I am the Aquaculture Section Leader at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Marine Research Laboratories in Hobart. I am responsible for the research undertaken in the marine aquarium at Taroona. I lead the Aquafin CRC research effort into breeding striped trumpeter and have been a co-investigator on the FRDC rock lobster propagation project.
I was inaugural leader of the Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram (2001-2003), responsible for the strategic development and management of all Atlantic salmon research in Australia. I have recently completed a scoping study with scientists from CSIRO and AMC 0examining the potential impact of climate change on the industry. I was on the international review panel examining the Southern Bluefin Tuna farming in Australia for the Commission for the Conservation of SBT in 2006.
Research Interests
My research experience covers several areas of aquaculture at a number of universities and overseas institutions. My research background was originally in aquatic ecology and fish biology (MSc), but more recently in breeding and culturing of marine fish (PhD) and invertebrates. The culture of marine animals is a multidisciplinary task requiring expertise in fish biology (reproduction, nutrition and health), bacteriology, water chemistry, physics and engineering. My diverse research background allows me to successfully run large multidisciplinary projects with national and international collaborators. My major contributions in the area of larval rearing have focused on some of the world's most difficult new species for aquaculture in striped trumpeter, rock lobsters and tropical holothurians. As Aquafin CRC project leader I lead a team of over 20 scientists to develop reliable methods for the culture of striped trumpeter a problem previously researched unsuccessfully for >10 years. The research has involved the use of ozonation and novel, systematic, dose response methods to assess lipid and vitamin requirements in larval fish and match the nutritional profile of live feeds. Investigating swim bladder and jaw malformations in striped trumpeter has required detailed understanding of biotic and abiotic factors e.g., light, temperature and tank dynamics. Other important breakthroughs have occurred in health with the detection and control of viral (nodavirus), parasitic (myxosporean) and bacterial diseases.
My research has provided the foundation for the establishment of new aquaculture industries for Australian bass, snapper, mulloway, sand whiting and striped trumpeter and tropical sea cucumbers. Striped trumpeter culture is still in its infancy but will allow the Atlantic salmon industry to diversify into new species and this will ultimately improve profitability, reduce risks and hence ensure long-term sustainability. The research results and techniques developed through the striped trumpeter project have had direct application to other marine species and we have worked with collaborators in Australia, France, Scotland, Malaysia, New Zealand and Spain to apply the techniques to a range of other marine species. More recently we have focused our research on reducing malformations in other Australian hatchery produced fish, especially yellowtail kingfish Specifically the research team has pioneered the use of ozone in the disinfection of fish eggs and for treating sea water in Australian fish and rock lobster marine hatcheries. I was a co-investigator on the team that produced Australia’s first cultured rock lobster from egg and developed techniques to hold and culture juvenile rock lobsters to market size. I am a member of the Advisory Panel for the ACIAR sea cucumber program in New Caledonia and the Philippines and an expert panel member on the Pacific Aquaculture Program for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and on the Steering Committees for the yellowtail kingfish and Southern Bluefin Tuna larval propagation projects through the Seafood CRC.
Research Areas:Teaching
Stephen’s current post graduate teaching responsibilities include co-supervision of:
Mr Mark De’ Pannone an Australian PhD student on an Aquafin CRC scholarship is co-supervised with A/Prof John Bowman. Mark’s research thesis is tentatively entitled “The identification and development of probionts for use in marine fish hatcheries”. His research has provided better understanding of microbial communities in larval culture and identified and tested potential probiotic bacteria.
Mr Bryan Choa an international PhD student from the Philippines is an adopted Aquafin CRC student co-supervised with Prof Chris Carter. Bryan’s research thesis is tentatively entitled “Early weaning and dietary requirements of striped trumpeter post-larvae”. His research has provided the first weaning and feeding experiments with post-larvae and critical information on optimal temperatures, body composition and feeding ration.
Ms Melanie Andrews an international PhD student from South Africa was adopted into the Aquafin CRC in March 2006 and is co- supervised with A/Prof Barbara Nowak, and Dr Jennifer Cobcroft. Her research thesis is tentatively entitled “Metazoan parasites of the Striped Trumpeter”. Her research has described and identified two new copepod parasites and is examining control and treatment methods.
Ms Jennifer Covello an international PhD student from Canada was adopted into the Aquafin CRC in February 2006 and is co-supervised with A/Prof Barbara Nowak, Dr Richard Morrison. Her research thesis is tentatively entitled “Specific immune response of the Striped Trumpeter (Latris lineata): characterisation, ontogeny, and vaccine development”.
Mrs Reham Negm an international Egyptian student started in 2008 and is co- supervised with Dr Jennifer Cobcroft and A/Prof Barbara Nowak. She is researching the role of vitamin A in the development of marine larvae through an ARC Linkage project.
Full Publication List Current and Supervised Project/s:
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