A breakthrough in breeding rock lobsters in hatcheries has put a Cairns research team in line for an award for innovation.
 
The rock lobster team at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) Aquaculture Centre in Cairns has been nominated for Cairns Regional Council’s 2012 Tropical Innovation Awards.
 
DAFF senior principal scientist Clive Jones said the breakthrough came two years ago when the team successfully bred tropical rock lobster (Panulirus ornatus) through the delicate period to the juvenile stage known as puerulus.
 
“We are continuing to perfect the technology to improve reliable survival rates, but we are at the point where we are ready for commercialisation,” Dr Jones said.
 
“We are actively seeking out potential investors to take up this technology to tap into the lucrative rock lobster trade.

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“The global markets are potentially huge, especially in Asia where wild stocks of the highly prized rock lobster are diminishing.
 
“Indonesia, Vietnam and China are paying high prices for both juveniles to grow out and adult lobsters.
 
“Efforts to breed lobsters in hatcheries have not been successful and Asian aquaculture companies are keen to consider investment opportunities in our technology.”
 
The Tropical Innovation Awards will be presented in six categories: Emerging Innovation, Established Innovation, TNQ Award (for local entries only), Youth Award, People’s Choice Award and Innovation of the Year.
 
Public voting for the People’s Choice Award will open on October 17.