PhD Opportunity - CSIRO iPhD goldlined rabbitfish Siganus lineatus low trophic Indigenous aquaculture

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jiven

PhD Opportunity under CSIRO iPhD for developing production methods for a herbivorous marine fish—the goldlined rabbitfish (Siganus lineatus)—to advance resilient, low trophic Indigenous aquaculture. The project brings together Charles Darwin University, Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation, CSIRO, and Anindilyakwa Traditional Owners to optimize hatchery and nursery protocols, study propagation techniques and nutritional requirements, and enable integration into sea cucumber ponds to control macroalgae. Includes scholarship funding, relocation support options, training, and multidisciplinary supervision, with selection criteria focused on relevant bioscience backgrounds and RTP eligibility.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

About the project

Scholarship and financial support

About you

Benefits to you

Selection criteria

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PhD Opportunity: CSIRO iPhD The goldlined rabbitfish S.lineatus; farming down the food chain for resilient, low trophic, Indigenous aquaculture. The Research Institute for Northern Agriculture ( RINA) is seeking applicants for a unique opportunity to work with an in Indigenous enterprise in a remote Indigenous community which is developing a blue economy to safeguard the future of one of Australia’s largest islands. The project will develop production methods for a herbivorous marine fish – the goldlined rabbitfish-to enable a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for Australian finfish aquaculture. The enhanced capacity of a strong collaboration between Charles Darwin University, Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation and the CSIRO, working alongside Anindilyakwa Traditional Owners, will yield a better understanding of goldlined rabbitfish propagation techniques and nutritional requirements. This will ultimately improve Groote Aqua’s production efficiencies and consequently improve food security, revenues and employment prospects on Groote Eylandt, which are key milestones for the Aboriginal Corporation to prepare for and facilitate the transition from six-decades of mining to selfsufficiency. Scholarship and financial support: • A stipend of approximately $47,000/year for 4 years tax exempt (open to Australian citizens/residents or New Zealand citizens only) • University relocation allowance may be available • Generous project expense and development package of $13,000/year About the project: Australian finfish aquaculture involves carnivorous fishes that require a wild-caught fish component in their diet. Wild fishery landings plateaued three decades ago and thus the increasing demand for and use of wildsourced ingredients for farming fish is unsustainable, particularly with respect to food security. Rabbitfishes are marine herbivores, with some showing promising aquaculture potential. One of the largest rabbitfish species is the goldlined rabbitfish (GLR) Siganus lineatus, a popular fish in the South Pacific, which combines flexible nutritional requirements, high tolerance to variable water quality, and strong grazing capacity for fouling control in ponds, sea cages, and tanks, while also being an excellent food fish. Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation (GAAC) is investigating the potential of including this species within its integrated low trophic aquaculture program to improve local food security and to develop a blue economy for a sustainable post mining future. Over the past year, GAAC has established and maintained broodstock (monthly spawns) and conducted multiple successful larval rearing trials of GLR. This has enabled production of hatchery-bred juveniles, which have already been deployed in several trials. At the production facility, GLR were stocked into tanks deliberately allowed to develop significant macroalgal growth and successfully reduced algal biomass through active grazing, effectively “cleaning” the tanks. More recently, juvenile GLR were also supplied to the Darwin Waterfront to assist with macroalgae control. While this initiative is still in its early stages, the fish are grazing actively and showing good growth performance to date. In this project, GAAC will work with CDU, the CSIRO and the successful candidate to develop and optimise hatchery and nursery production protocols for GLR so they can be introduced to sea cucumber production ponds to control macroalgae growth. In addition to being a ‘cleaner fish’, GLR also has great table fish potential as sustainable white flesh fish that does not require wild-caught fish in its diet. The benefits of growing this fish are therefore twofold: 1) reduced labour cost of cleaning ponds/tanks and 2) additional healthy protein produced locally. As per the Darwin Waterfront, GLR could also provide a solution beyond Groote Eylandt, such as for enclosed marinas and marine fish farms dealing with macroalgae outbreaks that are costly to r

FAQs

What is the main goal of the CSIRO iPhD PhD project?

To develop and optimize production methods for the goldlined rabbitfish (Siganus lineatus) for sustainable, climate-resilient Australian finfish aquaculture and integrated low trophic Indigenous aquaculture.

What funding and support does the PhD include?

The offer includes a tax-exempt stipend of approximately $47,000/year for 4 years, possible university relocation allowance, and a project expense/development package of $13,000/year.

What background and eligibility are required to apply?

Applicants should have research experience in fields such as fish biology, aquaculture, animal science, veterinary science, or similar, hold an Australian driving license or be able to obtain one, and meet RTP stipend eligibility (Australian permanent resident/citizen or New Zealand citizen).

How will the project be applied in aquaculture systems?

Goldlined rabbitfish juveniles will be used to control macroalgae growth in production settings, including sea cucumber production ponds, while also evaluating the fish’s potential as a sustainable table fish.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jiven