2009/720 Research exchange to the University of Patras and mediterranean marine fish hatcheries, attendance at Larvi 2009 and LARVANET workshop

By Jennifer Cobcroft and Stephen Battaglene

Dr Jennifer Cobcroft and Assoc Prof Stephen Battaglene were invited to visit the aquaculture research laboratories of the University of Patras, Greece and collaborating research and commercial marine fish hatcheries in Greece (1-4 Sept 09). The visit enabled the development of an existing relationship with Assoc Prof Giorgos Koumoundouros, international expert in malformations in marine fish and helped to build research linkages between Australia, Greece and the broader European hatchery research community. The laboratory and hatchery visits in Greece coincided with Larvi 09, 5th Fish and Shellfish Larviculture Symposium, the premier international event specialising in larval rearing research, the FineFish Final Workshop and a LARVANET workshop. In Greece, Assoc Prof Koumoundouros hosted a visit to the Laboratory of Zoology, University of Patras, where he demonstrated methods used by his team for assessment of fish samples for skeletal malformations and body shape. The methods used have direct applicability in the rapid processing and thorough classification of fish samples for quality assessment in Australian hatcheries.

Dr Cobcroft and Professor Battaglene also visited two facilities that collaborate with Assoc Prof Koumoundouros, including the largest marine fish hatchery in Greece, Andromeda SA, producing 65-75 million Sea Bass and Sea Bream fry per year. At the Institute of Aquaculture, AquaLabs in Heraklion, Crete, they observed research and production scale facilities for intensive and extensive larval culture. The research team has an active interest in developing aquaculture methods for large pelagic fishes including Wreckfish, Greater Amberjack, and Bluefin Tuna and developing collaborative research with international groups.

In summary, based on the information collected in this visit, CRC researchers have provided information to Clean Seas Tuna Ltd to be considered in changes to larval rearing methods and prioritisation of factors to be tested in research. Several areas for potential collaboration were identified with Assoc Prof Koumoundouros and the research team at the Institute of Aquaculture, with the most likely outcome in the short-term being a collaborative student project.