Seaweed fish food research wins innovation award

Research from the University of Sunshine Coast that could increase the sustainability and economics of prawn and lobster farming has won a 2022 Science and Innovation Award from the federal government.

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Award of $22,000 will allow the research to continue. It involves adding a small amount of seaweed to fish food in place of the antibiotics that would usually be used in aquaculture. The research had previously concentrated on rabbitfish but will now continue to find applications in other forms of farmed fish and seafood.

“Reliance on antibiotics in aquaculture can have serious environmental and human health repercussions, but disease outbreaks can cost the industry up to $8 billion each year, so a solution must be found,” said Dr Valentin Thépot, USC researcher and the winner of the award, who also serves as the aquaculture coordinator at the Anindilyakwa Land Council.

“The industry is already looking for innovative solutions for disease management and stock welfare that do not compromise productivity, and we think we have found a promising solution.

“We want to see if the results we saw in rabbitfish and Atlantic salmon will be replicated in high-value Australian aquaculture stock such as tiger prawns and tropical rock lobster.”

With aquaculture providing about half of all seafood consumed around the world, developing a technique to naturally reduce the reliance of antibiotics could be a big win for producers and businesses looking to cut costs and increase sustainability.

Some of the other award winners include researchers looking at smoke taint in wine and those looking to boost nutrition of egg-laying hens.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Ludmila