Clean Seas Tuna R & D Programme - Some early outcomes

Mike Thomson – R & D Manager

CRC Planning & Reporting Forum, Adelaide 12-13.May.09

• CST will engage a full time R&D Manager who will be responsible for all aspects of the nine core activities

Establishment of R & D Capacity

• The R & D Manager will establish and enhance cost effective collaborative links between research providers (inside and outside of the CRC) via effective relationships (e.g. CRC partners)

R & D Capacity - Collaborators

Project 2007/707 2008/712 2007/717 2007/718 2008/718 2008/745 2008/723 2008/711 2008/749 2008/901 2008/903 ? ? ?Name Admin SBT Feed SBT Mat Malf SBT Larv Puberty Genetics Health YTK Larv Quality Underst Market Prod Test Feed Man Sum

CST 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14SARDI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9Flinders 0 0 0 0 0 0 6NSW DPI 0 0 0 0 4Ridleys 0 0 0 0 4University of Sunshine Coast 0 0 0 3UTAS 0 0 0 3University of Adelaide 0 0 0 3TAFI 0 0 2Chem Centre (WA) 0 1PIRSA 0 1

NTPIF&R (DAC) 0 0 2Market Strategy Ltd 0 0 2Zamira 0 1

Partners 2 3 5 3 6 2 4 5 6 3 6 3 2 5 4

• The R & D Manager will establish and enhance cost effective collaborative links between research providers (inside and outside of the CRC) via effective relationships– e.g. Kinki University MOU 22.Sep.2008

R & D Capacity - International

AND Ausindustry, PIRSA, the South Australian Marine Finfish Farmers Association, Northern Territory Department of Regional Development / Primary Industry / Fisheries and Resources, Panaquatic and Skretting

AND Kinki University, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Heinrich-Heine Universität, University of Maryland, EU research consortiums SELFDOTT and REPRODOTT, Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission and the Tuna Research and Conservation Center

R & D Capacity - Post Graduates

CRC project Program Research area Name Institute Main supervisors Seafood CRC postdoctoral research scientist: larval and early juvenile marine finfish rearing scientist Project number: 2008/709

Postdoc SBT and YTK Larval rearing

Bennan Chen SARDI/Flinders University

Hutchinson/Qin

Addressing key aquatic animal health issues limiting production of Australian yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) and hatchery-reared southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) industries. Project number 2008/711.

Postdoc SBT and YTK Fish Health

Craig Hayward SARDI Barbara Novac

Yellowtail kingfish juvenile quality – Identifying timing and nature of jaw deformities in yellowtail kingfish and scope the likely causes of this condition. Project number: 2007/718

Postdoc SBT and YTK Larval rearing

Jennifer Cobcroft University of Tasmania Stephen Battaglene

Advancing puberty in Tuna and Kingfish using kisspeptin. Project number 2008/745

Postdoc SBT and YTK Puberty

Josephine Nocillado University of the sunshine Coast

Elizur

Determination and manipulation of reproductive biology of captive reared Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) Project Number: 2007/717

PhD SBT Reproduction Erin Bubner Flinders University Thomas/Elizur/Bolton

Nutritional factors influencing the performance of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) cultured at low temperatures. Project Number: 2008/736

PhD YTK Nutrition Jenna Bowyer Flinders University Qin/Stone

Body buoyancy and distribution of fish larvae: exploring the mechanism of mass mortality in post-larvae. CRC application in progress.

PhD YTK (and SBT) Larval rearing

Lindsey Woolley Flinders University Qin/Hutchinson/Chen

Improvement of yellowtail kingfish production efficiency through food and feeding management Project Number: 2009/700.

PhD YTK (and SBT) Larval rearing

To be announced Flinders University Qin/Hutchinson/Chen

Advancing puberty in Tuna and Kingfish using kisspeptin. Project number 2008/745

Honours SBT and YTK Puberty

Ying Ying Lee University of the sunshine Coast

Elizur

Evaluation of a saline water Cladoceran (Daphniopsis australis) as new live food for fish larvae. Project Number: ??

Honours Live food for larvae

Matthew Osborne Flinders University Qin/Hutchinson/Chen

To be decided (not applied for yet) Honours YTK Nutrition ?? Daniel Tan Flinders University Mair

• The R&D Manager will provide annual progress reports to the Seafood CRC that detail achievements against the agreed milestones for each of the nine Core Activities

R & D Capacity - Reporting !

Project Applicant PI Admin Report writer Co-Inv / Report writersAdmin project CST CF MT MT CFSBT 2nd generation feed CST CF MT DS MTSBT maturation CST CF MT WH AE/PT/MT/EBSBT larvae CST MT MT WH / BCSBT puberty USC AE AE AEYTK juvenile quality TAFI TAFI TAFI TAFIYTK genetics Flinders GM / WK GM GM / WKYTK health SARDI CH SARDI CHYTK larvae CST MT MT WH / BCYTK understanding Flinders TD TD TDYTK feed management SARDI DS SARDI DS MTYTK post harvest (market) MS Ltd MS Ltd MS Ltd MS LtdYTK post harvest (maturity) SARDI JC JC JCYTK post harvest (product test) MS Ltd MS Ltd MS Ltd MS LtdCommunal projects ? ? ? ?

• SBT 1. To produce quality fertilised SBT eggs for use in larval rearing, weaning trials and for commercial production of juveniles– Developed anaesthetics and handling

techniques (needs improvement)– Development and refinement of hormones and

delivery systems (successful !)– Initial data on levels of reproductive hormones

(testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and 17β-estradiol (E2) in SBT have been collected

– An ELISA technique for quantifying circulating blood levels of LHRH has been tested successfully in Australia for SBT

– Viability of thawed samples of cryopreserved SBT sperm has been demonstrated

Results versus Objectives

• SBT 1. To produce quality fertilised SBT eggs for use in larval rearing, weaning trials and for commercial production of juveniles– SBT and YTK KiSS receptor cDNA sequences have been isolated– Ligation of SBT KiSS receptor into an expression vector is ongoing– Ultimate aim of developing an optimised hormone delivery system

based on KiSS for advancing SBT and YTK puberty

Results versus Objectives

TMІ SBT METYSSERFWNSTEQL---WINGSEANFSLGGR---GGEEEEEGDQHPFFTDAWLVPLFF 54 YTK ----------------------------------------------HPFFTDAWLVPLFF 14 Mullet --MHSSEEPWNSSEHV---WVNGSEANFSLGRRRVDEEKEEEEGGQHPFLTDAWLVPLFF 55 Zebrafish --MFSGED-WNSSE-----LLNGSFRNSS---------MEDSEDGEHPFLTDAWLVPLFF 43 Bullfrog --MALGEGMLDEMLNLSWEYVNGSFLGNASRIN--ESLVNRTETGPPPFLTDAWLVPLFF 56 Human --MHTVATSGPNAS-----WGAPANASGCPGCG----ANASDGPVPSPRAVDAWLVPLFF 49 Rat --MAAEATLGPNVS-----WWAPSNASGCPGCG----VNASDGPGSAPRPLDAWLVPLFF 49 * *********

• SBT 1. To produce quality fertilised SBT eggs for use in larval rearing, weaning trials and for commercial production of juveniles– World first spawning March.2008– Continuous spawning over a 35 day period

from 12.March.2009  – Over 50 million eggs fertilised– Numerous instances of over 90% fertilisation achieved

Results versus Objectives

SBT Egg Development

• SBT 2. To establish protocols and methods, including feeds/feeding for the commercial production of juveniles to support a propagated tuna aquaculture industry.– 30 million larvae produced– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8c

NmdBL73Q– Acceptance of rotifer , artemia and live

fish larvae– SBT fingerling production, with fish

having achieved approximately 8cm in length and >45 days in age

– Progress in weaning onto moist pellets

Results versus Objectives

Weaning onto moist pellets

SBT Larval Research

• Commercial protocols at CST• Feeding protocols being

developed at SARDI• Eggs ozonated at CST,

translocated and early larval work conducted at NSW DPI

• Tanks and copepods prepared at Darwin

• Archival health samples to be analysed at SARDI and inter-state laboratories (PCR and tissue culture)

• Egg biochemistry taken for TAFI

• SBT 3. To develop / evaluate a cost effective diet for growout of wild caught and propagated SBT with FCR < 4.5 : 1.0– 2 trials conducted with Ridleys in 2008 season (CRC funded)– Follow up trials with Ridleys and Skretting in 2009 (pre-

commercial)– Benchmarking relationships developed in Japan with Kinki and

Skretting

Results versus Objectives

• YTK Reduce deformity rates to less than ten percent before hatchery grading– TAFI project

• Egg ozonation tested safe and implemented (for SBT)• Egg quality confirmed as OK• Live feed quality checked and improvements made• Physical parameters checked and improvements made• Malformation levels reduced over time (from 28 to 50% to 12 to 29%)

and tanks modified• Training provided in key areas: malformations, ozonation and rigour in

measurements

Results versus Objectives

• Recommendations given and most implemented and or incorporated into new research

• YTK Reduce deformity rates to less than ten percent before hatchery grading– Current larval project

• Start with high rotifer densities (15-20/ml) and also artemia densities (25/ml) and maintain

• Artemia from 12 DPH (or as early as 10) and no need for co-feeding of rotifers past 3 days and test inert diet from day 8

Results versus Objectives

• YTK Reduce production costs through improved fish health management and disease control

• Testing of potential in feed medicines

Results versus Objectives

• YTK Reduce production costs through improved fish health management and disease control

• Fluke prevalence against treatment

Results versus Objectives

Prevalence +/- 95% CI in Week 1 (after 7 d administration of medicated feed)

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Control

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low PZQ

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high PZQ0%

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FBZ

• YTK Reduce production costs through improved fish health management and disease control

• Salinity trial (small fish)• Statistics pending

Results versus Objectives

Start weight of 8.6g, temp from 21 to 23 degrees, 16 fish per 1,000 l tank

Salinity End wt SGR37 70.7 4.75%41 62.1 4.45%45 61.2 4.42%

• YTK Reduce production costs through improved fish health management and disease control

• In feed cage trial data to be analysed• Anti-fouling trials to be established• Blood fluke and kudoa surveys to be initiated• Health protocols for SBT larvae to be developed• Testing of latest winter diets for performance

Results versus Objectives

• YTK Improve growth and FCR with better feeds and regimes– Concept proposal accepted by CRC RAC (within TBP)– Full proposal to next mtg– PhD started

Results versus Objectives

• YTK Improve grow out processes to reduce cycle time – “Understanding” YTK project first mtg Wednesday !

• Effects of stocking size and sea temperatures• Effects of maturity• Describe baseline product quality parameters (flesh oil level and

distribution), nutritional composition, shelf life and assess effects of new product formats and finishing diets

Results versus Objectives

• Develop a range of genetic improvement options for YTK and SBT - Genetics scoping study

• CST can avoid excessive inbreeding by deploying a. more tanks, b. DNA tagging c. crossbreeding (cost $5K to $50K) = the major initial outcome.

• 13 polymorphic loci have been verified which can be used to tag animals and identify population structure (stocks across WA, SA, Victoria, NSW, & NZ)

• We now have people and tools on the ground that can be used to manage stocks, control inbreeding, etc.

• CST should consider, over time, a realistic aim to develop an optimised cost-effective breeding program utilising the maximum number of families appropriate to the prevailing business environment

• Draft final report submitted and the company is considering future options including mentoring project and wider collaboration (NIWA)

Results versus Objectives

• Establish a post harvest capability to take advantage of market driven cost effective value adding opportunities

• Report on “European Market Development Opportunities”• Short study on effects of maturation and harvest practices on product

quality (report pending)• Proposal recently submitted to conduct:

– consumer preferences for species, packaging (MAP and VAC), product formats and pricing

– Market research and plan and detailed trade research report in US and Europe

– Investigate shelf life extension methods including MAP– Development and testing of new fresh and frozen product format

Results versus Objectives

• Visiting scientist – Dr. Clive Talbot• Industry bursary – Morten Deichmann (NIWA)• Travel grants – various conferences and hatchery tours in 2009• Marine Fish “Hub” project

• Generally very happy to be a major contributory partner within the Seafood CRC !

Other Initiatives

“ This work formed part of a project of the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre, and received funds from the

Australian Government’s CRCs Programme, the Fisheries R&D Corporation and other CRC Participants”.

AND Ausindustry, PIRSA, the South Australian Marine Finfish Farmers Association, Northern Territory Department of Regional Development / Primary Industry / Fisheries and Resources, Panaquatic and Skretting

AND Kinki University, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Heinrich-Heine Universität, University of Maryland, EU research consortiums SELFDOTT and REPRODOTT, Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission and the Tuna Research and Conservation Center