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SEAFOOD.COM NEWS
[Copyright 2003 Nationwide News Pty Limited Sunday
Mail (QLD)]
The Australian Department of Primary Industries is
spearheading the development of gold-spot cod
aquaculture.
Gold-spot cod, a popular fish in Asian markets, is in
demand as a live export commodity and for frozen
fillets.
DPI aquaculture biologist Mike Rimmer is head of an
international team as part of a $1 million, four-year
project to explore the commercialisation of the
gold-spot cod in Queensland and Southeast Asia.
The project has been funded by the Australian Centre
for International Agricultural Research.
'There has been a lot of interest from existing prawn
farmers in the possibilities of diversifying into
gold-spot cod aquaculture,' Dr Rimmer said.
'There are extremely positive signs -- the fish are
very hardy and can tolerate low salinity, making them
ideal for coastal aquaculture.
'They are also fast-growing and reach market size
within one year.
'Our ACIAR-funded project is exploring the technology
needed to develop this species commercially, and how
to convert existing enterprises to make them suitable
for the commercial production of the fish.'
As part of the project, a world authority on
commercial grouper production, Dr Joebert Toledo, will
be in Cairns on March 6 to discuss findings with
aquaculturalists.
Dr Toledo heads the grouper aquaculture research team
at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre's
Aquaculture Department at Iloilo in the Philippines.
Dr Toledo also will visit prawn and fish farms in
Bowen, Cardwell, Mission Beach and Mourilyan. |
