A new aquaculture research facility coordinated by the Centre for Marine Studies at UQ is expected to play a lead role alongside industry and government in advancing aquaculture research.
Queensland's growing aquaculture industry currently contributes more than $73 million per year to the State's economy, according to Centre for Marine Studies Director, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg.
"Aquaculture in Australia is expanding at a rate of about 14 percent per annum, and is forecast by the industry to reach a value of $2.5 billion by 2010. UQ is well-positioned to support the further development of a sustainable and low-impact aquaculture industry," he said.
More than 60 aquatic species are now being farmed in Australia including pearl oysters, oysters, mussels, barramundi, prawns, crayfish and algae. The health benefits of farmed fish are its greatest attraction with many native fish species very high in Omega-3.
The Pinjarra Aquatic Research Station, to be launched on Wednesday, October 22, will give UQ students access to industry relevant facilities. UQ currently provides aquaculture programs from undergraduate through to postdoctoral level. The facility will also host industry and government projects to advance research into key aquaculture areas.
"UQ's aquaculture program holds great promise for the State's aquaculture industry. Thanks to Complas Industries Pty Ltd and RAD Aqua Pty Ltd, the Pinjarra Hills Research Facility now offers cutting-edge filtration systems and state-of-the-art infrastructure for local aquaculture research," Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said.
Featuring laboratory space; seminar room; a new, indoor, state-of-the-art, re-circulating aquaculture system; and nine ponds stocking a wide range of fish and crustaceans including redclaw crayfish and silver perch, the refurbished Station will be officially unveiled by BACS Faculty Executive Dean Professor Mick McManus from 2pm on the day.
The $200,000 upgrade was funded in collaboration with the two industry partners and with the help of a UQ Research Infrastructure Grant.
The re-opening of the UQ facility co-incides with the arrival of a new aquaculture academic to UQ, Dr Andrew Barnes, from Aberdeen, Scotland and the launch of an edited collection on aquaculture research by Adjunct Professor John Lucas. Dr Barnes will focus on disease solutions for prawns and finfish with his most recent experience being in the biotechnology industry developing vaccines for aquaculture.
"Dr Barnes is an international specialist who will add greatly to our knowledge of keeping farmed fish stocks vital and healthy," said Professor Hoegh-Guldberg.
More than 60 people will attend the opening including UQ's Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield. Help with catering for the day is generously being provided by A Salt & Battery (aquacultured seafood), St Lucia, and Seafarmers Pty Ltd.
Media contact: Sascha Thyer (telephone 0438 708 508 or email sascha@uq.edu.au) or Brad Turner at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 3367 or email b.turner@uq.edu.au). The upgraded research station is located at 2436 Moggill Rd, Pinjarra Hills.
