Summary

This project established a collaborative cross-jurisdictional approach to address the most significant technical and regulatory issues that confront the fledgling Tropical Rock Oyster (TRO) industry.  Several key issues were examined and resolved though sub-projects designed to meet identified research needs, supporting the industry’s development.

1. Securing commercial spat supply – the project utilised existing hatchery infrastructure and expertise at the DPIRD Hillarys facility to refine culture techniques for Blacklip Rock Oyster (BLRO) and other TRO species identified in Western Australia. Researchers applied standard hatchery protocols – commonly used for Sydney Rock Oysters (SRO’s)-to TRO in the species found in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, comparing performances before transitioning trials to ocean-based nurseries.
2. Optimisation of grow-out methods and gear technology – Grow-out trials were conducted in the Kimberley (Cone Bay) and the Pilbara (three sites within the Dampier Archipelago), using both intertidal and subtidal farming systems for new TRO species and BLRO in the Kimberley.  These trials aimed to:

• Identify TRO species with strong aquaculture potential and determine the most suitable culture system (intertidal or subtidal).
• Compare the performance of up to three TRO species (likely two) during grow-out to select the best-performing species.
• Road-test various grow-out scenarios with industry partners for new TRO species.

The project team collaborated with researchers from the Darwin Aquaculture Centre, who were concurrently working on project A.2.1819053NT.

Expected outcomes

This project developed identification tools and established agreed common names for key commercial tropical oyster species to prevent potential market confusion and ensure accurate licencing and management of the emerging industry.

The Darwin Aquaculture Centre produced a hatchery manual for the Blacklip Rock Oyster (Saccostrea echinata).

In April 2023, more than 700,000 mature oysters – grown as part of this research project – were transferred to commercial partner Maxima. Maxima will continue refining grow-out techniques, with the goal of scaling up to commercial harvest within the next decade.