About Us
Three industry-based problems will be tackled in the broader CRC-P via collaborative work packages:
WP1, Unlocking Seaweed Potential: it will focus on Macrocystis pyrifera, Ecklonia radiata, and Lessonia corrugata seaweeds identified as suitable for IMTA with appropriate seasonal growth strategies, controllable life-history characteristics and capacity to remove nutrients.
WP2, Developing Farming Technology: it will establish practical techniques for growing these seaweeds in a scalable IMTA context.
WP3, IMTA Sustainable Partnership Model: it will define the models that support IMTA culture as a partnership between finfish, shellfish, and seaweed growers.
Research Aims
The salmon industry in Tasmania recognises that finfish farms contribute to an increased level of nutrients in the local marine environment. This project aims to effectively utilize these nutrients, while at the same time supporting the development of a new seaweed industry in Australia. This new industry has the potential to make salmon farming more sustainable (socially, environmentally, and economically).
There are three industry-based problems associated with this key project aim, and these will be tackled in 3 collaborative work packages (WPs):
WP1, Unlocking Seaweed Potential: This work package will validate the seaweeds selected for IMTA (Macrocystis pyrifera, Ecklonia radiata, and Lessonia corrugata ) and establish appropriate seasonal growth strategies, identify their capacity to remove nutrients and clarify their commercial utility).
WP2, Developing Farming Technology: it will determine practical techniques for growing these seaweeds in a scalable IMTA context.
WP3, IMTA Sustainable Partnership Model: it will define the management frameworks that support IMTA culture as a partnership between finfish, shellfish, and seaweed growers.
The Research Team
Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Grants provide funding for medium to long-term, industry-led research collaborations. CRC projects are specifically targeted to help improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries. This project (Seaweed Solutions for Sustainable Aquaculture CRC-P,) is a collaboration between industry partners the Tassal Group Ltd, Spring Bay Seafoods and researchers from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania) and the Seaweed team at Deakin University to develop a sustainable Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) model and support commercial seaweed production in Australia.
Our Objective
Our objective is to define a viable seaweed culture model (identifying species, growing techniques, and products) and based on this develop an IMTA partnership model that brings together salmon, shellfish, and seaweed production to optimise regional economic, environmental, and societal benefits.
Together these three WPS will provide the understanding needed to ensure that IMTA is successful biologically (for the farmed species), economically (as a business venture), environmentally (increased sustainability) and societally (builds trust and social capital), and that governance/ management structures can be optimized for IMTA in different regions.
Our Partners
The CRC-P project acknowledges the Commonwealth support in relation to the grant
