managing communication and technology transfer................................................................... 78 5.2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 78 5.2.2 Scientific Committee Meetings and Teleconferences ............................................................................ 78 5.2.3 Other Meetings of Significance............................................................................................................. 94 5.2.4 Communications Plan and Report ........................................................................................................ 96 5.3 Review of R&D Plan............................................................................................................... 109 5.4 Investment Directory Consultancy: Inland Saline Aquaculture Investment Risk Analysis Framework for Evaluating Investment in ISA Production Systems and Species..................... 112 5.5 Temperature Model Consultancy: Modelling Temperature and Thermal Stratification in Inland Saline Aquaculture Ponds ........................................................................................................133 5.6 Profit Model Consultancy: Economic Models for Inland Saline Aquaculture of Finfish, Prawns and Recirculation Culture ........................................................................................................ 141 5.7 Market Research Consultancy.................................................................................................. 144 5.7.1 Inland Saline Aquaculture Market and Supply Chain Development ................................................... 144 5.7.2 Inland Saltwater Aquaculture Saltwater Trout: A Case Study in Supply Chain Development............ 187 5.8 Australasian Aquaculture 2004 and 2006 Conferences ........................................................... 207 5.8.1 Australasian Aquaculture 2004, 26-19 September 2004, Sydney Convention Centre......................... 207 5.8.2 Skretting 2006 Australasian Aquaculture, 27-30 August 2006, Adelaide Convention Centre............. 214 6. BENEFITS ......................................................................................................................................... 223 7. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT................................................................................................................. 224 8. PLANNED OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................................... 225 9. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................. 226 10. APPENDICES..................................................................................................................................... 228 10.1 Appendix 1 - Intellectual Property .......................................................................................... 228 10.2 Appendix 2 - Staff ................................................................................................................... 229 10.3 Promotional and Educational Material .................................................................................... 230 10.3.1 Flyer which was displayed at all retail outlets for ISARC rainbow trout....................................... 230 10.3.2 Assorted press clippings on inland saline aquaculture activities at ISARC ................................... 231 10.3.3 Prime Fact on Inland Saline Aquaculture...................................................................................... 232 ISA R&D Coordination & Communication, G.L. Allan et al. Project No. 2004/241 iv List of Figures LIST OF FIGURES SECTION 5.1.2: Challenger TAFE, W.A. – Demonstration Facility and Summary of R&D Progress FIGURE 1. THE 2004 PILOT SIFTS................................................................................................................... 25 FIGURE 2. GROWTH CURVES OF SALTWATER TROUT (UPPER LINE) AND MULLOWAY (LOWER LINE) STOCKED IN THE SIFTS BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER 2004......................................................................... 26 FIGURE 3.DIURNAL VARIATION IN DISSOLVED OXYGEN (MG/L) OVER A 24 PERIOD IN THE SIFTS TANKS AND PRODUCTION POND BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER 2004. ........................................................... 26 FIGURE 4. HARVESTED BARRAMUNDI (RIGHT) FROM ONE OF THE PRODUCTION SIFTS WITH LINER PARTLY INFLATED (LEFT) ............................................................................................................................ 28 FIGURE 5.SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF ARTEMIA IN 15 AND 30 PPT .................................................................. 28 2 FIGURE 6. FOUR IRRIGATED AND FENCED 100 M NYPA FIELD PLOTS ADJACENT TO SIFTS PONDS................. 29 FIGURE 7. TOUR OF THE ISA DEMONSTRATION FARM AND THE SIFTS............................................................ 31 3 FIGURE 8. NEWLY INSTALLED, 6 X 50M SIFTS IN FREMANTLE HARBOUR..................................................... 32 FIGURE 9. ISA DEMONSTRATION FARM, NORTHAM, W.A. .............................................................................. 36 SECTION 5.1.3: SARDI - Demonstration