Ep 27: Data Utilisation in the Seafood Industry

EPISODE 27:

In this episode we’re talking about the use of agtech and data-driven decision-making within the seafood industry.  

We’re joined by Julie Petty from the Seafood Industry Australia, who talks us through everything from the automation of fish feeding to decarbonisation. 

We also speak to professor Shauna Murray from the University of Technology Sydney, who’s been heading up the Transforming Australian Shellfish Production project. The project, run in conjunction with Food Agility CRC, has allowed for real-time and estuary specific data to drive decision making on harvest management.   

And we hear from NSW South Coast oyster farmer Shane Buckley. He took part in the project and says the use of data to inform harvest windows could have a significant economic impact on their business.

FEATURING:

JULIE PETTY – SEAFOOD INDUSTRY AUSTRALIA

Julie Petty has more than 14 years’ project management experience working in Australian agriculture, predominately horticulture and red meat, and is now working with Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) as the Policy and Project Officer – Aquaculture. Julie’s career path has given her the opportunity to dabble in several areas including animal traceability technologies, industry strategic planning and development, project management, communications and event organisation. Julie has on the ground experience with practical research, development and extension (RDE) theory from her work with the Australian goatmeat industry and Meat and Livestock Australia where she managed the goat RDE program.

SHAUNA MURRAY – UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY

Prof Shauna Murray leads a team at University of Technology Sydney, investigating marine and estuarine water quality, seafood safety and harmful algal blooms. Shauna’s research group has collaborated with the fisheries and aquaculture industry for the past 15 years, including in the development of environmental DNA-based hazard detection and commercialising a tool to detect a harmful algal toxin, as well as discovering many new toxin-producing harmful algal species in Australian waters. She is program director for the UTS Bachelor of Marine Biology and Climate Change, and chair of the NSW Shellfish Committee, an industry/government advisory organisation.

SHANE BUCKLEY – NSW SOUTH COAST OYSTER FARMER

Shane Buckley is an oyster farmer at Wapengo Lake, situated on the Far South Coast of NSW.  His business, Wapengo Rocks, specialises in wild caught, organically certified, Rock Oysters for the direct-to-restaurant market. Shane was one of the oyster growers to take part in the Transforming Australian Shellfish Production project and he says the insights from the project has improved their oyster harvesting opportunities.