An Investigation of the Microbiology and Biotechnical Properties Leading to Extended Shelf-Life in Goldband Snapper

• Project Number: 2008/737
• PhD Student: Ms Rachel Tonkin
• Student Affiliation: Curtin University of Technology
• Primary Supervisor: Dr Hannah Williams
• Co-Supervisor: Dr Steven Munyard and Dr Tom Riley
• Mentor: Mr Richard Stevens (Western Australia Fishing Industry Council)

About the Project

Tropical Snapper species are have a highly variable shelf-life during chilled storage. The overall aim of Rachel's project is to determine why Goldband Snapper (Pristipomoides multidens) has a greater shelf life than some similar fish species and to use this knowledge to produce some practical applications to increase shelf-life in other species with shorter shelf-life. 

To do this, Rachel will investigate the microbiological and biochemical properties of Goldband Snapper and, using a control species for comparison, determine if any of these properties are responsible for the long shelf life observed with this
fish species. The control species for this project, is the Saddleback Snapper (Paracaesio kusakarii), which as chosen because it is a similar fish but with a much shorter shelf life.

If any significant differences are detected, the possibility of transferring or replicating these properties onto other fish will be investigated.

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This page was last updated: 30th March 2009