Editorial
New Expanded Jellyfish Bubble Curtain Trial in Time for Summer In an Oceania first, a jellyfish bubble curtain will be deployed around more than 160 salmon pens as part of an expanded trial to boost fish health this summer. Jellyfish bubble curtains are an emerging innovation that create a bubble-barrier outside salmon pens that helps to stop jellyfish getting in, improving salmon health and survivability. Tassal General Manager Salmon Tim Stephens said Tassal started research and development on bubble curtains with a small-scale proof of concept trial last year, and after encouraging results it would now expand in time for summer. “We conducted research and development on the jellyfish bubble curtains at 12 pens last year, and the results were very encouraging with an average 77 per cent drop in jellyfish inside those pens,” Mr Stephens said. “On the back of that success, we’re now expanding the proof of concept trial to 166 pens across six lease sites from Okehampton Bay in the East to the D’Entrecasteaux Channel in the south. “The bubble curtains are arriving from Canada now and will be installed throughout November, with the aim of having them all operational from the
first day of summer. “Here at Tassal we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to continually improve salmon health, and the jellyfish bubble curtain is just one great example of that.” Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said salmon aquaculture farms in Canada, Norway, Ireland and Scotland were also trialling the jellyfish bubble curtains. “This is the first time this specific technology is being used in salmon aquaculture at this scale in the Oceana region,” Mr Whittington said. “It’s another exciting advancement in research and development that is assisting to improve fish health and wellbeing. “For our industry here in Tasmania, it’s another tool in the toolbox that could helps us to prepare for summer, when the water gets warmer and challenges like jellyfish increase. “While there is no single silver bullet to protect salmon from risks including jellyfish or the endemic P.Salmonis bacteria, our industry is investing in continuous research and developments to ensure it is as best prepared as possible ahead of this summer. “The jellyfish bubble curtain, the vaccine for P.Salmonis, and ongoing work to have the antibiotic florfenicol approved are all important tools to help address the real-time and complex health needs of our salmon.”
BELOW: TASSAL GENERAL MANAGER OF SALMON TIM STEPHENS, MADELEINE OGILVIE MP AND SALMON TAS- MANIA CEO DR JOHN WHITTINGTON VISIT THE REMOTE OPERATIONS FEED CENTRE IN HOBART
65 Tasmanian Hospitality Review October/November Edition
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