Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

New aquaculture opportunities from the Cawthron Institute

International Conference on Aquaculture & Fisheries

July 20-22, 2015 Brisbane, Australia

Helen Mussely

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Aquac Res Development

Abstract:

At the Cawthron Institute new aquaculture species research is being carried out under our ?Cultured Shellfish Program (geoduck and flat oysters) and ?Revolutionising the Scampi Fishery? both of which are being funded by MBIE. Seafood Innovations Ltd has also funded a flat oyster commercialization project with Cawthron and Kono. The New Zealand flat oyster (Tiostrea chilensis) is already being farmed in small quantities by several companies. The Cultured Shellfish Program aims to enable an export-sized industry through establishing a selective breeding program and developing triploid technology for the species. Geoduck species are farmed successfully overseas but in New Zealand our regulatory environment means that we need to look at alternative farming methods. The Cawthron work on the New Zealand geoduck species (Panopea zelandica) has focused on the production of juveniles and subsequent grow-out trials. Scampi (Metanephrops challengeri) aquaculture research is in its infancy with very little known about the biology of the species. They have so far focused on bringing berried females from the trawl fishery into are circulating aquaculture facility holding them until the eggs hatch and rearing larvae.

Biography :

Helen Mussely is a Scientist within the Aquaculture Group and has worked on a number of aquaculture-related projects. She has a background in commercial hatchery production, bivalve reproductive biology and bioeconomic modelling. She has carried out several feasibility assessments for potential aquaculture ventures from landbased to open ocean. She is currently program manager for MBIE funded Cultured Shellfish Program as well as Project Manager for several other Cawthron aquaculture projects.