An Economic Analysis of FRDC Investment in Theme 2:
Habitat And Ecosystem Protection (Part A)
7 September 2012
Peter Chudleigh, Buyani Thomy and Jessica Lai
Agtrans Research
Project Number: 2011/504
Background
The FRDC currently has five programs:
1. Environment
2. Industry
3. Communities
4. People development
5. Extension and adoption
The Environment program (Program 1) in the FRDC’s RD&E Plan (FRDC, 2010) has four
themes:
Theme 1: Biosecurity and animal health
Theme 2: Habitat and ecosystem protection
Theme 3: Climate change
Theme 4: Ecologically sustainable development
The objective of Theme 2 is to minimise the effects of fishing, aquaculture, pollution, habitat
destruction and land based activities and non-fishing occurrences on fish, aquatic habitats and
ecosystems.
Theme 2 of the Environment program is concerned with the effects of fishing and non-fishing
activities on fish and their aquatic habitats. Changes in the broader environment directly affect the
sustainability of regional habitats and ecosystems for aquatic species. The effects of degradation
and destruction of habitat, sediment runoff and urban development affect aquatic ecosystems and
the fishing and aquaculture operations they support.
The outputs of these projects are aimed at assisting end-users to mitigate the adverse impacts of
activities, developing and adapting technologies to reduce bycatch, reducing the impacts on
threatened, endangered and protected species as well as the effects of fishing on aquatic habitats.
The projects also provided information to the community to demonstrate improvements in the
fishing and aquaculture industry’s performance.
The first part of Theme 2 in the following evaluation focuses on habitat and water quality.
Summary of Projects
There are 19 projects in Theme 2 Habitat and Ecosystem Protection (Part A) included in this
analysis. Table 1 lists the projects and Table 2 provides a summary of each project.
Table 1: Projects Included in Theme 2 (Habitat and Ecosystem Protection Part A)
FRDC
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FRDC
Project Title
Project
Number
1999/230 Inventory and assessment of Australian estuaries
The toxicity and sub-lethal effects of persistent pesticides on juvenile prawns and a
2000/163
common inter-tidal seagrass species
Analytical techniques for assessment of water quality, contamination and quality
2000/257
assurance in farmed Pacific oysters in SA
Environmental flows for subtropical estuaries: understanding the freshwater needs of
2001/022 estuaries for sustainable fisheries production and assessing the impacts of water
regulation
Spatial arrangement of estuarine and coastal habitats and the implications for fisheries
2001/023
production and diversity
Assessment of the importance of different near-shore marine habitats to important
2001/036 fishery species in Victoria using standardised survey methods, and in temperate and
sub-tropical Australia using stable isotope analysis
2001/060 Characterising the fish habitats in the Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia
Aquafin CRC - Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram: system-wide environmental
2001/097
issues for sustainable salmonid aquaculture
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: tuna environment - development of
2001/102 novel methodologies for cost effective assessment of the environmental impact of
aquaculture
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: tuna environment subproject 2001/103
evaluation of waste composition and waste mitigation
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: tuna environment - development of
2001/104
regional environmental sustainability
2003/050 Linking habitat mapping with fisheries assessment in key commercial fishing grounds
Relationships between fish faunas and habitat type in south-western Australian
2004/045
estuaries
Understanding shelf-break habitat for sustainable management of fisheries with spatial
2004/066
overlap
Aquafin CRC - Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram: a whole-of-ecosystem
2004/074
assessment of environmental issues for salmonid aquaculture
Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: risk and response - understanding the
2005/059
tuna farming environment
2005/072 Water use across a catchment and effects on estuarine health and productivity
2005/081 Assessment of information needs for freshwater flows into Australian estuaries
Tactical Research Fund: A review of the ecological impacts of selected antibiotics and
2007/246
antifoulants currently used in the Tasmanian salmonid farming industry and
development of a research programme to evaluate the environmental impact of selected
treatments
FRDC
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Table 2: Description of Each of the Projects
Project 1999/230: Inventory and Assessment of Australian Estuaries
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
Organisation: CSIRO Land and Water
Period: June 2000 to June 2005
Principal Investigator: Lynne Turner
Most of the impacts on estuaries have resulted from the land use patterns of
their contributing catchments. Understanding the trend and condition of
Australia’s estuaries could provide a report card of the aggregate impact of
land use activities across catchments on the natural environment as well as
provide a framework for more strategic estuary management. Given the
widespread nature of the problem, there was a need to take a national
overview of the state of estuaries and identify mechanisms for restoring
their health.
1. Determine, using readily available data, the state of ecological health of
Australia’s estuaries.
2. Bring together in an accessible and comparable format across Australia,
readily available data on estuarine health, diversity, impacts and
management practices.
3. Develop and apply models that describe the processes driving particular
estuary types and providing a specification for the nature of data to be
collected on each estuary type.
4. Identify management regimes required for estuary types, assess current
management and recommend improved management.
5. Develop a series of monitoring and assessment activities and protocols
that will result in high quality information on the health of Australian
estuaries, informs and evaluates management, and identifies research
and development priorities.
6. Assist in the establishment of an Australia wide network of researchers,
managers and policy makers that facilitates a greater understanding of
estuarine natural resources.
There were two major output categories for the project.
1. National Land and Water Resources Audit Report
 A classification of 979 Australian estuaries by the extent to which
River, Wave and Tidal energy dominate the processes that drive estuary
function and an outline of the implications for estuary management.
 An assessment of the condition and use of Australian estuaries within a
pressure-state-response framework.
 Engagement of state and territory agencies and key community groups
in assessing the health of their estuaries and the establishment of a
framework to incorporate additional information on-line.
 Contributions to an information base to support estuary management
through the development of the Oz Estuaries database, the Australian
Natural Resources Atlas and the Simple Estuarine Response Model
FRDC
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(SERM).
Outcomes
Benefits
2. Where River Meets Sea (WRMS)
 Over 800 copies of the book have been sold
The major outcomes of the Audit Report were as follows:
 Availability of data sets, defining Australia’s natural resources and
trends in their use and conditions that facilitate effective policy
decisions on the allocation and management of natural resources.
 Audit products that effectively demonstrate the linkages between land,
vegetation, surface water and groundwater and the linkages between
these natural resource issues and economic, social and environmental
factors.
 Availability of a framework that uses compatible and readily accessible
natural resource data in an integrated manner and widely used and
accepted by natural resource management decision-makers.
The major outcomes of the book, Where River meets the Sea: exploring
Australia’s Estuaries were as follows:
 An increase in the awareness of estuaries, their processes and function,
condition and management needs.
 The profile of estuaries as an important ecosystem has been raised both
through the presence of the book in the general market-place and
through the contribution it has made to outcomes such as the shortlisting of the National Estuary Package for a 2004 Eureka Prize.
 The book has penetrated the environmental management sector as
indicated by a review in the high profile environmental management
periodical Waste Management and Environment.
 The book has served as a publicity tool for those organisations involved
in producing it as well as a public good exercise.
 Many useful networks were formed during the production process.
 As WRMS was a cooperative effort involving many participants, the
process strengthened links between stakeholders and encouraged
further cooperation.
 The book has served as a case-study for further projects which lend
themselves to this type of treatment.
The Audit report engaged agencies and groups from within Australia and
catalysed a number of estuarine specific initiatives. These initiatives
assisted capturing efficiencies in applying research findings, improved
understanding of management imperatives, produced publicly available
information on estuaries and encouraged effective involvement of
community groups.
The book played a role in capacity building through education and
improved the status of fisheries in the eyes of the community.
FRDC
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Project 2000/163: The toxicity and sub-lethal effects of persistent pesticides on
juvenile prawns and common inter-tidal seagrass species
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
Research Organisation: University of Adelaide
Period: September 2000 to November 2006
Principal Investigator: Brian Williams
A number of fishing industry sectors had identified pollution as one of the
priorities for improvement. The toxic effects arising from exposure to
chemical pollutants are frequently reported and contamination by these
chemicals can lead to discrimination and/or rejection of the product in the
marketplace. The need was for a properly funded study that examined the
quality of inshore seawater in a defined area and from which links could be
established between cause and effect. For the reasons set out below, the
study proposed was seen as the first stage of a multi-stage process which
was to enable the fishing Industry to understand where it stands currently
as far as water pollution by organic chemicals is concerned and the impacts
these chemicals might have on specific ecosystem components.
1. To determine the identity and concentration of insecticides in water
samples taken seasonally from inshore nursery areas in Spencer Gulf,
and also downstream from point sources such as creeks.
2. To determine the levels of adsorbed residual insecticides and herbicides
adsorbed onto the <200 mesh fraction of top-soil, sampled from
selected farms adjacent to recognised marine nursery areas.
3. To develop a GIS database identifying the land units adjoining Spencer
Gulf likely to contribute wind borne soil to Gulf waters, together with
point sources such as creeks and other discharge points that have the
potential to contribute pollutants into recognised nursery habitats.
4. To determine the toxic and sub-lethal effects on juvenile prawns of the
common persistent insecticides used in broad-scale agriculture and in
local government pest-control programs. Other juveniles, such as blue
crabs and an indicator scalefish, may be tested if time and availability
of test organisms allows.
5. To determine the toxic and sublethal effects of a major persistent
herbicide used in broad-scale agriculture on Zostera, a common intertidal seagrass species.
6. Having determined what organic pesticide pollutants are in the
seawater and in conjunction with the toxicology data and the residue
levels in soil, to then establish the probable mechanisms for their
appearance in seawater and to recommend ways of mitigating the
impacts. The objective here was to prepare and implement an extension
program which communicates effectively the results and
recommendations of the project to local coastcare groups, local
government and appropriate agricultural industry groups and other
stakeholders.
 A report highlighting:
o The impact of urbanisation on seagrasses and their habitat
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Various interactions in the intertidal zone
o Photosynthesis in aquatic plants
o Stress factors that can act upon Zostera
o Herbicide usage, modes of action and half-lives
o Spatial and temporal attributes of pesticide usage and
transport mechanisms
The report also made recommendations on how certain impacts could
be mitigated.
It was found that juvenile prawns and whiting are effective indicators
of the potential impact of organophosphorus insecticides, but their
effectiveness is limited by their availability for testing.
The entry of chlorpyrifos into inshore marine environments may pose a
threat to both Western King Prawn and King George Whiting juvenile
populations in South Australia.
More research is needed to fully ascertain the effects of
organophosphorus pesticides on marine organisms in southern
Australia.
There were found to be significant concentrations of 2,4D-likeherbicides in most of the soil samples surveyed in this study; however
conclusions regarding their impact on seagrasses are not conclusive.
The proposed development of a database of sources of pollutants was
not progressed due to the sensitivity of property owners over
responsibility for persistent herbicides.
The primary beneficiaries of this research were the Spencer Gulf prawn
fishers with benefits flowing to other fishing industries in the Spencer
Gulf, notably the blue crab and marine scale fisheries. The results
could directly enhance management of the fisheries concerned.
This project has taken the first step towards addressing the management
of pollution in Spencer Gulf and provided a model for other areas and
other pollutants in the future. The project:
o Identified what organic pollutants are present in the water
and adjacent terrestrial substrates
o Suggested processes/mechanisms by which the pollutants
entered the water
o Identified what effects they cause in the marine environment
by looking at the impacts on prawns and seagrass
Fishers in the Spencer Gulf (including whiting, prawn and blue crab
fishers) may potentially benefit from this research through further
research that might identify methods for mitigating impacts of
agricultural chemicals on the fisheries. However, no further research
has been conducted at this stage and there are no other outcomes from
the study.
There have been no benefits from this research at this stage; however
there may be some potential future benefit to fishery health if further
research on mitigating impacts of agricultural chemicals on fisheries is
conducted in the future.
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FRDC
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Project 2000/257: Analytical techniques for assessment of water quality,
contamination and quality assurance in farmed Pacific oysters in South Australia
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
FRDC
Research Organisation: Flinders University
Period: October 2000 to May 2005
Principal Investigator: Richard Bentham
The second highest priority (environment) of Aquaculture industry sector
in SAFRAB’s five-year R&D Strategy was the development of analytical
methods to enhance shellfish quality assurance.
The sixth highest priority (quality assurance) of the Aquaculture industry
sector in SAFRAB’s five-year R&D Strategy was the assessment of
suitable sites for coastal aquaculture.
1. To develop sensitive tests using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to
detect a range of viruses of direct significance to human health
directly from shellfish. The range would include hepatitis A virus,
Norwalk virus, Astrovirus, and Adenovirus.
2. Assessment of coliphage concentrations, and indicator
microorganisms as reliable tools for assessment of faecal
contamination
3. (Clostridium spp., Bacteroides spp. coliforms) in oyster tissues, and
harvest water.
4. Assessment of faecal origin and contamination of oysters and harvest
water by Gas-Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry analysis for steroid
profiles.
5. To adapt developed biochemical markers in blue mussel (M.edulis) to
oysters as indicators of stress from adverse environmental conditions
of microbial and chemical origin.
6. Combination and correlation of the above analytical techniques to
provide a comprehensive assessment of the extent of contamination of
oysters and their harvest waters by pathogens of faecal origin. These
techniques would be more reliable than current faecal indicator
techniques and allow accurate determination of closure safety zones.
7. Identification and validation of reliable, cost effective monitoring
tools for quality assurance of farmed oysters, leases and closure safety
zones applicable to South Australian waters.
8. To develop methodologies for quality assurance with national
applicability to the oyster farming industry.
9. Assessment of the correlation between the presence of enteric virus
nucleic acid with coliphage determinations from shellfish tissue and
harvest water.
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Outputs
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FRDC
A report highlighting that the project successfully developed a suite of
analytical techniques for the detection of faecal contamination in
farmed pacific oysters.
Novel detection methods for faecal sterols and a range of enteric
viruses were major outputs from this research.
The project focused on methods of assessing the contamination of
oysters by human faecal contamination as current methods of using
tests for coliform bacteria have been demonstrated to be unreliable
indicators of enteric virus contamination.
New techniques applied were Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
methods for enteric viruses, coliphage plaque assays and
determinations of faecal sterols.
A new and more rapid method for faecal sterol analysis was developed
that was as sensitive as the current method. The method reduced
sample processing time from 5 days to 24hrs. This new technique was
able to detect reproducibly faecal sterols in oysters at concentrations
of less than 1µg g-1 of tissue.
Reproducible PCR methods were developed for Hepatitis A,
Norovirus (G2), Enterovirus, Adenovirus and Astrovirus.
Statistical interpretation of the comparison of results using different
methods was limited due to a lack of supply of naturally contaminated
oysters.
Results indicated that positive coliform estimations are reliable
indicators of faecal contamination, and that presence of coliphage in
determinations is a reliable indicator of the presence of enteric viruses.
It was also clear that negative test results for either coliforms of
coliphage were not reliable predictors of the absence of enteric
viruses. Ultimately analysis for specific viral contamination would be
necessary to guarantee shellfish quality for export markets.
The project was hampered by lack of access to positive contaminated
shellfish especially from sources of human effluent so that there was
some doubt as to whether negative coliform test results are strong
predictors of the absence of enteric viruses.
An important outcome of the project was the ability to detect virus
particles at the levels indicated using real time PCR for all of the “of
interest” enteric viruses without inhibition.
The project was not able to come to definitive answers about any of
the techniques, except that if E. coli are absent in samples then it will
be highly likely that enteric viruses will be absent.
As of 2010, to the knowledge of the Principal Investigator the tests
had not been adopted by industry. The emphasis on depuration for
oysters in the Eastern States had some influence on this.
The oysters used in the study and field samples taken from oyster
leases in South Australia had no evidence of viral contamination. A
problem in the study was obtaining ‘naturally contaminated’ shellfish
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from oceanic leases. The study demonstrated that viral and bacterial
pathogens in SA oyster leases were of little public health significance.
The study also demonstrated that it was possible if required to detect a
single viral particle in a contaminated oyster (Richard Bentham,
pers.comm., 2009).
A collaboration was considered by the SeaFood CRC for an honours
project in collaboration with SARDI. The project looks at detection of
Norovirus in cattle and catchments as potential sources of
contamination of estuarine oyster leases.
The techniques used to detect viruses have been used in other health
related projects, and in clinical diagnostic laboratories. The norovirus
detection method was also used to assist in a disease outbreak
investigation conducted by the Victorian Health Department.
The study demonstrated that viral and bacterial pathogens in SA
oyster leases were of little public health significance.
Scientific contribution to techniques for detecting viruses in other
projects and diagnostic laboratories.
Project 2001/022: Environmental flows for subtropical estuaries: understanding the
freshwater needs of estuaries for sustainable fisheries production and assessing the
impacts of water regulation
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
Research Organisation: Department of Employment, Economic
Development and Innovation, Queensland
Period: July 2001 to July 2007
Principal Investigator: Ian Halliday
Water reforms and state legislation were increasingly requiring water to be
allocated to maintain downstream ecosystem health, one aspect of which
was estuarine and coastal fisheries production. However, information on
the role of freshwater in maintaining the productivity of commercial and
recreational fisheries to assist with such decision making was lacking.
1. To develop a logical framework for investigating (i) the role of
freshwater flow, and (ii) the effects of modified flows, on estuarine
fisheries production.
2. To review the current knowledge of the relationship between freshwater
flows and estuarine fisheries production.
3. To correlate historical flow and fisheries production data of subtropical
Queensland estuaries.
4. To develop procedures for assessing the changes in estuarine fisheries
production that result from water abstraction and regulation.
5. To develop and communicate guidelines on environmental flows for
estuarine fisheries to water managers, water users, the fishing industry
and the general community.
 Conceptual models of the life-cycle of selected fishery species were
developed and how and when freshwater flows might affect these
species life-cycles was super-imposed on to the life-cycles. A generic
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FRDC
framework that could be applied to any Australian estuary was
formalised.
Commercial catches of fishery species in the Fitzroy River and Port
Curtis estuaries of central Queensland were analysed as a case study. It
was found that Barramundi and banana prawns were significantly
influenced by summer flow and rainfall, and that barramundi catches
were also significantly and positively correlated to flows lagged by
three and four years, suggesting a recruitment effect.
Recreational catches of summer whiting in central Queensland were
positively influenced by summer freshwater flows two years previous.
The age-structure of a number of species were analysed to determine if
strong and weak year-classes persisted through time and were
correlated with freshwater flow. It was found that year-class strength of
barramundi and king threadfin was positively correlated with
freshwater flow in spring and summer.
It was found that barramundi growth rates varied significantly with
freshwater flow, being faster at higher flow rates, which may be due to
increased food available when flows deliver nutrients to the estuary. It
was also found that freshwater flows significantly increase the growth
rates of juvenile banana prawns.
The information generated has had implications for water and fisheries
management. For example, during extended low flow decades the size
of estuarine fish populations are probably reduced as a consequence of
successive years of low recruitment, and the populations would
therefore be at greater risk from fishing pressure, water abstraction and
other anthropogenic impacts.
The findings have been of use in developing monitoring programs for
water resource plans with respect to measuring estuarine health and
also providing a framework for assessing the need for freshwater to
flow to estuaries in areas outside the present study region.
The protocol developed in 2001/022 for sampling the age-structure of
the commercial sector of the barramundi fishery has been adopted by
the Long Term Monitoring Program of Queensland Fisheries as the
standard sampling protocol for barramundi on the east coast of
Queensland. This allows more samples to be collected for a smaller
cost than fishery independent netting (the previous protocol).
While there was some previous knowledge on the influence of
freshwater flows on estuaries, this had mostly been based on
assumptions and little data was available.
This project developed novel techniques to back date recruitment and
compare it with flow events (included age pulses and signatures).
The project results can be used for ecosystem based fisheries
management that considers links and life cycles from the estuary to
marine environments.
Improved information can also be provided therefore on the economic
value of environmental flows for fisheries.
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The information has been used by Queensland water resource managers
to assess the downstream risks of proposed upstream water
development scenarios. This results in estuarine fisheries values being
explicitly considered by water resource managers. At this stage this has
only been undertaken for the Fitzroy River (which was the first water
resource plan to be reviewed in Queensland). However, it has set a new
benchmark for water resource planning and assessment and is likely to
be used in other catchments.
Similar studies have been undertaken in the Gulf of Carpentaria to
support estuarine finfish fisheries, using the techniques developed in
this study.
Follow up projects provided estuarine fisheries-flow models to a
national “Ecological Response Model” and used to develop a fisheries
stock based model for barramundi
Provided a conceptual framework for addressing the role of freshwater
in estuarine fisheries production. This has been used by other scientists
to develop research projects on the role of freshwater for fisheries
production in temperate Australian estuaries and by climatologists
reviewing the potential impacts of climate change.
Demonstrated that annual monitoring of barramundi can be achieved
by sampling fish at commercial seafood processes and provided
evidence that barramundi populations are influenced by regional
environmental factors. Both the sampling standard and the stock
assessment have been adopted by the Department of Primary Industries
and Fisheries.
Project 2001/023: Spatial arrangement of estuarine and coastal habitats and the
implications for fisheries production and diversity
Project
details
Rationale
Research Organisation: University of Queensland
Period: January 2002 to March 2008
Principal Investigator: Gregory Skilleter
Estuarine and coastal habitats, such as seagrass and mangroves, provide
critical habitat for many species of juvenile fish and crustaceans. Past
projects that mapped the extent of habitats such as seagrass and mangroves
have not provided any clear understanding of how the changes in these
habitats affect fisheries production.
It was identified that an approach was needed that recognised that estuarine
habitats are inter-connected and most fish and prawns use a combination of
habitats during their life or even during a day.
The EPA had also requested information on the patterns of distribution and
abundance of nekton (fish, crabs and prawns) in different regions of
Moreton Bay as part of their planning.
FRDC
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Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
1. Develop appropriate methods for determining relationships between the
spatial arrangement of estuarine habitats (habitat mosaics) and their
biota including fish, crustaceans and molluscs and more sedentary
epibenthos (e.g. comparing the fauna of isolated seagrass with that of
seagrass close to mangroves).
2. Document patterns of abundance and diversity of fish and decapods in
different habitat mosaics from degraded and relatively undisturbed
areas of estuarine embayments, in two latitudinally separated areas
(Moreton Bay) and taking into account position within an embayment
(e.g. western side versus eastern side versus southern side).
3. Increase understanding of fisheries-habitat links using a combination of
standardised survey methods in Queensland and make comparisons
with the results obtained in Victoria using the same methods and gear
types.
4. Identify the relative importance of different nearshore habitats for key
fish and decapod species from recruitment to older life-history stages
and compare these results with those obtained for similar species and
trophic groups in Victoria.
 Detailed surveys of the numbers and types of fish and crustaceans using
different habitats were undertaken in Moreton Bay (southeast
Queensland) over a 12 month period. The survey techniques used were
consistent with a separate study being undertaken in Victoria at the
same time (Project 2001/036 also funded by FRDC).
 There was also an investigation of whether the spatial arrangement of
different habitats affected their value to nekton in Moreton Bay,
including issues such as whether the proximity between seagrass and
mangroves affected the value of the seagrass and whether the type of
habitat linking mangroves to subtidal areas changed the values of the
mangroves to nekton.
 It was found that Moreton Bay supports a rich and abundant
assemblage of nekton using the shallow water habitats, and that similar
numbers of species and individuals were sampled in western Moreton
Bay and eastern Moreton Bay. These numbers were far greater than
those recorded in Victoria.
 It was found that different communities of nekton used the mangroves
and nearly intertidal seagrass with little overlap between the two
habitats on either side of Moreton Bay.
 The first accurate maps showing the position of each of the major
estuarine habitats across the gradient from shallow subtidal to terrestrial
zones were developed.
 The distance and connectivity between seagrass and mangroves was an
important factor in determining catches in a number of species, and
also had a marked effect on the numbers and types of fish and shrimp
using the seagrass.
 The presence or absence of mangroves in the intertidal zone may be a
critical feature in maintaining patterns of increased biodiversity and
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biomass of fish assemblages in other near-shore habitats.
Outputs of the project were provided to the Queensland State
Government EPA at a time when there was a statutory review of
Moreton Bay Zoning occurring. The fishers argued to keep some areas
open, however they were unsuccessful in having the zones changed.
Discussion on the results of this work with members of the Burnett
Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management has led to
development of plans for implantation of the methods and approaches
for the assessment of fisheries resources in the Hervey Bay region.
Overall, while the information provided was of ecological interest, it
has had little management application at this stage as the scale was too
small.
To date there have been no significant benefits captured as a result of
the study. However, potential benefits may be an improved likelihood
of sustainable fishing in a region, without compromising environmental
impact.
Project 2001/036: Assessment of the importance of different near-shore marine
habitats to important fisheries species in Victoria using standardised survey
methods, and in temperate and sub-tropical Australia using isotope analysis
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
Research Organisation: Department of Primary Industries, Victoria
Period: November 2001 to August 2005
Principal Investigator: Gregory Jenkins
The role of habitats such as mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes are
recognised as critically important nursery habitats for a number of
commercial and recreational fish species. However, the way species move
between such habitats and times at which they use them was less well
understood.
1. To increase understanding of fisheries/habitat links using a
combination of standardised survey methods in Victoria and
Queensland, and isotope analyses across southern Australia and
Queensland.
2. To identify the importance of different near shore habitats for important
fish species from recruitment to older-life stages, for individual habitats
at broad scales and habitat mosaics at finer scales.
3. To improve the quality of data derived from isotope analyses by
including a greater range of potential sources of primary production.
4. To understand the transfer of primary production from important
habitats to food chains of fish that occurs outside that habitat, and also
the sources of primary production for fish inhabiting habitat mosaics.
5. To integrate existing near shore habitat data-sets with detailed
descriptions of fish/habitat associations in a spatial information system
(GIS) that can be accessed by a variety of user groups.
 A basic survey of fish use of intertidal habitats was undertaken. It was
found that mangrove habitats in temperate Australian waters support a
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richer juvenile fish assemblage than adjacent mudflats.
A combination of experimental and survey methods was used to
determine whether fish use of mangrove habitat varied between the
mudflats, the edge of the forest and the interior of the forest.
It was determined that differences in the number and types of fish
among these zones suggest that the number of fish species may increase
where habitat becomes patchy, as this creates relatively more habitat
‘edge’ however this could also have a negative effect on abundances
and number of species of resident mangrove fishes.
It was found that the numbers and variety of fish in seagrasses and
mangroves went up or down with the distance between these habitats.
Stable isotope studies were undertaken to better understand the
structure of the coastal food webs, and the source of production through
the food chain. It was found that across southern Australia the base for
nutritional support of a fishery species depends strongly on the regions
from which the fish was caught, and sulphur isotopes are a useful
method of elucidating the most important source from a pool.
The outputs from the study can be used to set a baseline of data against
which disturbance effects can be assessed in the future.
The data and information can be used when decisions are being made
regarding the preservation of nursery habitats.
The data and information may also be used in marine park designs.
Future biodiversity and industry benefits related to appropriate identification
of preservation areas and marine park zones.
Project 2001/060: Characterising the fish habitats in the Recherche Archipelago,
Western Australia
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
FRDC
Research Organisation: University of Western Australia
Period: December 2001 to December 2005
Principal Investigator: Gary Kendrick
Fisheries WA identified that one of the major factors slowing development
in WA aquaculture was a lack of accurate spatially explicit data on the
distributions of benthic habitats and the influence of currents and windgenerated waves. This information was required to aid the selection of
suitable offshore aquaculture facilities in the development of multiple use
management plans. This investment was to fulfil the bio-physical
requirements for that planning process.
1. To identify, classify and map the distribution of different benthic
habitats in the Recherche Archipelago and link their distributions to
bottom type and exposure to swells and currents.
2. To provide detailed ecological information to contribute to the
responsible management of aquaculture fisheries in the region.
3. To increase community awareness of fish habitats through community
involvement in the development of the planned biophysical surveys and
through community and stakeholder consultation and presentations.
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An electronic GIS database accompanied by a series of hard copies of
maps detailing the distribution and composition of benthic habitats in
relation to the geology, topography and wave climate and
oceanographic conditions.
Interactive CDs, containing both video imagery and written
descriptions that will facilitate easy understanding of the data by people
without scientific training.
Electronic databases and maps were supported by a written report that
describes the habitats assessed, their distribution and the likely effects
of oceanographic and geological features on the formation of those
habitats.
Results have been published in a series of peer reviewed scientific
papers.
The research will result in better knowledge of marine habitats, across a
range of spatial scales from 100s of metres to 100s of kilometres.
The database will be useful to government agencies, industry and
community in locating areas for aquaculture and conservation to avoid
conflicts from competing activities and set acceptable environmental
impacts.
From these data a spatially-explicit predictive model was developed
where the type, density and diversity of the marine fauna could be
predicted from the broader-scale knowledge of the distribution of
seafloor types, habitats and currents.
The database is available publically and has been used by the
Department of Environment and Conservation and the WA Department
of Fisheries (Gary Kendrick, pers. comm., 2012).
The project led to a series of other projects (e.g. Coastal CRC,
Geoscience Australia, Natural Heritage Trust) where information has
been produced that has been used to address multiple use management
issues (Gary Kendrick, pers. comm., 2012).
Improved planning of multiple uses of offshore ocean resources including
aquaculture.
Project 2001/097: Aquafin CRC – Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram:
system-wide environmental issues for sustainable salmonid aquaculture
Project
details
Rationale
FRDC
Project details Research Organisation: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric
Research
Period: January 2002 to June 2006
Principal Investigator: John Volkman
Atlantic salmon were introduced to Australia in the 1800s for the purpose
of populating the rivers of Tasmania and New South Wales. The
subprogram was developed to address a number of biological constraints
and socioeconomic issues through a coordinated research effort to ensure
economic and ecological sustainability and to develop the industry to its
full potential.
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Objectives
Outputs
1. To acquire the necessary system understanding and knowledge, and
apply it, in collaboration with industry and regulators, in order to support
development of an adaptive management program which addresses
system-wide impacts and production capacity for, and allows sustainable
development of, salmon farms in the Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux
Channel.
2. To develop and implement 3-D hydrodynamic and ecological models of
the Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and use these to assess
and predict the environmental impacts of salmon farm nutrient loads in
relation to other nutrient sources (especially catchments and marine
boundaries), and to assess the level of connectivity and exchange
between Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and among
subsystems within the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
3. To determine the role of sediments in estuaries and nearby channels as a
source of nutrient release and oxygen consumption as an input for the
modes and for comparison and processes occurring in sediments under
fish cages.
4. To identify and quantify the key processes that link nutrient cycles with
phytoplankton abundance and composition and determine the fate of the
nutrients produced in finfish cage farms in waters of the Huon Estuary
and D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
 The project measured ecological and physical indicators, including
measurements of nutrients, to determine the effects of increased
nutrients being released into the Huon and D’Entrecasteaux Channel. A
process for system-wide monitoring of phytoplankton in a region was
developed to ensure the collection, identification and quantification of
phytoplankton was consistent between researchers and all industry
collaborators.
 The project also focused on further developing and refining fully
coupled 3-D physical and biogeochemical models of the Huon estuary
and D’Entrecasteaux Channel that can be used to predict environmental
effects of salmonid aquaculture on water and sediment quality, and to
assess these effects in the context of other impacts (e.g. catchment
loads, marine nutrient sources, natural variability). This earlier model
had predicted that the estuary could assimilate a doubling of production,
but that a fourfold increase ran a high risk of exceeding the carrying
capacity of the system. The industry voluntarily introduced a
moratorium on the amount of fish feed added to the estuary because of
the predictions from the earlier modelling. However, it was determined
that there could be further expansion in the nearby D’Entrecasteaux
Channel. Project 2001/097 has continued to confirm and provide further
complexity to these findings.
The specific outputs of the project were:
 Development of a new cost-effective monitoring program.
 Adoption of agreed environmental objectives and standards by the
FRDC
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Outcomes
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FRDC
salmon industry and Tasmanian regulator (DPIW).
 Fully coupled 3D physical and biogeochemical model of the Huon
estuary and D’Entrecasteaux Channel that can be used to predict
environmental effects of salmonid aquaculture on water and
sediment quality, and to assess these effects in the context of other
impacts.
 Baseline environmental data for subregions of the D’Entrecasteaux
Channel.
 The model can be adapted and applied to other regions where
salmon and tuna are grown.
 New knowledge and understanding of how phytoplankton and
zooplankton in these areas respond to increases or changes in
nutrient concentrations and other environmental conditions.
 The model allows industry and managers to identify the oceanic
and terrestrial nutrient loads as distinct from those from
aquaculture.
 Development of new laboratory-techniques to study
biogeochemical processes involved with benthic-pelagic coupling
such as oxygen consumption in, and nutrient release from,
sediments.
 Mechanism for regular meetings of industry, regulator and research
providers.
Prior to the funding of this project, DPIW and the salmonid farming
industry had agreed to adopt an adaptive management approach to
regulation and management of system-wide environmental effects of
salmon farms in the Huon Estuary and D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The
model, monitoring techniques and baseline data developed have been
adopted as a significant part of this adaptive management approach.
The outputs have also helped to underpin decisions relating to industry
expansion and to improve the knowledge of salmonid farmers with
regard to the marine environment and interactions with farming.
Before the project, the only compliance requirement in the regulations
associated with monitoring were on sediment redox potential and
organic matter content and were quite crude. The new model and
monitoring data is important for decisions regarding the future size and
location of the industry within the Huon Estuary and D’Entrecasteaux
Channel.
The project has instigated a mindset change in salmonid farms
throughout Tasmania with respect to nutrient management and nutrient
levels through raising awareness of the issues.
Most other salmonid farming regions throughout Tasmania are
interested in having such a model developed for their systems.
However, significant additional data collection is required for these
regions in order to apply the model effectively.
In addition, such models are in demand for other systems not associated
with salmon farming. For example, the framework for the Huon Estuary
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Benefits
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and D’Entrecasteaux Channel is being expanded to the Derwent where
it is being used with respect to other non-fishing industries.
The information and processes developed could allow salmonid farmers
to be more selective about their farm sites, promoting a higher level of
sustainability of the industry.
Project 2001/102: Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: tuna environment
– development of novel methodologies for cost effective assessment of the
environmental impact of aquaculture
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
Research Organisation: South Australian Research and Development
Institute
Period: January 2002 to March 2007
Principal Investigator: Maylene Loo
The Southern Bluefin tuna Aquaculture Industry has undergone rapid
expansion since it commenced in 1990. In 2002/2003 the industry was
Australia’s largest export fishing industry but in recent years production
had levelled off and was affected by rising competition on the Japanese
market.
1. To identify a range of benthic infaunal species and possibly ecosystem
processes (sulphur reduction/methanogenesis) which are variously
characteristic of sites ranging from heavily impacted (organically
polluted) tuna sea-cages through to non-impacted (pristine)
environments.
2. To develop a system for the rapid detection of selected taxa in sediment
samples using PCR techniques.
3. To evaluate the extent to which rapid detection systems can be
routinely applied to provide quantitative estimates of the relative
abundance of indicator taxa or processes in sediments (and therefore of
the health of seabed systems).
4. To assess the generality of the technique to other forms of aquaculture
(particularly salmon).
5. To improve the sensitivity of the assays to levels comparable with
terrestrial systems.
6. To develop PCR assays for 3 additional taxa.
7. To quantitatively calibrate all 5 assays (existing and new assays).
8. To demonstrate the "proof of application" of this methodology in
comparison with traditional, manual enumeration methods.
9. To further clarify the phylogentic relationship in spionidae and evaluate
the need for multiple spionidae assays.
 The project developed a system of rapidly assessing the environmental
health of the seabed in the vicinity of SBT sea cages.
 The method involved extraction of DNA from sediments followed by
quantification of key indicator taxa; an environmental compliance
scorecard was also developed.
 The system provides an improved understanding of the interaction
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between aquaculture and its environment and allows greater confidence
in meeting of regulatory requirements as well as optimising the
productivity of SBT aquaculture.
The system developed in this project is being used by the regulatory
authorities in South Australia for routine environmental compliance
monitoring.
The system is rapid and cost effective and is the first DNA based
technology used for routine marine environmental monitoring in the
world.
The method has application to other finfish aquaculture environmental
monitoring requirements.
The system reduced costs and improved reporting time as compared to
the prior environmental monitoring program. The system was extended
to the Yellowtail Kingfish (YTK) industry through project 2006/078.
The system is still being used for both SBT and YTK industries as of
June 2012 (Maylene Loo, pers. comm., 2012).
Costs have been reduced further since the YTK extension due to the
higher number of samples for both industries.
The main benefit of this project is the application of both the DNA
assay system together with the Environmental Compliance Scorecard
system to the Tuna Environmental Monitoring Program, which is a
compliance-based environmental monitoring program required as a
licensing condition in South Australia.
This DNA based system allows rapid assessment of environmental
performance of individual farms at a reduced cost.
Project 2001/103: Aquafin CRC – SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: tuna
environment subproject – evaluation of waste composition and waste mitigation
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
FRDC
Research Organisation: South Australian Research and Development
Institute
Period: January 2002 to July 2007
Principal Investigator: Milena Fernandes
This project investigated the dynamics of waste production within southern
bluefin tuna (SBT) pens in waters off Port Lincoln in the lower Spencer
Gulf, South Australia, as well as the impacts associated with the release of
these waters into the environment. While coastal aquaculture operations are
known to be input sources of nutrients into the marine environment (e.g.
uneaten feed, faecal matter, metabolic products), little was known about the
composition or quantity of wastes released by SBT farms or the appropriate
measures for managing or minimising environmental impacts. This project
was necessary to promote environmental conditions that are optimum for
both production and the health of the aquatic environment, ensuring access
to sites and security of tenure for finfish farmers within an environmentally
sustainable framework.
1. To determine the type and quantity of waste produced by sea-cage
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6.
Outputs
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Benefits
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operations across a range of management and environmental regimes.
To develop and validate a model or modify an existing model (e.g.
DEPOMOD) of the waste dynamics of sea-cage operations
incorporating information on stocking density, feed type and a number
of environmental and management parameters to quantify the extent
and intensity of localised impacts.
To obtain information on the composition of the fouling community on
and adjacent to tuna cages with reference to potential polyculture
species with an assessment of their potential biological and economic
viability.
To develop a sampling program for benthic assemblages exposed to
waste from tuna farming operations with reference to the efficacy of
fallowing as a waste remediation process. This will form the basis for
consideration of alternative waste mitigation strategies and for
recommending improvements to environmental monitoring regimes.
To test the potential of integrated farming in mitigation studies. This
involves the use of benthic filter feeders (e.g. blue mussels), benthic
surface feeders (holothurids and crabs) and bioturbators (e.g. stingrays,
fish or native oysters).
To evaluate potential applications of technological approaches (e.g.
diapor systems) to waste mitigation.
A final report and journal articles.
Models for nutrient (phosphorous and nitrogen) inputs and outputs
within tuna farms, including processes for recycling and transport.
Information to quantitatively assess the impact from SBT farming that
will provide greater certainty in planning and thereby secure tenure and
access to sits for aquaculture industries in marine environments.
An ability to model changes in waste under various management
strategies that will allow predictions about the ecological consequences
(and through this the risk to stock) of the application of new
technologies or mitigation solutions.
A better understanding of environmental issues associated with SBT
farming, necessary to refine monitoring program, licensing and
regulatory frameworks. Government bodies use this information to
facilitate the development of a strategic approach to adaptive
management, essential to warrant public support to coastal aquaculture
developments.
Improved monitoring of the environmental performance of cage
aquaculture operations.
The potential widespread adoption of sustainable aquaculture practices.
Project 2001/104: Aquafin CRC – SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: tuna
environment subproject – development of regional environmental sustainability
Project
details
FRDC
Research Organisation: South Australian Research and Development
Institute
Page 21
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
Outcomes
FRDC
Period: January 2002 to February 2008
Principal Investigator: Jason Tanner
Southern bluefin tuna sea-cages are known to be sources of both particulate
and dissolved waste and as with other finish farming operation, these have
a potential risk to both farmed stock and supporting environments. A
number of studies have been undertaken in an attempt to characterise the
nature of impacts associated with tuna farming yet research tended to focus
largely on impacts near cages, primarily dealing with fallout from cages.
More mobile waste such as dissolved carbon, nutrients, fats and oils have
the potential to disperse over a large area of affect highly mobile organisms
such as sea birds and marine predators. Thus, there was a need to develop
assessment strategies aimed at expanding understanding of the
environmental implications of tuna aquaculture at regional scales. This
would ensure the ecological sustainability of the industry as well as ensure
reduced health risks to stock and allow for longer term industry planning
and security of tenure.
1. Establish a steering committee of stakeholders and hold a SCFA-ESD
reporting workshop to develop a set of operational parameters for
regional scale ESD assessment.
2. Develop a set of methodologies for measuring and evaluating each of
the parameters in order to provide an ESD assessment.
3. Using knowledge gained through this process and in consultation with
stakeholders develop target levels for key parameters as a basis for
effecting management responses.
4. In collaboration with researchers involved in the development of
ecosystem scale models for salmon farming identify the key
information/data required to parameterise and validate these models for
the tuna industry.
5. Integrate the field and remote data collection systems, necessary to
provide the data required for the parameterisation of these ecosystem
scale models, into the regional ESD assessments.
 Report on the applicability of remote sensing for environmental
monitoring in the region.
 Several recommendations on how this relatively new technology could
be used.
 The project has developed a telemetred environmental monitoring
system.
 A model of waste deposition on the sea floor.
 Provided the tuna industry, regulators and researchers with a suite of
information on the environment around Port Lincoln at a regional scale
and how this interacts with tuna farming as well as characterising
environmental conditions.
 The telemetred environmental monitoring system is used on a regular
basis by some industry members to help understand conditions on their
leases.
 The model of waste deposition was made available to industry so that
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they can examine likely waste deposition patterns on their individual
leases, allowing them to place pontoons in an arrangement that
minimises the interaction between adjacent pontoons.
This waste deposition model, along with the nutrient model, have been
further refined as part of FRDC project 2003/222 and they are now
used by PIRSA (Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA)
Aquaculture to help establish initial maximum stocking rates for
aquaculture zones.
The project has also generated the first quantitative data on how
seabirds respond to tuna farms, and has shown that an economically
important fraction of feed can be consumed primarily by seagulls if no
measures are taken to reduce scavenging.
The perceptions of a range of stakeholders as to the environmental risks
associated with tuna acquaculture have been assessed and addressed by
way of literature review.
The immediate benefit of the creation of the modelling system is the
ability to make estimates of the environmental carrying capacity of the
Port Lincoln tuna farming zone that will enhance sustainability of the
industry and its environment.
The waste deposition model has also been made available to industry in
a user-friendly form to allow operators to examine the potential
consequences of pen locations resulting in more effective and efficient
resource deployment.
Project 2003/050: Linking habitat mapping with fisheries assessment in key
commercial fishing grounds
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
FRDC
Research Organisation: University of Tasmania
Period: July 2003 to December 2006
Principal Investigator: Alan Jordan
This project was to provide spatial information on abalone habitats in
several key fishing blocks relevant to both site specific fishery independent
abundance surveys and stock assessments at the block scale. These surveys
and assessment were high priority issues in the Tasmanian Abalone
Strategic Research Plan and a review of abalone research needs, reflected
in the abalone FRDC project (2001/074) and ongoing abalone abundance
surveys. This project will significantly contribute to this research by
providing fine-scale maps of the biological and physical structure of
abalone habitats which will help to optimise abalone abundance and
population studies by having better criteria on which to select survey sites.
1. To map the fine-scale (1:5,000) biological and physical structure of
rocky reef habitats in south-east and north-east Tasmania abalone
fishing blocks.
2. To contribute to the survey design and outcomes of the FRDC abalone
project (2001/074) and ongoing abalone assessment by linking
information on reef and macroalgal extent and structure to abundance
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Outputs
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and population parameter assessments.
3. To further develop cost-effective techniques for fine-scale habitat
mapping and classification.
 The primary output is detailed maps outlining the rocky reef habitat in
key fishing blocks.
 Provision of spatial information on reef structure at a range of spatial
scales.
 Information on the distribution and extent of urchin barrens.
 Progression of R&D in effective mapping techniques using singlebeam acoustic methodology.
 Provision of around 344 square kilometres of additional spatial
information on seabed habitats.
 Development of cost-effective techniques for fine-scale habitat
mapping and classification.
 An improvement to stock assessments by providing estimates of reef
distributions and structure in both productive and currently
‘unproductive’ abalone fishing blocks, improved criteria on which to
select survey sites and an enhanced ability to include information on
physical and biological community structure as environmental variables
in abalone stock assessments.
 Increased use of information in assessments relating abalone landings
and biology (e.g. growth rates, size at maturity) with habitat structure at
a range of spatial scales.
 Contribution towards a framework for a national habitat classification
scheme.
 Improved access to fundamental information on habitat distributions
for use in other fisheries (e.g. rock lobster, scalefish) and other
programs (e.g. State of Environment reporting, coastal and oil spill
planning, introduced marine pest surveys).
 Improvements in knowledge of the spatial extent of rocky reef habitats
in several key abalone fishing grounds, which provides a better
understanding of the fact that the structure and distribution of rocky
reef habitat varies considerably.
 A significant increase in the usefulness of the Tasmanian node of the
Australian Coastal Atlas and Oil Spill Response Atlas, both of which
currently lack any significant subtidal habitat information.
 The wider community has access to better information on the link
between the health of coastal habitats and fisheries production.
Project 2004/045: Relationships between fish faunas and habitat type in southwestern Australian estuaries
Project
details
FRDC
Organisation: Murdoch University
Period: June 2004 to January 2009
Principal Investigator: Fiona Valesini
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Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
Outcomes
Benefits
Since estuaries constitute such an important environment for many
recreational and commercial fish species, plans for their management must
be based on reliable data if they are to be useful in protecting and, if
necessary, restoring crucial estuarine fish habitats. This project was
necessary to underpin conservation programs.
1. Determine the suite of environmental criteria that are most useful for
readily and quantitatively assigning any site in a particular estuary in
south-western Australia to its appropriate habitat type.
2. Determine statistically how the compositions of the fish and benthic
invertebrate assemblages in particular south-western Australian
estuaries are related to habitat type.
3. Formulate a readily usable and reliable method for predicting which
fish species are likely to be abundant at any particular site in an estuary.
 Succinct and quantitative details of the main physico-chemical
characteristics of each of the habitat types found in selected southwestern Australian estuaries, and an inventory of the distribution of the
different habitat types and their main fish faunas within and amongst
those estuaries.
 A readily usable and quantitative method by which managers can
identify quantitatively the habitat type to which any site in the selected
estuaries belongs, and thus the likely composition of the fish and
benthic invertebrate faunas at that site.
 An understanding of the ways in which the fish and invertebrate faunas
are related to different habitat types and to each other.
 Details of the ways in which the distribution of the faunas change with
respect to habitat type between seasonal extremes in estuary conditions.
 Ability to identify parts of estuaries that are most important spatially
and seasonally for conservation purposes.
 A framework for ecologists to investigate the extent to which
ecological inter-relationships differ among habitat types in estuaries.
 Potentially improved management strategies for conserving fish faunas
and their key habitats in select estuaries in south-western Australia.
 Fisheries managers can interpret the information and take it into
account in fisheries management.
 The WA Department of Environment and Conservation are interested
in the knowledge for habitat type audits and are in the process of
considering the method in developing marine reserve areas in the south
coast of WA (Fiona Velesini, pers. comm., 2012).
 Enhanced conservation of fish habitats in WA estuaries as quantitative
inventories of species will be available.
 More sustainable fish resources and protection of biodiversity.
Project 2004/066: Understanding shelf-break habitat for sustainable management of
fisheries with spatial overlap
Project
FRDC
Research Organisation: University of Tasmania
Page 25
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
Outcomes
FRDC
Period: October 2003 to August 2007
Principal Investigator: Caleb Gardner
This project addresses high priority strategic research areas identified by
both state and national fisheries organisations. It is research that targets a
high priority need across Australian fisheries for greater understanding of
the effects of fishing activities on fish and their ecosystems. The necessity
for research is compounded in shelf-break habitats due to the scarcity of
information, the slow growth of many species in Tasmania implying less
resilience to impacts and the interaction effects between different sectors
that may compound impacts.
1. Define and map key habitats on the shelf edge (~80-180 fm) at key
locations around Tasmania where fisheries using different gear types
interact.
2. Evaluate their resistance and resilience to impact from fishing gears
based using the semi-quantitative 'Ecological Risk Assessment'
framework.
3. Detail the distribution of exploited shelf-edge species in relation to
habitat features.
4. Evaluate ecosystem links within habitats based on trophic, temperature
and current-flow data.
5. Evaluate using video to obtain stock assessment information such as
abundance, sex ratio, condition and size of target species, primarily the
giant crab.
 Key habitats were defined and mapped.
 An ecological risk assessment process was applied. It was a scoring
process for potential risk or vulnerability against a series of attributes.
 The information collected on habitat distribution enabled a comparison
between habitat types and the distribution of commercial species.
 A variety of target species were observed in videos and potential
applications of the video data were highlighted, including
quantification of gear selectivity and variation of model-based
estimates of crab abundance.
 Habitat and bathymetry maps defining areas of special value to
different sectors, while video were used to quantify the benthos in
different regions.
 Additional information about species assemblages and environmental
parameters (current profiles, sediments, temperature) was collected to
assist in interpreting habitat maps in relation to exploited species.
 The principal outcome for this project was a shift in the management of
shelf-edge based fisheries towards informed decision-making for
spatial management based on benthic habitat and related ecosystem.
 This project provided information to assist in resolving conflict
between crab fishers and trawlers competing over the same resource,
and future issues involving interaction between different shelf-break
fisheries.
 This resource formed the basis of management that both minimises
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impact of fishing on habitat and reduces interaction with other sectors.
Risk analysis showed that the bryozoan thicket was potentially at risk
from trawling but not crab trapping.
Improved fisheries management and reduced conflicts due to habitat
and related ecosystem issues being taken into account in decision
making.
Project 2004/074: Aquafin CRC – SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: a whole-ofecosystem assessment of environmental issues for salmonid aquaculture
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
Research Organisation: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
Period: June 2004 to July 2008
Principal Investigator: John Volkman
The salmonid aquaculture industry depends on healthy and suitable marine
environments to maintain production and profitability. Over recent years,
the industry has faced a number of environmental challenges (e.g. algal
blooms, jellyfish swarms, warm waters and high salinities). Salmon farms
remain a significant point source of nutrients entering the marine
environment. While stocking densities in Tasmania are generally lower
than overseas, and expansion of the industry is currently curtailed, it is still
important to establish a carrying capacity which fosters a healthy and
productive industry and protects marine environmental values.
DPIWE has expressed a particular need to understand nutrient budgets in
salmon-growing areas to assess how many fish can be grown. Salmon
farmers have expressed a specific industry need for early warning of the
advent of a phytoplankton bloom, and early warning of the likely level of
threat of the bloom.
1. Identification, characterisation and modelling of the key oceanographic
and ecological features of the Huon Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux
Channel and how these may affect or limit salmon cage farming,
together with an assessment of possible industry responses.
2. Inventory of the sources of nutrients in this region, including those
from salmon farms, their spatial and temporal variation, nutrient
cycling, and impacts on pelagic and benthic production.
3. Definition of the factors driving the phytoplankton ecology of this
region, especially interactions among phytoplankton and zooplankton
(including jellyfish).
4. Determination of the role of carbon remineralisation in sediments with
nutrient release into the water column in relation to the varying spatial
and temporal environmental conditions.
5. Design of a new monitoring system and adaptive management strategy
for use by industry and DPIWE together with definition of associated
indicators and standards.
 A report outlining a whole of ecosystem assessment of environmental
issues for salmonid aquaculture.
Page 27



Outcomes



Benefits

The project established a detailed set of data that provides a clear
picture of the environmental conditions in the Huon Estuary and
D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
The project established that the environmental conditions were
generally good with occasional periods of high phytoplankton
abundance and low dissolved oxygen.
A 3D hydrodynamic, sediment and bio-chemical model to evaluate the
environmental impact of salmonid fish farms.
The major outcome of this project was a scientifically rigorous
assessment of environmental issues associated with salmon farming in
southern Tasmania. This information was made available to all
stakeholders and provided the basis for ensuring the long-term
sustainability of the industry as well as being an underpinning resource
for decisions relating to industry expansion.
This project provided salmonid farmers greater knowledge and
understanding of the marine environment in which they have farms,
with an emphasis on key aspects of the environment including
phytoplankton and jellyfish blooms, and water quality attributes such as
dissolved oxygen and nutrient status.
A long term monitoring strategy was developed to ensure the
sustainability of the salmonid industry. The proposed monitoring
program is designed to provide knowledge of how well the ecosystem
is function with an increased nutrient load and to detect significant
trends in ecological indicators.
Improved environmental management and monitoring that is lower in
cost and more effective than that used hitherto.
Project 2005/059: Aquafin CRC – SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: risk and response
– understanding the tuna farming environment
Project
details
Rationale
FRDC
Research Organisation: South Australian Research and Development
Institute
Period: June 2005 to September 2008
Principal Investigator: Jason Tanner
Representatives of the tuna industry have expressed a clear need to
understand the oceanography of the Port Lincoln tuna farming region in
order to predict likely trajectories and effects of phytoplankton blooms and
any instances of dirty water on tuna farming, enabling them to develop
emergency management protocols for such events. They also need to
identify the range of variation in environmental conditions in both the
water column and sediments within the farming zone and how this might
impact on farming practices, particularly if fish are to be kept for longer
periods and if stocking numbers increase. In the event of an emergency
(e.g. algal bloom, oil spill, disease outbreak), the industry needs to identify
areas likely to be impacted and safer areas where pontoons might be
relocated. Industry would also benefit from real-time weather and
Page 28
Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
oceanographic information being available at the farm site to optimize
visits to the farms for feeding, maintenance etc.
1. Characterisation of the main oceanographic features of the tuna growout region at Port Lincoln through field studies and calibration of the
three dimensional hydrodynamic model previously developed for
salmonid farming in Tasmania.
2. Identification and description of dynamics of phytoplankton and benthic
microalgal species, the factors causing algal blooms and the role, if any,
of nutrients released from tuna farming.
3. Integration of phytoplankton and nutrient data into a 3D biogeochemical
model for the Port Lincoln farming area that will allow movement of
blooms etc to be predicted.
4. Refine description of variations in sediment type and assimilative
capacity for organic matter including an assessment of the role of
microbial and faunal communities in carbon remineralisation and
nutrient release.
5. Application of sediment models to identify likelihood of sediments
being resuspended and identification of factors affecting this together
with an assessment of their role in algal blooms. Further development of
the near real-time telemetered environmental observation system with
web access.
6. To develop an integrated hydrodynamic and biogeochemical model of
the Port Lincoln tuna farming area, that will assist managers and farmers
to assess how external and internal disturbances are likely to move
through the area, and thus allow them to make informed decisions on
how to best mitigate the risks associated with any given disturbance, and
to develop pre-prepared emergency management protocols for particular
events.
 The primary output from this project was an integrated hydrodynamic
and biogeochemical model of the Port Lincoln tuna farming area, which
allows farmers and managers to assess how disturbances are likely to
spread throughout the area. These disturbances include external factors,
such as phytoplankton blooms originating outside the tuna farming
area, oil spills, pollution events in Boston Bay, and sediment
resuspension, as well as factors internal to tuna farming, such as
nutrients from farming operations, and any potential disease outbreaks.
Key outputs produced that underlie this model include:
 A hydrodynamic model for Spencer Gulf nested within a broader
regional model. This will capture local currents and mass and energy
transports as well as identifying the influence of off-shore upwelling
and hypersaline plugs from the upper Gulf on local water movements.
This has been used to examine the connectivity between farm sites,
dispersion of nutrients, and the advection of pollutants and
phytoplankton blooms.
 A 3D biogeochemical model for the region capturing the role of light,
nutrients and other factors on phytoplankton abundances in southern
Page 29




Outcomes



Benefits


Spencer Gulf. The outputs can quantify any contribution from tuna
farming to phytoplankton blooms and help establish the carrying
capacity for tuna farming in different sub-regions.
Improved knowledge of phytoplankton blooms in the region and the
factors (such as offshore upwellings, local events or nutrient release
from sediments) that influence their development and advection within
the region.
A budget of nutrient flows from tuna farming in relation to overall
nutrient flows in the region together with an assessment of their
ecological significance.
A model of sediment dynamics offshore from Boston Island which can
be used to estimate the currents needed to resuspend sediments in
different sub-regions of the tuna farming region.
Environmental database (web based) for collation of environmental data
to facilitate industry access.
The model can be used to inform a mitigation strategy for any of these
events should they occur – for example by allowing farmers and
managers to determine where pontoons should be moved to in order to
avoid the disturbance, and how they should be arranged spatially to
minimize interactions between them.
The model was discussed at a workshop with industry representatives to
define the disturbance scenarios of most interest, and to then model
these scenarios and produce an industry report outlining potential
emergency management protocols related to moving pontoons that will
allow farmers and managers to be prepared for these events in advance.
Both SARDI & CSIRO will have the expertise to conduct more
comprehensive scenario analyses in the future if required, especially in
the event of an unforeseen emergency situation that threatens the
industry.
The model has not been used to date for any specific emergency
purposes (Jason Tanner, pers. comm., 2012).
Provides both the tuna industry and government agencies a
comprehensive assessment of the likely impacts of tuna farming as well
as a tool that can be used to examine the consequences of
environmental disturbances.
The ability to design a comprehensive regional environmental
monitoring program.
Project 2005/072: Water use across a catchment and effects on estuarine health and
productivity
Project
details
Rationale
FRDC
Research Organisation: University of Tasmania
Period: June 2005 to July 2008
Principal Investigator: Christine Crawford
The importance of quantifying the impacts of land-based anthropogenic
activities on freshwater flows and consequential effects on downstream
Page 30
estuarine and coastal water environments has been increasingly recognised
in recent years. Nevertheless, extraction of freshwater for agriculture,
town water supplies etc is increasing in many rivers across Australia. The
ecological effects on estuaries and estuarine aquaculture and fishing
industries of changing flow regimes is largely unknown in Tasmania, and
Australia generally, and there is an urgent need to quantify the freshwater
flow requirements essential to estuarine health and aquaculture production.
Objectives
Outputs
Outcomes
FRDC
Similarly, there is limited information on the economic value of freshwater
flows into estuaries. Consequently, there was a need to compare the
economic efficiency of allocation of freshwater to land-based agricultural
production with estuarine based shellfish farming and ecosystem goods and
services.
1. To complete an investigation of environmental flow regimes required
to maintain the health and production of oysters from the Little
Swanport estuary through continued collection of environmental data
under different flows and by the development of an estuarine model to
predict the effects of different flow regimes.
2. To develop a set of economic accounts and an economic water
evaluation framework and associated tools, using the Little Swanport
catchment as a case study, to assess the value of freshwater to the
various users across the catchment, including upstream agriculture,
estuarine shellfish farmers and fishers and for non-market goods and
services.
 A report detailing the ecological assessment of the estuary and the
importance of environmental flows.
 Although a report on estuarine ecological data and freshwater flows
was produced on data collected before the commencement of the
FRDC project, a large quantity of relevant new data on estuarine
ecology was collected during this project.
 This project produced a set of economic accounts for the value of water
for different users across the catchment.
 A book, The value of water in a drying climate.
 The project provided data on environmental flows which informed the
five-year review of the Water Management Plan for the Little Swanport
estuary. The final plan was released in June 2006, with review
commencing in 2011.
 The economic water evaluation framework methodology is of value to
water resource managers across southern Australia who face similar
issues of allocation of scarce water resources.
 Results from the project were communicated to key stakeholders
through committee meetings, at annual meetings of the LWA
Environmental Water Allocation Program, at annual TAFI research
reviews, at public meetings and scientific conferences.
 Progress reports have been provided to the Little Swanport Catchment
Management Committee and an article written for the LAW Rip Rap
Page 31


Benefits


magazine.
The book, The value of water in a drying climate, will provide results
to stakeholders and to a much wider audience than originally planned.
The outputs also supported another outcome of increased stakeholder
and community awareness of the environmental and economic benefits
and costs of providing freshwater flows to the Little Swanport River, to
primary production and to the estuary. This information will inform
sustainable management practices within Little Swanport and other
catchments in south-eastern Australia.
Information on water use, water storage and extraction for agriculture
across the catchment as well as knowledge of environmental flows has
informed decision-making regarding water management.
Better understanding of how the catchment functions economically and
socially.
Project 2005/081: Assessment of information needs for freshwater flows into
Australian estuaries
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
Outputs
FRDC
Research Organisation: CRC for Coastal Zone Estuary and Waterway
Management
Period: November 2005 to July 2006
Principal Investigator: David Scheltinga
Even though there was already a significant body of research on the effects
of flows on freshwater ecosystems and estuaries, many of these did not
focus on estuarine production. FRDC together with Land and Water
Australia requested an assessment of the priority research topics on the
effects of freshwater flows into Australian estuaries.
1. Create a logical framework showing the potential links between
freshwater inflows and ecological responses.
2. Assess current knowledge about each of these links in Australian
estuaries.
3. Identify the critical links where further R&D would provide maximum
benefit.
4. Collate available information on current decision-making
processes/frameworks for environmental flow management.
 A literature review and some interviews were undertaken, and resulted
in a proposed conceptual framework comprising the sequential effects
of freshwater inflows on the estuarine abiotic environment, the biotic
environment and estuarine environmental values.
 Prior to the workshop a wide range of knowledge needs were
identified, and at the workshop these were reduced to 52 knowledge
needs (19 of high priority, 14 of medium priority and 19 of low
priority).
 The high priority needs were then further prioritised by examining their
benefit to the needs of managers, as well as their scientific or technical
merit and benefit.
Page 32


Outcomes





Benefits

The priorities were endorsed by a wide diversity of researchers,
managers and policy analysts at the workshop.
A report was produced that outlined general issues surrounding flows
and estuaries, and included the prioritised knowledge needs.
Initial agreement among key stakeholders in the research community
on research priorities relevant to environmental flows and estuaries.
Potentially improved coordination of research agendas of relevant
bodies and research groups for each state and territory.
Enhanced informal networks within the research and management
communities and also across these two groups.
An improved strategic position for Australian research into estuarine
flows resulting in greater likelihood that future research will benefit
both the fishing industry and Australian community.
The project was followed by the funding by the National Land and
Water Resources Audit of an Audit report on Estuaries.
Benefits include more informed priority setting and coordination of
research agendas, potentially resulting in more efficient use of research
resources.
Project 2007/246: Tactical Research Fund: A review of the ecological impacts of
selected antibiotics and antifoulants currently used in the Tasmanian salmonid
farming industry and development of a research programme to evaluate the
environmental impact of selected treatment
Project
details
Rationale
Objectives
FRDC
Organisation: University of Tasmania
Period: September 2007 to January 2009
Principal Investigator: Catriona MacLeod
The Tasmanian salmonid industry was faced with several significant
production issues necessitating increased use of antibiotics and
antifoulants. The effects of these chemicals on the local ecology and
ecosystem function are currently poorly understood and without evidence
to the contrary, it is difficult for the industry to refute the perception that
such chemicals have a detrimental effect on the environment.
1. Undertake a review of the international literature and current research
to identify the existing state of knowledge regarding the environmental
effects of antibiotics and antifoulants currently used or likely to be used
in the Tasmanian salmonid farming industry.
2. Analyse local datasets on currently used antibiotics and antifoulants,
collected in compliance with current licensing requirements, to
determine what additional information is needed (if any) to
appropriately evaluate the environmental impact of current
management practices
3. Develop an appropriate and cost effective research proposal to obtain
the necessary information to evaluate the impact of current
management strategies and design an appropriate ongoing monitoring
programme.
Page 33
Outputs



Outcomes


Benefits
FRDC

This project provided a review of the currently available information on
the antibiotics and antifoulants currently employed in the Tasmanian
salmonid industry to determine the environmental risks associated with
current management practices.
It provided an evaluation of the existing monitoring data collected by
the salmonid industry and government regulators as part of current
licensing requirements.
Finally, the project made recommendations regarding the need for
additional research to evaluate the risks and impacts of antibiotics and
antifoulants currently used in the Tasmanian aquaculture industry and
outlined a proposal to undertake that research.
Through review of the literature and assessment of the available data
this project determined that there was a need for further research to
evaluate the risks and impacts of antibiotics and antifoulants currently
used in the Tasmanian aquaculture industry. The results from the
current industry based monitoring focused on the detection of major
effects where several areas of environmental concern were not covered
and some results were inconclusive, consequently highlighting a need
for additional research to better understand the local situation.
This project has resulted in a more informed industry which is better
able to engage with public concerns regarding their use of chemicals to
manage health and production issues. An improved understanding of
the environmental issues and risks associated with chemical use in
aquaculture enables a better assessment of the appropriateness of
selected chemicals and the ability to identify potential risks ensures that
appropriate environmental safeguards and monitoring are established.
Although the Tasmanian salmonid aquaculture industry will be the
principal and most immediate beneficiary of this study, the findings
will have a much broader application. Use of antibiotics and
antifoulants already occurs at low levels in other aquaculture sectors;
consequently the synthesis of existing knowledge and collection of
benchmark information proposed in this study will be important in
many other areas of Australia.
Page 34
Project Investment
The following tables show the annual investment by project for both the FRDC (Table 2) and for researchers and other investors (Table 3). Table 4
provides the total investment by year from both sources.
Table 2: Investment by FRDC by Project for Years Ending 1999 to 2010 (nominal $)
Project
1999
2000
1999/230
0
250,000
2000/257
0
0
2001/022
0
0
2001/023
0
0
2001/036
0
0
2001/060
0
0
2001/097
0
0
2001/102
0
0
2001/103
0
0
2001/104
0
0
2003/050
0
0
2004/045
0
0
2004/066
0
0
2004/074
0
0
2005/059
0
0
2005/072
0
0
2005/081
0
0
2007/246
0
0
0
250,000
Total
Source: FRDC project management database
FRDC
2001
0
71,322
0
109,094
179,137
183,021
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
542,574
2002
245,000
71,322
166,835
78,612
133,325
177,755
189,155
73,555
121,454
65,216
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,322,229
2003
2004
2005
0
174,433
80,934
143,855
130,489
62,362
153,972
-22,168
-25,821
120
81,877
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
780,054
0
0
86,026
0
55,369
32,517
308,561
108,249
124,737
-21,569
20,470
187,383
-180,000
0
0
0
0
0
721,743
0
70,787
86,732
0
55,369
48,517
0
1,656
-15,051
68,533
-4,165
42,962
212,826
238,405
0
-120,744
0
0
685,828
2006
0
-2,473
26,035
41,445
0
0
162,922
65,287
235,336
-22,729
0
101,994
63,468
89,266
251,881
126,121
20,000
0
1,158,553
2007
0
0
80,489
41,445
0
0
0
-42,252
31,457
0
0
89,911
105,902
92,991
192,974
173,700
0
0
766,617
2008
2009
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
38,715
4,164
0
43,028
51,524
-24,003
29,276
0
0
9,536
152,240
0
0
8,538
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
150,000
50,407
44,074
-3,644
0
0
15,768
265,143
2010
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
74,955
0
5,256
80,211
Total
495,000
385,391
535,589
414,451
553,689
504,172
814,610
184,327
510,828
93,735
98,182
615,278
304,127
440,733
470,486
254,032
20,000
30,560
6,725,191
Page 35
Table 3: Investment by Researchers and Others by Project for Years Ending 1999 to 2010 (nominal $)
Project
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
1999/230 1,430,000 475,000
100,000
0
0
0
0
0
2000/257
0
0
228,408
53,047
54,200
0
0
0
2001/022
0
0
0
511,966
248,362
263,988
266,154
79,894
2001/023
0
0
105,919
105,809
104,163
0
0
0
2001/036
0
0
144,854
143,094
147,457
0
0
0
2001/060
0
0
416,498
230,223
234,107
0
0
0
2001/097
0
0
303,352
246,928
494,846
0
261,281
0
2001/102
0
0
0
168,593
84,656
0
0
0
2001/103
0
0
0
136,695
205,030
282,012
185,799
0
2001/104
0
0
0
585,738
653,116
687,616
712,457
0
2003/050
0
0
0
0
357,022
0
0
0
2004/045
0
0
0
0
0
264,535
171,542
176,687
2004/066
0
0
0
0
0
147,875
214,344
0
2004/074
0
0
0
0
0
0
505,641
529,072
2005/059
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 1,042,135
2005/072
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
210,897
2005/081
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2007/246
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,430,000 475,000 1,299,031 2,182,093 2,582,959 1,646,026 2,317,218 2,038,685
Total
Source: FRDC project management database; applicant and other investment based on project proposals.
FRDC
2007
0
0
246,996
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
71,076
0
552,536
1,070,326
112,209
0
0
2,053,143
2008
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
561,893
936,664
0
0
90110
1,588,667
2009
0
0
26,199
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
26,199
Total
2,005,000
335,655
1,643,559
315,891
435,405
880,828
1,306,407
253,249
809,536
2,638,927
357,022
683,840
362,219
2,149,142
3,049,125
323,106
0
90,110
17,639,021
Page 36
Table 4: Annual Investment in Cluster (nominal $)
Year ending June
FRDC
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Total
0
250,000
542,574
1,322,229
780,054
721,743
685,828
1,158,553
766,617
152,240
265,143
80,211
6,725,191
Researchers and
Others
1,430,000
475,000
1,299,031
2,182,093
2,582,959
1,646,026
2,317,218
2,038,685
2,053,143
1,588,667
26,199
0
17,639,021
Total
1,430,000
725,000
1,841,605
3,504,322
3,363,012
2,367,769
3,003,046
3,197,238
2,819,760
1,740,907
291,342
80,211
24,364,211
Benefits
The investment in generating knowledge about fish habitats, estuaries and water quality has increased
aquaculture and wild catch fisheries management capacity as well as research capacity. Improved
fisheries management will improve environmental sustainability in turn leading to the maintenance of
long-term commercial viability.
Table 5 summarises the major benefits by category delivered by each of the projects.
Table 5: Category of Benefit Delivered by Projects
Project
Potential
contribution to
sustainability of
the estuarine and
coastal water
environment
Scientific
knowledge and
capacity
regarding fish
habitats and
stock assessment
Project 1999/230: Inventory and Assessment of
Australian Estuaries
Project 2000/163: Pesticide impact on prawns and
seagrass
Project 2000/257: Water quality, contamination
and quality assurance in oysters
Project 2001/022: Environmental flows for
subtropical estuaries
Project 2001/023: Spatial arrangement of
estuarine and coastal habitats
Project 2001/036: Importance of different nearshore marine habitats
Project 2001/060: Fish habitats in the Recherche
Archipelago
Project 2001/097: System-wide environmental
issues for sustainable salmonid aquaculture
Project 2001/102: Tuna environment –
development of novel methodologies for cost
effective assessment of the environmental impact
of aquaculture
✔
✔
✔
✔
Project 2001/103: Tuna environment subproject –
Maintenance of
commercial
viability of wild
catch fisheries
associated with
estuaries
Contribution to
cost reductions
for, and
development of,
the tuna and
salmon
aquaculture
industries
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
evaluation of waste composition and waste
mitigation
Project 2001/104: Tuna environment subproject –
development of regional environmental
sustainability
Project 2003/050: Linking habitat mapping with
fisheries assessment in key commercial fishing
grounds
Project 2004/045: Relationships between fish
faunas and habitat type in south-western
Australian estuaries
Project 2004/066: Understanding shelf-break
habitat for sustainable management of fisheries
Project 2004/074: A whole-of-ecosystem
assessment of environmental issues for salmonid
aquaculture
Project 2005/059: Risk and response –
understanding the tuna farming environment
Project 2005/072: Water use across a catchment
and effects on estuarine health and productivity
Project 2005/081: Assessment of information
needs for freshwater flows into Australian
estuaries
Project 2007/246: Review of the ecological
impacts of selected antibiotics and antifoulants
used in the Tasmanian salmonid farming industry
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Summary of Benefits
Table 6 provides in a triple bottom line framework a summary of the principal types of benefits
associated with the outcomes of the investment.
Table 6: Summary of Benefits in a Triple Bottom Line Framework
Economic
1. Maintenance of commercial
viability of wild catch fisheries
associated with estuaries
Environmental
3. Potential contribution to
sustainability of the
estuarine and coastal water
environment
Social
4. Scientific knowledge and
capacity regarding fish habitats and
stock assessment
2. Contribution to cost reductions
for, and development of, the tuna
and salmon aquaculture industries
The benefits identified above have been classified into subjective beneficiary categories and a
subjective estimate of their magnitudes in Table 7.
Table 7: Categories of Benefits from the Investment
Industry
Spillovers
Other industries
Economic
Public
1. ***
2. ***
Environmental
Social
*** Major contribution
3.***
4.**
** Some contribution
* Minor contribution
Public versus Private Benefits
FRDC
Page 38
Both private and public benefits will arise from the investment. On the basis of the distribution of the
four benefits listed in Table 7, and equal weighting for each benefit, it could be concluded that public
benefits to Australia could make up 50% of the total benefits. If the subjective weightings are taken
into account, the public benefits would still make up nearly 50% of the total benefits.
Distribution of Benefits Along the Supply Chain
The private benefits and costs from expanded aquaculture industries and the continued commercial
viability of commercial fisheries would be shared along the supply chains.
Benefits to Other Industries
It is likely that industry benefits will be confined to the fishing industry.
Benefits Overseas
There may be some scientific knowledge spillovers to overseas fishing industries.
Additionality and Marginality
The investment in the projects in this cluster has recognised the critical importance of the linkage
between commercial and environmental sustainability and hence is a high priority for FRDC and
industry.
Despite the importance, if FRDC had not received funding from government, many of the wild catch
investment may not have been made or made at lower funding levels. On the other hand, most of the
larger investments were in the salmon and tuna industries and much of this investment may have
continued without funding from government. A majority of the public benefits identified therefore
would still have been delivered. Further detail is provided in Table 8.
Table 8: Potential Response to Reduced Public Funding to FRDC
1. What priority were the projects in this
High
cluster when funded?
2. Would FRDC have funded this cluster if
only half of public funding of FRDC had
been available?
3. Would the cluster have been funded if no
public funding for FRDC had been
available?
Yes, but with a lesser total investment (75% 100%) of actual total investment.
Yes, but with a lesser total investment (50%75%) of actual total investment.
Match with National Priorities
The Australian Government’s national and rural R&D priorities are reproduced in Table (updated in
May 2007 and still current).
http://www.daff.gov.au/_media/documents/ag-food/innovation2/Priorities_Booklet_FINAL.pdf
Table 9: National and Rural R&D Research Priorities
Australian Government
National Research Priorities
Rural Research Priorities
1. An environmentally
1. Productivity and adding value
sustainable Australia
2. Supply chain and markets
2. Promoting and maintaining
3. Natural resource management
good health
4. Climate variability and climate change
3. Frontier technologies for
building and transforming
FRDC
Page 39
Australian industries
5.
4. Safeguarding Australia
Biosecurity
Supporting the priorities:
1.
Innovation skills
2.
Technology
The cluster contributes directly to National Research Priority 1 (environmentally sustainable
Australia) and Priority 3. The investment was strongly associated with Rural Research Priorities 1 and
3. Both supporting priorities were addressed.
Quantification of Benefits
Benefits valued
Four benefits are valued in this cluster of projects:
 Maintenance of commercial viability of wild catch fisheries associated with estuaries
 Contribution to maintenance of biodiversity of the estuarine and coastal water environment
 Contribution to economic development of the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry
 Contribution to economic development of the SBT (farmed tuna) aquaculture industry
Benefits not valued
The benefit identified but not valued was scientific knowledge and capacity. In some cases this
benefit was included with the biodiversity and commercial viability benefits and in the other cases it
was considered too difficult to value.
Maintenance of commercial viability of wild catch fisheries associated with estuaries
Robinson (2001) estimated the value of Australia’s estuaries from commercial fisheries dependent or
partly dependent on estuaries, from the value of recreational fisheries and from the value of port
infrastructure. The estuary ecosystems of interest to this research investment provide ecosystem
services such as habitat, spawning and nursery areas for fish, habitat and breeding areas for birds and
native animals, nutrient cycling and water filtration.
The value of estuarine dependent commercial fisheries was estimated by Robinson as $52 million
from oysters, $327 million from prawns, $10.5 million from barramundi, and $42 million from crabs,
a total of over $430 million per annum (see Table 10).
Table 10: Estimated Value of Estuarine Dependent Commercial Fisheries 1999-2000 ($ million)
Fishery
Oysters
Prawns
Barramundi
Crabs
Total
QLD
0.65
75.0
6.0
19.5
101.15
NSW
28.8
24.0
0
3.4
56.2
WA
0
76.0
0
4.0
80.0
NT
0
0
4.5
12.0
16.5
TAS
13.0
0
0
0
13.0
SA
9.3
43.7
0
3.4
56.4
VIC COMM Total
0
0 51.75
1.3
107.0 327.0
0
0
10.5
0
0
42.3
1.3
107.0 431.55
Source: Robinson (2001)
FRDC
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Robinson estimated also that estuarine opportunist commercial fisheries added another $40 million to
the annual commercial value of fish contributed by estuaries, giving a total value of $470 million.
Further surveys have shown that 60% of recreational fish caught in Queensland was from estuaries,
and the contribution to the Queensland economy could be as much as $528 million per annum from
fish caught in estuaries. As the recreational fishing industry in Australia is worth over $2.9 billion per
annum, and about 60% of fish caught are from estuaries, it is likely that the value of fish caught from
estuaries in all States is in the vicinity of $1.7 billion per annum. However, Robinson makes the point
that information by state is incomplete and that the more reliable estimates for Queensland, Western
Australia and the Northern Territory would give an estimate of $1.06 billion.
A conservative estimate of the value of estuarine ecosystems for commercial and recreational fisheries
is therefore $1.53 billion per annum expressed in 1999/00 $ terms. Assuming activity has remained
the same, this would be equivalent to $2.16 billion in 2010/11 $ terms.
For the purposes of this analysis it is assumed that the knowledge produced on habitats and impacts of
external factors on estuaries has, through improved management, reduced the probability of stock
decline over the ten years commencing 2010/11. Specific assumptions are summarised in Table 11.
Maintenance of biodiversity
The improved knowledge of species and habitats within estuaries and the factors that affect them is
expected to lead to improved management practices that in turn lead to environmental sustainability
and the protection of biodiversity. The environmental value of rivers and estuaries is important to
communities and has been the subject of a number of willingness to pay studies e.g. Brouwer (2009),
Liu and Stern (2008), Rolfe and Brouwer (2010), and Rolfe et al (2005). While various components of
environmental sustainability associated with estuaries have been identified and/or valued (e.g.
amenity, cultural heritage, recreational values), care was required in ensuring any environmental
attribute valued did not duplicate what was included in the commercial benefit already valued, such as
the value of recreational fishing. The impact of the investment on species biodiversity via benefit
transfer from willingness to pay studies was therefore valued. Details are summarised in Table 11.
Industry development benefit – salmon
Three projects (2001/097, 2004/074 and 2007/246) contributed specifically to the benefits associated
with understanding aquaculture interactions with the environment and monitoring to improve
environmental management in sustaining the industry and in guiding potential expansion of the
salmon industry in Tasmania.
The benefit estimated was for the reduced risk in the industry occurring production losses. The health
of productivity of farmed salmon can be highly dependent on the water quality in which they are
being farmed. For example, an algal bloom outbreak throughout a significant part of the estuary may
result in salmon production being shut down for limited periods of time.
It is assumed that if the impact described above were to occur, that the industry could lose the
equivalent of six weeks production each year. The net profit before income tax for the largest salmon
farmer in the Huon Valley averages about $30 million in the past few years (includes farming and
added value operations). This producer makes up about 65% of the Valley’s salmon production, and
therefore it is assumed that profits from salmon farming and processing for the entire valley are
estimated at approximately $46.2 million. Therefore, the lost production would equate to $5.3 million
per annum in lost profits. It is assumed that this loss would have started in the year 2010/11, and
would have continued indefinitely. The ‘without research’ probability of this magnitude of loss is
80%. With the research, this probability is assumed to be reduced to 50%.
Industry development benefit – tuna
Four projects (2001/102, 2001/103, 2001/104 and 2005/059) contributed specifically to the benefits
associated with understanding aquaculture interactions with the environment. These benefits included
FRDC
Page 41
(through modelling and monitoring) benefits of improved environmental management in sustaining
the industry and in guiding compliance and preparedness, as well as potential expansion of the farmed
SBT industry in Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
Three categories of industry development benefits were valued:
1. Improved risk management
2. Sustainable expansion
3. Increased profitability
Improved risk management
The availability of data and models has improved the risk management capabilities of the industry and
government, resulting in a decreased impact from a major event through, for example, the ability to
predict the speed and direction of spread of algal blooms and disease outbreaks, and the implications
of major storms that are likely to trigger re-suspension. For example, in 1996, 75% of industry stock
in the Port Lincoln area was lost due to a large storm that triggered a re-suspension event. Since this
time, the industry has moved further off-shore, making such an impact less likely. However the
modelling has shown that such a possibility does still exist in certain conditions. Being able to predict
when and where such an event is likely to occur allows the industry to develop emergency
contingency plans for where and how to move pontoons to avoid such stock losses during such an
event. For the purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that the probability of such an event occurring
is 5% per annum (once in 20 years), and that the likely stock losses from such events without the
research having taken place would be 25% (conservatively lower than 75% as in the 1996 incident to
allow for movement of industry off-shore). With the research, the impact of such an event occurring is
assumed to be reduced through stock losses of only 10%. It is assumed that the value of the SBT
aquaculture industry is $150 m per annum. Taking into account the SBT growth cycle, seasonal
considerations and feed saved, the value of the stock loss is assumed to be one third of the annual
value of production. The first year of benefit (reduced likely impact) is assumed to be 2009/10.
Sustainable expansion
The data, monitoring and models will allow appropriate decisions to be made regarding the
sustainable level of expansion of the industry in the Spencer Gulf area. Without the research, it is
possible the size of the industry could have been capped either artificially small, or grown to be overly
large, due to the absence of appropriate scientific data and reasoning. If the size of the industry was
kept too low, there would be significant lost income, while if the industry was allowed to grow too
large, there would possibly be environmental, as well as long-term industry impacts due to poor water
quality. For the purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that the decision would have been made to
expand the industry by only 3,000 tonnes, rather than 3,500 tonnes as was assumed sustainable. It is
assumed the expansion occurs (in both with and without scenarios) over 10 years from the year
2009/10 to 2018/19. The value lost is assumed equal to the profit foregone by not allowing the
additional 500 tonnes to be farmed. The value of the tuna is assumed to be $15,000 per tonne, with
the profit assumed to be 15% of this value. It is further assumed that the capital required to allow such
expansion is 40% of the annual value of the additional tuna produced. The capital investment required
is assumed to be evenly distributed over the ten years of growth. It is assumed there is a 50%
probability of this expansion occurring, both in the ‘with’ and ‘without’ scenarios.
Increased industry profits
Improved industry profitability can result from improved management recommendations emanating
from the research and the models developed. For example, such recommendations might lead to a
more efficient feeding regime, or less likelihood of poor animal health due to dissolved and
undissolved contaminants in the water. The proposal for one of the four projects calculated that a 2%
improvement in productivity for the industry resulting from the availability of more sites enabling
greater separation of farms and improved local conditions through optimised fallowing and/or
polyculture, equates to $2 million per annum in economic value. It is assumed that there is a 25%
probability of such benefits being realised, and that the benefits are net benefits, with no further
FRDC
Page 42
adoption costs considered. The first year of benefits is assumed to be in 2009/10, the full 2% benefit
being realised after four years.
Attribution
There are other projects funded that would have contributed to these industry benefits. Overall 50% of
the benefits calculated above are assigned to the tuna-relevant projects in this cluster.
Summary of Assumptions
A summary of the key assumptions made is shown in Table 11.
Table 11: Summary of Assumptions
Variable
Assumption
Source
Benefit 1 Maintenance of commercial viability of wild catch fisheries associated with estuaries
Estimate of value of commercial fishers $470 million per annum
Robinson (2001)
associated with estuaries
(1999/00 $ terms)
Estimate of value of estuary dependent
$1.06 billion per annum
Robinson (2001)
recreational fishing
(1999/00 $ terms)
Total value of estuarine fisheries
$1.53 billion per annum
Calculated from above
Total value of estuaries in 2010/11 $
1.53 x 1.413 = $2.162
Consumer price index
terms
billion per annum
Potential decline in value
5%
Agtrans Research
Probability of usage of information by
0.80
Agtrans Research
catchment and estuary managers
Probability of a 5% decline in value
0.60
Agtrans Research
without investment
Probability of a 5% decline in value
0.50
Agtrans Research
with investment
First year of benefits
2010/11
Agtrans Research
Longevity of benefits
Ten years
Agtrans Research
Benefit 2 Biodiversity maintenance in estuaries
$0.89 per household per
Agtrans Research based
Willingness to pay per Australian
annum
on van Bueren and
household for preventing one species
Bennett (2004) and Lai
extinction
(2011)
Number of households in 2013
8,000,000
ABS
Total value per species saved
$7,120,000 per annum
$8,000,000 x 0.89
Probability of usage of information
0.50
Agtrans Research
0.50
Agtrans Research
Probability of species lost without
investment
0.40
Agtrans Research
Probability of species lost with
investment
Number of species at risk
5
Agtrans Research
Year of first benefit
2010/11
Agtrans Research
Benefit 3 Industry development benefit – salmon
Annual profit for salmon farming and
$30 million for major
Tassall Pty Ltd Annual
processing enterprises in Huon Valley
company
Reports 2009-2011
Proportion of total production for major 65%
Agtrans Research
company
Number of weeks per annum for which
6 weeks per annum
Agtrans Research
profits lost due to environmental
degradation
Loss of profit per annum
$5.32 million
Derived from above
FRDC
Page 43
Probability of above impacts occurring
80%
without research
Probability of above impacts occurring 50%
with research
Year of first benefits
2010/11
Benefit 4 Industry development benefit – tuna
Improved risk management
Value of farmed tuna
$150 m
Net value of stock that are lost
Probability of adverse event occurring
per annum
Proportion of stock lost due to adverse
event without research
33.3% of annual value of
product sales (allows for
saved feed, transport and
marketing costs etc)
5%
25%
($30m x 100/65 x 6/52
=$5.32 m)
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
ABARE (2011) (three
year average)
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
Proportion of stock lost due to adverse
event with research
Year of first benefit
Sustainable expansion
Expansion of industry without research
Expansion of industry with research
10%
Agtrans Research
estimate (based on 75%
loss during 1996 storm
event when industry was
located closer to shore)
Agtrans Research
2009/10
Agtrans Research
3,000 tonnes
3,500 tonnes
Year in which expansion starts
Period over which expansion occurs
Value of tuna per tonne
2009/10
10 years
$15,000
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
estimate, based on project
results
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
estimate after discussion
with Brian Jeffries
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
Proportion of value that is profit
Additional capital investment required
15%
$3 m (spread over 10
years); based on 40% of
500 t @ $15,000 per tonne
= $3m or $300,000 per
annum
Increased Industry Profitability (without expansion)
Increase in productivity from model
2%
results
Increase in economic return
$2 million per annum
Probability of assumed increase
Year of first benefit
Years to maximum benefit
Overall attribution to tuna projects
Attribution of tuna benefits to tuna
projects
FRDC
25%
2009/10
4
Project 2001/103
application
Project 2001/103
application
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
Agtrans Research
50%
Agtrans Research
Page 44
Results
All past costs and benefits were expressed in 2010/11 dollar terms using the CPI. All benefits after
2010/11 were expressed in 2010/11 dollar terms. All costs and benefits were discounted to 2010/11
using a discount rate of 5%. The base run used the best estimates of each variable, notwithstanding a
high level of uncertainty for many of the estimates. Investment criteria were estimated for both total
investment and for the FRDC investment alone. All analyses ran for the length of the investment
period plus 30 years from the last year of investment (2009/10) to the final year of benefits assumed.
Tables 12 and 13 show the investment criteria for the different periods of benefits for both the total
investment and the FRDC investment.
FRDC
Page 45
Table 12: Investment Criteria for Total Investment
(discount rate 5%)
Investment criteria
0
Present value of benefits ($m)
Present value of costs ($m)
Net present value ($m)
Benefit–cost ratio
Internal rate of return (%)
0.16
42.91
-42.74
0.00
Negative
5
56.94
42.91
14.03
1.33
8.2
Years since last year of investment
10
15
20
102.54
114.33
123.57
42.91
42.91
42.91
59.63
71.42
80.66
2.39
2.66
2.88
13.2
13.8
14.1
25
130.81
42.91
87.91
3.05
14.2
30
136.48
42.91
93.58
3.18
14.2
25
35.82
11.59
24.23
3.09
14.6
30
37.37
11.59
25.78
3.22
14.7
Table 13: Investment Criteria for FRDC Investment
(discount rate 5%)
Investment criteria
0
Present value of benefits ($m)
Present value of costs ($m)
Net present value ($m)
Benefit–cost ratio
Internal rate of return (%)
0.04
11.59
-11.55
0.00
Negative
5
15.59
11.59
4.00
1.35
8.5
Years since last year of investment
10
15
20
28.07
31.30
33.83
11.59
11.59
11.59
16.48
19.71
22.24
2.42
2.70
2.92
13.6
14.2
14.5
The annual cash flow of undiscounted benefits is shown in Figure 1 for both the total investment and
for the FRDC investment.
14.00
Annual Benefit ($)
12.00
10.00
8.00
Total
6.00
FRDC
4.00
2.00
0.00
Years
Figure 1: Annual Cash Flow of Benefits
The present value of benefits (PVB) from each source of benefits was estimated separately and then
summed to provide an estimate of the total value of benefits. Table 14 shows the sources of benefits,
expressed as the PVB and the percentage of total benefits.
Table 14: Source of Benefits
(total investment, discount rate 5%, 30 year period)
Benefit
FRDC
PVB
($m)
% Total
Page 46
Maintenance of commercial viability of wild catch fisheries associated with estuaries
Biodiversity maintenance in estuaries
Industry development benefit – salmon
Industry development benefit – tuna
Total
70.11
28.73
25.79
11.85
136.48
51.4
21.0
18.9
8.7
100.0
Table 15 shows a subjective assessment of the different benefits against the rural research priorities.
Bear in mind that this assessment refers only to those benefits that were valued.
Table 15: Benefits Valued and Rural Research Priorities
Benefit
PVB
($m)
Wild catch commercial
Biodiversity maintenance
Salmon development
Tuna development
Total ($m)
Total (%)
70.11
28.73
25.79
11.85
136.48
100.0
Producti
vity and
Adding
Value
100
0
50
50
88.93
65.2
Supply
Chain
and
Markets
Natural
Resource
Manage
ment
Climate
Biosecurity
Variability
and
Climate
Change
% subjective allocation to each priority
0
0
0
0
0
100
0
0
0
50
0
0
0
50
0
0
0
47.55
0
0
0
34.8
0
0
Sensitivity Analyses
Sensitivity analyses were carried out on some variables and results for the total investment are
reported in Tables 16 to 17. All sensitivity analyses were performed with benefits taken over the life
of the investment plus 30 years from the year of last investment. All other parameters were held at
their base values.
The sensitivity analysis on the discount rate (Table 16) demonstrates that the investment criteria are
still positive at a 10% discount rate.
Table 16: Sensitivity to Discount Rate
(Total investment, 30 years)
Criterion
0%
Present value of benefits ($m)
Present value of costs ($m)
Net present value ($m)
Benefit-cost ratio
211.19
30.00
181.19
7.04
Discount Rate
5% (base)
10%
136.48
42.91
93.58
3.18
100.61
61.24
39.37
1.64
The sensitivity analysis of the size of value decline in estuaries fisheries shows that even if this benefit
was reduced to zero (Table 17), the remaining three benefits combined would still produce a benefit
cost ratio of greater than one. If the proportion at risk of decline was far greater (20%), then the
benefit cost ratio rises to 8 to 1. Each of the other three benefits on their own would not cover the
investment costs.
Table 17: Sensitivity to Size of Potential Decline in Value of Fisheries
(Total investment, 30 years, discount rate 5%)
Criterion
FRDC
Size of Potential Decline in Value
0%
5% (base)
20%
Page 47
Present value of benefits ($m)
Present value of costs ($m)
Net present value ($m)
Benefit-cost ratio
Internal rate of return (%)
66.37
42.91
23.46
1.55
7.6
136.48
42.91
93.58
3.18
14.2
346.82
42.91
303.92
8.08
24.9
Confidence Rating
The results produced are highly dependent on the assumptions made, many of which are uncertain.
There are two factors that warrant recognition. The first factor is the coverage of benefits. Where
there are multiple types of benefits it is often not possible to quantify all the benefits that may be
linked to the investment. The second factor involves uncertainty regarding the assumptions made,
including the linkage between the research and the assumed outcomes.
A confidence rating based on these two factors has been given to the results of the investment analysis
(Table 18). The rating categories used are High, Medium and Low, where:
High:
denotes a good coverage of benefits or reasonable confidence in the
assumptions made
Medium:
denotes only a reasonable coverage of benefits or some uncertainties in assumptions
made
Low:
denotes a poor coverage of benefits or many uncertainties in assumptions made
Table 18: Confidence in Analysis of Theme 2 (Habitat and Ecosystem Protection Part A) Cluster
Coverage of Benefits
High
Confidence in
Assumptions
Medium
Observations for Future Investment
Observations for future investment and evaluation include:
The ratio of FRDC funding to total funding for projects funded by FRDC in this cluster was 27
(FRDC) to 100 (total) or 27%, well below the average percentage of 40% found for 18 clusters in
2009. This result was driven largely by the high leverage exerted by FRDC in the salmon and tuna
aquaculture projects. These percentages are worth summarising as they may be important in assessing
the FRDC current and prospective roles in different R&D areas and where public benefits are
manifest but external funding is difficult to attract.
It would be useful to summarise willingness to pay studies associated with environmental attributes of
estuaries and inshore fisheries. Benefit transfer approaches are difficult to apply meaningfully due to
the way in which studies are carried out and results reported. Choice modelling specialists should be
engaged to address this task.
Key Performance Indicators
The two Theme 2 key performance indicators (KPIs) are described in Table 19. While the investments
covered in the evaluation were funded well before the current strategic plan and therefore before the
KPIs in Table 19 were developed, some commentary may be useful.
Table 19: Key Performance Indicators for Theme 2 (Habitat and Ecosystem Protection Part A)
KPI
1
FRDC
Description
Demonstrated improved sustainability performance
Number of
projects
contributing
11
Page 48
2
from the use of RD&E outputs
Development of innovative technologies to reduce
fishery take and interaction with by catch and with
threatened, endangered and protected species.
16
Ten of the 19 projects were considered to have contributed to both KPIs. It was considered that one
project contributed to only KPI 1, and 6 to only KPI 2. Two projects were assessed as not contributing
to either KPI.
The first KPI required demonstration of improved performance but this could not be pursued in detail
within the time constraints of the current evaluation. Furthermore, sustainability performance is
difficult to assess as it covers many dimensions and drivers. If this KPI is to be reported on with
regard to the investments in this plan in future, greater attention than is currently given to monitoring
outcomes after the completion of projects will be required.
The second KPI addressed innovative technologies. Many of the projects were innovative but
produced knowledge rather than technologies. Also, it was not clear what was meant by “reduce
fishery take”. The remainder of the second KPI appears to directly address other parts of Theme 2 and
is only indirectly relevant to water (quality) and habitat.
Conclusions
Investment was made in a total of 19 projects within the cluster with the FRDC contribution
approximating 27% of the total costs of investment.
On the basis of the distribution of the four benefits listed in Table 7, and equal weighting for each
benefit, it could be concluded that public benefits to Australia could make up 50% of the total
benefits. If the subjective weightings are taken into account, the public benefits would still make up
nearly 50% of the total benefits.
Of the benefits valued, the productivity benefits made up some 65% of total benefits with
environmental benefits contributing 35%.
Seven of the 19 projects were associated with environmental aspects of two major aquaculture
industries, salmon and tuna. Together, these seven projects contributed 27% of the total benefits
valued.
Overall, the investment criteria estimated for the total investment of $43 million (present value of
costs) in the cluster were positive with a present value of benefits of $136 million, a net present value
estimated at $93 million, and a benefit-cost ratio of 3.2 to 1, all estimated using a discount rate of 5%
(benefits estimated over 30 years from the final year of investment).
Acknowledgments
Gary Kendrick, UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia
Jason Tanner, South Australian Research and Development Institute
Fiona Valesini, Murdoch University
Maylene Loo, South Australian Research and Development Institute
FRDC
Page 49
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