Primary Industries and Regions Department

443 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().19 August 2025).

1. In regard to the Primary Industries—South Australian Research and Development Institute, multispecies seaweed hatchery (Budget Paper 4 Volume 4, page 57):

(a) Where is the multispecies seaweed hatchery?

(b) What resources were required to reach the 2024-25 target of establishing a multispecies seaweed hatchery?

(c) How is it collaborating with industry to facilitate growth opportunities?

2. In regard to the Primary Industries—South Australian Research and Development Institute, snapper: (Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 56):

(a) What science and technology is currently used to estimate biomass and therefore stock assessment of snapper?

(b) According to the PIRSA website, the science underpinning previous (snapper) assessments have been peer reviewed by leading fisheries scientists. In regard to snapper assessments, which leading fishery scientists peer reviewed South Australia's science and when?

(c) How many of the scientists which reviewed the science were independent of PIRSA or SARDI?

(d) What was the total number of scientists who peer reviewed the science?

3. In regard to the Primary Industries—South Australian Research and Development Institute, emissions reduction research: (Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 57):

(a) What was the basis for the government's decision to undertake this research, and what specific objectives or challenges is it intended to address?

(b) Which regions, livestock sectors, or production systems are being targeted in this research?

(c) How has the government determined this research project?

(d) Has this research initiative been driven by industry demand or identified in consultation with farmers and producers as a priority area for investment?

(e) What partnerships or collaborations are in place with what industry bodies, research institutions, or universities to support this work?

(f) How is the government ensuring that the research remains practical and applicable to commercial farming operations?

(g) What is the total funding allocated to this research, and over what timeframe?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I am advised.'

1.

(a) The multispecies seaweed hatchery is currently operating at PIRSA SARDI's West Beach facility and is developing seedstock for four commercially important native seaweed taxa.

(b) The hatchery was initially established with $1.5 million funding support through South Australian government's economic and business growth funds. In 2024-25 SARDI received $1.3 million funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry administered through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation to develop the temperate node of the national hatchery network for Asparagopsis armata.

(c) Grow-out of the hatchery reared kelp seedlings is currently underway with an oyster grower on Kangaroo Island and two tuna aquaculture leases in Port Lincoln. Additionally, SARDI has provided seedstock material to a commercial start-up kelp hatchery and grow-out company based in Port Lincoln to enable them to fast-track their commercial operations.

2.

(a) The previous three stock assessments for snapper (i.e., 2019, 2020, and 2022) considered multiple separate data sources that were integrated into a fishery model to produce annual estimates of biomass and recruitment for each stock. The data sources included: (1) commercial fishery statistics; (2) regional length and age structures; and (3) periodic estimates of spawning biomass for Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent using the daily egg production method (DEPM). The status of each stock was determined by assessing fishery performance indicators against reference points prescribed in the management plan, in accordance with the National Fishery Status Reporting Framework.

The $5 million Snapper Science Program—co-funded by the South Australian government and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation—is currently underway and evaluating independent methods for estimating biomass of snapper, including: (1) refinements to the existing DEPM to improve accuracy and precision of biomass estimates; (2) suitability and efficacy of hydroacoustic surveys; and (3) suitability and efficacy of close-kin mark recapture (where biomass is estimated through the genetic identification of related individuals) through a scoping study.

(b) The previous three stock assessments for snapper (i.e., 2019, 2020, and 2022) were peer reviewed by leading fisheries scientists. In addition to the standard SARDI internal review process, each assessment was externally reviewed by independent fisheries scientist Dr Tony Smith, a CSIRO Honorary Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania. The 2022 stock assessment was also externally reviewed by the Demersal Science and Assessment team at the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (WA DPIRD). The external reviews are appended to the respective stock assessment reports.

As part of the snapper science program, the South Australian snapper fishery assessment model was also independently reviewed in 2023 by leading fishery modeller Dr Malcolm Haddon, a CSIRO Honorary Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania.

(c) Three. Dr Tony Smith, Dr Malcolm Haddon, and the Demersal Science and Assessment team at WA DPIRD are independent of SARDI.

(d) Each assessment was reviewed by between six and eight fisheries scientists.

3.

(a) The government undertook this research to support the sheep industry to meet carbon neutral targets set by both government and the livestock industry. In Australia, agriculture accounts for approximately 15 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, of which enteric fermentation of grazing livestock contributes the greatest percentage. Therefore, the sheep industry requires a range of methane mitigation approaches that can reduce total greenhouse gas emissions. In conjunction, developing strategies that not only reduce methane emissions but also increase animal productivity is crucial to adoption success.

(b) This research targeted the sheep industry, specifically, grazing systems, in which most sheep are raised and finished. This research can be applied to all sheep grazing regions in South Australia.

(c) The government determined this research project according to priorities set in South Australian government's net zero strategy, the Australian government's National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture, and the sheep sustainability framework developed by Sheep Producers Australia, Wool Producers Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia. The project was developed to address the key priority area of reducing emissions from agriculture.

(d) This research initiative has been driven by commonwealth and state government, and peak industry bodies such as Australian Wool Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia. The research is part of the national sheep methane program of work and is guided by feedback from a panel of commercial sheep producers and industry representatives.

(e) The research is a collaborative effort between PIRSA SARDI, the University of New England, the University of Western Australia, and NSW DPIRD. The project is funded through the commonwealth Department of Industry Science and Resource's methane emission reduction in livestock (MERiL) program. Partners include Australian Wool Innovation, and several commercial industry partners.

(f) The government is ensuring the research remains practical and applicable to commercial farming operations by including commercial producers and industry representatives in the project design. The projects are developed collaboratively between all project partners to ensure the outcomes meet industry needs and eliminate duplication across research organisations. Projects are designed in a way that ensures methodologies are comparable across different states with different methane mitigating compounds evaluated. A key criterion of this work is to develop and evaluate the delivery of different methane mitigating additives by different delivery systems ultimately providing producers with a suite of options for their different farming systems.

(g) This research is occurring over four and a half years with a total funding allocation of $9.83 million.