OZPolyculture

This project explores the viability of commercial production of CSIRO pathogen-free marine polychaete for the prawn industry in Australia (currently valued at $484 million) and that globally via exportation. The demand for polychaete for feeding prawn broodstock alone is estimated of around 6,000 – 10,000 kg/year.

The polychaete germplasm and farming technologies that CSIRO have developed can certainly satisfy this growing demand in Australia and eventually the global market which is 200 – 300 fold larger than our domestic one. Furthermore, there is the opportunity to explore the demand for this product for bait in the highly valuable recreational fishing sector.