LIVE FISH TRANSPORT - research and consultation
The Australian Centre for Appplied Aquaculture Research (ACAAR) has been conducting research into live animal transport for nearly two decades.
ACAAR currently has a collaborative working relationship with the Australian company FishPac. In their 10 years of operation, FishPac have transported more than 25,000 bins of live reef fish at high densities to Asia and the US using their patented oxygen bins. FishPac are the only company in the world with the approval of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to transport live fish on aircraft, using compressed oxygen.
ACAAR is working with FishPac to determine the factors limiting the high density transport of species other than reef fish and to develop protocols for cost-effective shipping of juvenile fish. In collaboration with Ocean Vision Environmental Research, ACAAR has patented a technology that complements that already in use by FishPac. This technology effectively overcomes factors that limit the densities of fish that can be shipped in sealed bins. The technology has been rigorously tested at ACAAR as well as with international collaborators and local industry partners.
In Australia, we have worked with Marine Produce Australia and transported juvenile barramundi in sealed FishPacs at densities up to 150 kg/m3 for durations of up to 36 hours.
Juvenile cobia are renowned as being difficult to ship. In collaboration with the University of Miami (http://aquaculture.rsmas.miami.edu/) we have demonstrated that at least a three-fold increase in shipping density is achievable for juvenile cobia, compared with standard methods.
In Canada we have conducted successful simulated shipping trials of market-sized black cod (Sablefish) in a sealed FishPac fitted with our patented technology. This was the first successful shipment of this valuable species, which has previously proven difficult to ship at commercially viable densities.
We are currently in the process of obtaining the necessary international approvals required for incorporating this new technology into FishPac’s oxygen bins.