Aquaculture

With a focus on microalgae and macroalgae (seaweeds), this subprogram provides clients with:

• concept design
• laboratory testing
• proof-of-concept scale trials
• commercial scale trials.

We achieve this through in-house skills, collaborations and specialised infrastructure.

We also provide practical and cost-effective algal production systems for:

• food and functional food
• natural food pigments and colourants
• nutraceuticals
• cosmeceuticals
• live feed for aquaculture
• bioenergy
• biofixation of carbon
• nutrient remediation.

This subprogram supports the expansion of aquaculture production. Our research activities include:

• propagating new species
• improving hatchery rearing of marine finfish and shellfish species
• developing sustainable aquaculture production systems
• advising on economic and environmental issues of aquaculture for finfish and shellfish
• creating and evaluating techniques to enhance the efficiency of our aquaculture industries in an international marketplace.

This subprogram advises on the development and application of molecular tools, used for assessing the health and nutritional status in:

• aquaculture species
• poultry
• livestock.

Our work involves:

• understanding ecosystem dynamics through DNA dietary testing of marine apex predators
• using the host associated microbiome for assessing nutritional health and productivity
• developing and reviewing environmental tests that detect marine pests
• using molecular probes to discriminate egg and larval stages from key fisheries species, providing a robust measure of biomass
• evaluating and manipulating gut microbiomes to improve feed utilisation.

This subprogram advises on the provision of nutritionally complete and cost-effective diets for fish and shellfish. These address the aquaculture industry’s:

• diet-related productivity and health
• product quality
• marketing issues.

We develop and evaluate both existing and new technologies, for diet development and feeding strategy. Our work provides:

• emerging industries with the necessary diets
• established industry with technologies.

• Dinko Tuna Farmers
• Clean Seas Tuna
• Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association
• South Australian Oyster Growers Association
• Australian Abalone Growers Association
• South Australian Mussel Grower’s Association
• CH4 Australia.

• Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
• Department for Environment and Water (DEW)
• Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
• Australian Government Department of Education
• Agriculture Victoria
• NSW Department of Primary Industries
• CSIRO.

• The University of Adelaide
• Flinders University
• The University of South Australia
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Melbourne.

• Kindai University (Japan)
• Dalian Ocean University (China)
• Ocean University of China
• Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science
• University of Idaho (USA)
• University of Gothenburg (Sweden)
• University of Manitoba (Canada)
• University of Freiburg (Germany)
• Ecole Supérieur de Chimie Organique et Minérale (France)
• La Rochelle University (France)
• Universiti Putra Malaysia (Malaysia).