Latest ASSA Update

CEO Update - Lindsay Hermes

It has been a very busy start to the year for the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance. The ASSA team has been briefing key stakeholders across industry, government and the research sector, and further established key experiment schedules and timelines as part of the new National Hatchery Network. Meanwhile we’ve been working closely with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation to progress a range of partner projects. We look forward to providing further updates later in the year but please contact ASSA if you would like further information and I will be in touch.

In a first for our organisation, both our board and the wider ASSA team will be descending on Canberra this week for Science Meets Parliament 2024. Described as “Australia’s most powerful vehicle for deep engagement between the STEM sector and policymakers”, Science Meets Parliament promises “an unrivalled program of bespoke training to forge deeper connections between federal Parliamentarians and those working in science and technology”. 

The ASSA team will participate in the formal program while additional meetings will take place between the ASSA board and key policymakers, keeping them up to date on the organisation’s work. It should prove to be a productive and engaging few days of Australian seaweed related advocacy and networking and I'm excited to bring the team together for this key event. 

Please feel free to share this ASSA e-newsletter within your networks, and encourage others to sign up (email at end of this post). We look forward to working with you all over the course of 2024 and beyond.

National Hatchery Network Update - Margie Rule PhD

Upon the commencement of the National Hatchery Network program in late 2023, the ASSA NHN team hit the ground running. Four ASSA staff are now well established in the Townsville and Adelaide facilities. In the tropical NHN hub at James Cook University, Dr Aline Martins is Hub Lead, working with Dr Thanh Hoang as Research Fellow. And in the temperate facility at SARDI, Adelaide, Jo Lane is Hub Lead, working with Allyson Nardelli as Research Fellow. Regular steering committee meetings between ASSA and the JCU and SARDI teams have been established.

Meanwhile the hubs have been busy setting up experiments, conducting field work, attending workshops and looking after cultures. Initial field trips and collections were undertaken at the Adelaide and Townsville hubs; a seasonality survey commenced in January 2024 and broodstock was collected at both locations.

The NHN Handbook for Asparagopsis cultivation was drafted, creating an outline for works from which defined priorities and timelines have been established. From these priorities the first experiments were planned, to be replicated across both hubs.

A range of experiments designed to assist industry with optimising growth of Asparagopsis armata and  A. taxiformis are now underway. The initial experiments look at contaminants and how to treat them, while light and temperature experiments will explore ways to optimise growth conditions. We recently purchased some new incubators for this purpose. We are also conducting lifecycle experiments on tetrasporophytes, and we will look at bromoform concentrations and seeding techniques in the future.

Member Workshop - Michael Li PhD

ASSA's research and development collaboration has expanded to encompass nearly 40 seaweed companies in Australia, providing us with valuable insights into their work and business focus.  

In late February we held the first ASSA seaweed workshop, titled "Strategy for Success: Asparagopsis Aquaculture in the Australian Industry and Seaweed R&D Initiatives".

Almost 50 attendees registered for the virtual event and actively participated online, and we were honoured to host nine esteemed speakers: industry leaders, policy experts and representatives from funding bodies who shared their insights during the four-hour workshop.  Professor Catriona MacLeod skilfully facilitated the session, ensuring its success, and each of the other three ASSA board members, Jo Kelly, Adam Main and Alex Baker, either presented or led Q&A sessions. Thanks to all for taking part.

The discussions on a range of topics provided significant value to the seaweed industry, enhancing the knowledge of all participants and fostering a collaborative spirit within the community. A report summarising the workshop will be shared with all participants.

In a poll at the webinar, we received positive feedback from the audience, reflecting the enthusiasm and engagement that characterises the Asparagopsis industry in Australia.

For any inquries on this Latest ASSA Update, originally sent directly to ASSA stakeholders, please email info@seaweedalliance.org.au.