ARAFURA AQUATIC FISH P\L

Application for Wildlife Trade Operation

Giant clam aquaculture venture, Nhulunbuy NT

Barbara Koennecke

[14/12/2012]

This document contains information to support the application for a WTO by Arafura Aquatic Fish for the production of 2 species of giant clams.

Contents Title and introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2

Species .............................................................................................................................................. 2

Location of harvest ........................................................................................................................... 3

Description of harvest. .................................................................................................................... 3

Protected Species ............................................................................................................................ 3

General aim/goals ................................................................................................................................ 4

Harvest details ...................................................................................................................................... 4

Impact of harvest on the taxa and the relevant ecosystem ........................................................... 5

Monitoring and assessment ................................................................................................................ 6

Resource assessment ......................................................................................................................... 6

Will there be supervision of the harvesting? ................................................................................ 6

Monitoring Methods ......................................................................................................................... 6

Describe any other biological and environmental monitoring for the harvest area ................ 7

Management Strategies ...................................................................................................................... 7

Compliance ........................................................................................................................................... 7

Reports .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Background ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Clam Abundance Estimates ........................................................................................................... 8

attachments ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Title and introduction This is an application for a wto as we continue on as a commercial aquaculture venture from being industry partners in the original program known as the Giant Clam Aquaculture program

The program was run in conjunction with the Darwin Aquaculture Centre, which is an aquaculture research facility within the Department of Resources, Northern Territory Government (Fisheries).

At present the Giant Clam program is still in the research phase, which is now being performed at Nhulunbuy NT (Arafura Aquatic Fish P/L).

Arafura Aquatic Fish P/L is operating with NT. Fisheries Aquaculture licence

No. C1/549 expiry 30/06/2013

See attachment 1

Species Tridacna squamosa (giant clam)

Tridacna crocea (giant clam)

Location of harvest The brood stock are in the waters surrounding East Arnhem land at Nhulunbuy situated on the Gove peninsula in the Northern Territory.

Description of harvest. The process involves holding five brood stock in our tanks at our approved location while remaining selected possible brood stock locations are noted and positions logged but these remain in their natural environment.

All collection activity is by hand operation only.

All brood stock are alive and of mature age and sizes range from >250 to 600 mm. for the Squamosa and around 150mm for the Crocea?.

Protected Species giant clams (Tridacna sp.) are a CITIES listed species.

General aim/goals Following successful spawning outcomes at the Darwin Aquaculture Centre it enables us to duplicate the processes at Nhulunbuy. The activity will enable us to fulfil our obligation to the environment, supply to the aquarium trade within Australia and export, subsidising pressure of the wild collection of the giant clam as well as encourage indigenous development by involving traditional owner participation around the northern territory coast

We are working closely with a student at Charles Darwin University in identifying the DNA of the clam in the nt. so as not to interfere with, or cross, genetic boundaries in preparation for clams to be introduced back to the environment.

This aquaculture program may be viable for indigenous business development to move towards ranching of the giant fluted clam for sustainable food production.

This operation is an aquaculture activity and is not part of the N.T. Aquarium and Display Fishery.

Harvest details Our licence allows for five giant fluted clams to hold on the premises and an unlisted amount to be identified, tagged and allowed to remain in their natural environment for spawning purposes as required.

All spawning is carried out onboard our vessel in tanks at the individual site so the clam cam be returned to their natural exact position

Over time our records will identify an amount considered adequate for the long term successful spawning abilities.

All collection activity is by hand and consideration is for the visual health and development, colour and maturity of the individuals.

We are planning to breed second generation from the F1 clams retained from the first spawning in Darwin Aquaculture Centre in approximately 2 years.

Arafura aquatic fish p/l operates at 13 Traeger close , a ½ hectare block located in the industrial section of the township of Nhulunbuy which is the approved place for the licensed aquaculture activity.

(a copy of the government site inspection attached)

Timing for spawning is carried out from September to February each year. Growing spat is a year round activity.

Impact of harvest on the taxa and the relevant ecosystem It is considered there will be no impact on the species or the ecosystem from the collection of the small number (5) of wild broodstock. It is unlikely additional clams will be removed from the wild in the Nhulunbuy region particularly as the efficiency of in situ spawning improves.

A proportion of the progeny outcomes that are DNA compatible are to be initially distributed back to the environment with indigenous cooperation and participation thusly we are taking part in a program of sustainability and promotion for the ranching of aquacultured juvenile clams by indigenous communities for the export markets.

Monitoring and assessment Growth data of progeny produced until sold

Water quality data is used to indicate when water changes are required

Health checks by registered vet pathologist and certificate of clearance are required by fisheries for each batch prior to sale or placing back in the ocean for grow out.

Resource assessment No resource assessment of the site has been under taken. Commercial collection of clams in the Nhulunbuy region takes place under the aquarium fish/ display licence. Indigenous people collect clams in the area for traditional uses.

Currently trials of the clam growth in cages in selected and approved locations will indicate successful outcomes (once fisheries approvals are achieved) and when large enough to be placed in the reef structures ensuring continued additions to the sustainability of the giant fluted clams in the environment.

Will there be supervision of the harvesting? Brood stock will remain in the wild with minimal disturbance. They will only be observed periodically and for the purpose of tagging individuals and recording their spawning activity. Periodic fisheries management trips on board our vessel will confirm records as correct.

Monitoring Methods Keeping spawning records and the ability to spawn on a in situ rotating bases without harm to individual brood stock which remain in the natural marine environment may indicate that this not relevant

Only juvenile animals raised from broodstock sourced from the same genetic stocks will be returned for grow out trials. Juvenile clams are attached onto a suitable substrate before being returned to the ocean. It is proposed to keep all of the clams contained in underwater cages to reduce predation and movement; they will be allowed to attach to concrete blocks before being placed in the cages. It would be possible to test the DNA of the juveniles if needed and compare it to the broodstock that they originated from. The majority of the clams being grown out will be a distinct colour, not commonly found in the wild. They will also be of a uniform size and the chances of wild clams being present at that same size within the nursery area would be remote. This alone may act as a useful indicator as to the origin of the clams. The cages will be placed on sand between coral heads and would not be capable of mixing with any wild clams.

Clams will be grown to 50-100mm in the sea. They will not reach reproductive

maturity at this age (2 years) as maturity is not reached until 3-4 years. Thus genetic input from the caged farmed animals has a low probability.

Describe any other biological and environmental monitoring for the harvest area Nil.

Management Strategies How will you respond to population changes if/when detected? The collection of small numbers of broodstock for this project will not affect the population structure.

No additional clams are likely to be removed from the wild in the Nhulunbuy region and only animals raised from broodstock sourced from the same genetic stocks will be returned for grow out.

A health certificate and a translocation permit must be obtained from the NT Government’s Department of Resources before juveniles can leave the facility.

Compliance Detailed spawning records will be kept and an annual site inspection is conducted by NT Department of Primary industry and Fisheries as part of the Aquaculture licencing process.

Reports The spawning records and associated production data will be kept by Arafura aquatics for future reference.

Background The Tridacna Squamosa is listed on the IUCN Red List as LR/cd - Lower Risk/conservation dependent. T.squamosa has one of the largest ranges for all giant clams extending from the Red Sea and East African coast across the Indo-Pacific to the Pitcairn Islands. It has a current range of 41 countries. Wells, in 1997 lists T. Squamosa in his paper “Giant Clams: Status, Trade and Mariculture, and the role of CITES in management” in Australia as Abundant.

The Tridacna Crocea is listed on the IUCN Red List as LR/cd – Lower Risk/conservation dependent. T. Crocea has a wide distribution in the Indo-Malayan and western pacific ocean, from Thailand to New-Caledonia including the top end of the N.T. Daniel Knop 1996 A comprehensive guide to the identification and care of Tridacnid Clams

Clam Abundance Estimates This is some anecdotal information supplied by our fisheries management section.

NT Mollusc Fishery – only one licence. Previously allowed to harvest Giant Clam on trial basis. Take of T.squamosa stopped by ED in 2006 due to inactivity of licence. Industry conducted survey in Mollusc Fishery in 2005. Two divers diving in 2-6m of water counted over 21000 (25cm and larger) T.squamosa from the English Company Islands to the North of Groote Density: two sample sites yielded over 1185 clams (>25cm) in 2 x 500m2

Prohibition on the take of giant clams by rec anglers as of 1 Jan 2010.

Aquarium Fishery can only take clams less than 25cm TL and within strict trigger limits

The following Data(2009) is taken from some unpublished PhD work being conducted by Shane Penny for the NT Government Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts & Sports SITE MEAN SD SE

Clams per

Ha

Northeast Arnhem Bremer Is 2009

19.6

18.8

9.4 Groote

Hawk Is 2009 90.7 72.0 41.5

Lane Is 2009 60.0 2.1 1.5 Northeast Is 2009 187.2 121.1 85.7

This data was collected using an underwater camera he was only able to identify clams from about 110mm shell length at 1.5m depth. Clams get harder to detect on the video for greater depths and poor visibility.

It may be safe to assume that this method will underestimate the true densities due to the limitations of the equipment used.

The brood stock to be utilised are identified in the waters around the Gove PeninsulaCompany owner /operators will be the collection persons.

Collection activity is in the marine waters which are around the Gove Peninsula in the N.T. refer attached maps, Figure 1 and 2

Figure 1: Location map showing Gove Region

Figure 2 Broodstock collection area

Attachments AquacultureLicence