Selected Projects

Overview

Precision Aquaculture delivered aquaculture systems and treated discharge design for a Physical Containment Level 2 (PC2) aquatic research facility supporting finfish and crustacean trials under regulated biosecurity conditions.

The facility required fully documented intake, recirculation and discharge systems designed to prevent uncontrolled release of biological material while remaining practical for research operations.

Scope of Engagement

• Development of complete process flow diagrams (PFDs) and detailed P&IDs for all culture systems
   
• Design of batch-based effluent treatment tanks to achieve defined disinfection performance prior to release
   
• Integration of chemical dosing systems with monitored contact time and verification
   
• Specification of dose monitoring, level control and fail-safe interlocks
   
• Bunding and spill containment coordination within wet laboratory environments
   
• Definition of control philosophy including alarm hierarchy and treatment validation logic
   
• Construction-phase review of contractor shop drawings to ensure containment integrity
   
• Commissioning input focused on treatment verification and compliance documentation
   

Technical Characteristics

• Physical Containment Level 2 (PC2) aquatic facility
   
• Segregated hydraulic zones to prevent cross-contamination
   
• Batch effluent disinfection prior to discharge
   
• Instrumented treatment verification with monitoring and alarm interlocks
   
• Integrated wet laboratory and plantroom services coordination
   

Project Significance

The project required translating PC2 containment requirements into a practical, auditable hydraulic system. The resulting configuration provided defined treatment barriers, documented verification processes and clear separation between operational water use and regulated discharge streams.

Overview

Precision Aquaculture delivered staged seawater intake, biosecurity treatment and wastewater system design for a state government marine research facility supporting multi-species aquaculture programs, including finfish, shellfish and crustaceans.

The project required a cohesive treatment strategy that improved intake water security, enabled full bromine removal, and established controlled wastewater treatment pathways, all implemented progressively in alignment with staged funding.

Scope of Engagement

• Technical review of existing seawater intake performance and infrastructure limitations
   
• Development of a staged intake upgrade strategy aligned to long-term full-capacity design
   
• Configuration of ozone-based intake treatment to improve biosecurity control
   
• Integration of bromine removal systems to protect sensitive research species
   
• Design of downstream fine filtration and disinfection stages
   
• Wastewater treatment system configuration to manage research discharge streams
   
• Preparation of detailed PFDs and P&IDs
   
• Equipment specification and staged procurement documentation
   
• Coordination with existing wet laboratory and experimental tank systems

Technical Characteristics

• Continuous coastal marine intake
   
• Ozone-based intake treatment for improved pathogen control
   
• Full bromine removal prior to distribution to culture systems
   
• Defined wastewater treatment pathway for regulated discharge
   
• Modular, staged infrastructure expansion framework
   
• Designed to operate during progressive upgrade phases

Project Significance

The project established a long-term, capacity-aligned intake and wastewater treatment framework for a complex research environment. Each upgrade stage was designed to integrate seamlessly into the final system configuration, ensuring that incremental funding allocations moved the facility toward a fully realised treatment and biosecurity architecture rather than temporary or fragmented solutions.

The upgraded intake treatment, bromine removal and controlled wastewater systems enabled the facility to expand the range of species supported, including the capacity to work with out-of-bioregion and higher biosecurity risk stock under defined treatment and discharge controls. This significantly broadened research capability while maintaining clear separation between intake supply and regulated discharge pathways.

Overview

Precision Aquaculture provided technical advisory and system development support to a state government fisheries research organisation as part of a scallop fishery enhancement program.

The project focused on hatchery techniques, increasing scallop spat settlement efficiency and scaling microalgae feed production to support expanded hatchery output and nursery holding capacity.

Settlement System for Scallop Spat Production

Precision Aquaculture advised on the development of a scallop settlement system designed to maximise spat capture within a constrained hatchery footprint.

The system configuration prioritised:

• Optimised water distribution across settlement substrates
   
• Improved hydraulic uniformity to enhance spat attachment rates
   
• Airflow and circulation design to maintain water quality stability
   

The settlement architecture enabled improved settlement density while maintaining operational practicality within existing infrastructure constraints.

Microalgae Feed System Expansion

To support increased spat holding capacity, Precision Aquaculture provided technical direction and implementation support for scaling microalgae production systems.

The approach combined system optimisation, process control improvements and new infrastructure deployment to increase reliability and output.

Key initiatives included:

• Collaborative optimisation of existing algal culture systems to improve productivity and performance
   
• Development of design options and staged scale-up strategies
   
• Commissioning support and operator training
   
• Implementation of a chilled microalgae paste delivery system to improve feed security and rapid scalability
   
• Installation of an enhanced carboy CO₂ delivery system enabling controlled dosing tailored to individual algal species
   
• Deployment of a continuous hanging bag production system to increase microalgae output within a compact footprint while reducing labour demand

Overview

Precision Aquaculture acted as a specialist subcontract consultant in the development of a concept design for an inland Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) prawn breeding and research facility.

The proposed facility was designed to reduce reliance on wild-caught broodstock by establishing a controlled, low water exchange breeding environment capable of supporting structured genetic improvement and disease-managed stock production.

Project Context

Traditional prawn farming operations relying on wild broodstock face challenges including:

• Inconsistent broodstock supply
   
• Elevated pathogen risk
   
• Limited genetic control
   
• Production variability
   

The concept facility was developed to support SPF breeding under controlled hydraulic and biosecurity conditions while minimising water consumption.

Technical Characteristics (Concept Design)

• Inland, low water exchange breeding configuration
   
• Centralised recirculation treatment loops
   
• Controlled intake and discharge pathways
   
• Biosecurity-driven hydraulic separation
   
• Designed for staged capacity expansion

Scope of Engagement (Concept Stage)

• Contribution to overall system architecture for a low water exchange inland breeding facility
   
• Input into recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) configuration
   
• Concept-level process flow development for broodstock conditioning and maturation systems
   
• Preliminary water treatment and aeration system configuration
   
• Hydraulic zoning and segregation strategies to support SPF objectives
   
• High-level integration of wet laboratory and support infrastructure
   
• Participation in documentation supporting preliminary capital cost estimation

Project Significance

The concept framework demonstrated how low water exchange infrastructure can support SPF breeding objectives while reducing water demand and improving disease management control. The design provided a pathway toward more reliable, biosecure broodstock production independent of wild capture systems.

Overview

Precision Aquaculture designed and delivered an intensive flow-through culture system for a state government–operated hatchery supporting research and production of oysters, mussels and scallops.

The system was developed to enable controlled, multi-replicate trials within a compact footprint, supporting refinement of culture methodologies and scalable spat production.

System Design Objectives

The infrastructure was engineered to:

• Support simultaneous experimental replicates with defined control treatments
   
• Maintain consistent hydraulic turnover across multiple tank arrays
   
• Allow adjustment of feed rates, stocking densities and settlement substrates
   
• Provide stable temperature regulation and treated seawater supply
   
• Operate within a high-density, space-efficient layout

Technical Characteristics

• Intensive flow-through bivalve culture system
   
• Automated individual tank dose controlled feeding systems
   
• Independent replicate tank control
   
• Adjustable hydraulic exchange rates
   
• Modular configuration for staged expansion
   
• Integrated within an operational government hatchery environment

Scope of Engagement

• Development of hydraulic system architecture for intensive flow-through operation
   
• Design of centralised treated seawater supply and balanced distribution manifolds
   
• Integration of staged filtration and UV disinfection aligned with hatchery standards
   
• Temperature control configuration for seasonal and species-specific requirements
   
• Tank and drain configuration allowing independent control of replicate groups
   
• Wastewater routing and containment planning within the hatchery facility
   
• Installation, constuction, and commissioning support

Project Significance

The system strengthened the hatchery’s capacity to conduct structured culture trials across multiple bivalve species while simultaneously supporting increased larval production within a constrained facility footprint. The design enabled reproducible experimental conditions, improved operational efficiency and demonstrated how intensive culture infrastructure can support both research and production objectives within a government-run hatchery framework.

Overview

Precision Aquaculture undertook a technical review and redevelopment design for a marine research centre experiencing chronic intake performance and maintenance issues.

The objective was to restore hydraulic reliability and align treatment capacity with experimental tank demands.

Scope of Engagement

• Condition assessment of intake pipework and screening
   
• Hydraulic capacity review against peak research demand
   
• Redesign of filtration and pre-treatment systems
   
• Evaluation of pump configuration and duty/standby strategy
   
• Development of staged upgrade pathway with capital cost estimates
   
• Preliminary layout documentation and equipment specification
   

Technical Characteristics

• Coastal marine intake system
   
• Variable research demand across multiple tank systems
   
• Upgrade pathway focused on reliability and maintainability
   
• Designed to integrate with existing infrastructure constraints