DNA ‘firewall’ proposal would help NZ control ornamental fish imports

Magazine Stories January Issue 2009

Thursday, 28 January 2016

EXOTIC ornamental fish are a vast, growing and extremely complex international trade in which air cargo plays a key role.  Unit costs can be extraordinarily high for sought-after species in optimum condition while the volume of even more commonplace species is substantial. 

But some of these little creatures, cute as they might appear, have the potential to harm the eco-systems of their new homelands if released into the wild after importation.

With this in mind, New Zealand’s Lincoln University, a specialist agricultural facility with a high global reputation, earlier this year joined with MAF Biosecurity New Zealand to seek a post-graduate student interested in undertaking a study into the development of DNA bar-coding for exotic ornamentals.

This PhD project seeks to identity species and variants that pose a biosecurity risk to New Zealand.  The study is largely funded by MAF Biosecurity.

Dr Colin Johnston, a senior MAF scientist who is a key adviser to the study, said that high-risk ornamentals fell into two general categories: Those known to carry diseases of concern and those likely to establish well in New Zealand, thus posing an environmental pest risk.

“Carp in Australia is a good example of something that’s escaped and taken over waterways and changed the environment,” said Johnston.  “This PhD study will provide another brick in the wall in New Zealand’s biosecurity system.

“It’s adding to our knowledge, it’s giving us more molecular tools.  Part of the problem is identification of these fish species, especially when they’re very small.”

Johnston explained that with the molecular tools, “we can take a DNA sample from a fish due to be imported, and be able to tell if it’s one that we’re really worried about.

“Then we can stop the shipment or we can know we need to screen them for certain diseases.  At the moment, we rely very much on visual identification.”

Earlier this year, Kiwi biosecurity officials intercepted six live Siamese fighting fish which had been declared as ‘aroma’.  They were packed in small plastic bags and in tinfoil inside a polystyrene container.

No action was taken against the importer when it was discovered she had put the order on hold pending completion of biosecurity risk inquiries.

But MAF Biosecurity pointed to the risk of such ornamental exotics entering the country without rigorous checks, whether as air cargo consignments or by air-freighted mail carrying incorrect documentation.

Downturn continues for pax and freight

Magazine Stories January Issue 2009

Thursday, 28 January 2016

THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) has released international traffic data for August that confirm a continuing downturn. 

International passenger demand growth slowed to 1.3 per cent in August, following disappointing growth of 1.9 per cent in July. Passenger load factors fell to 79.2 per cent a sharp drop-off from the 81 per cent recorded during the same period last year as capacity growth outpaced demand.

International freight traffic saw its third consecutive month of contraction with a 2.7 per cent decline following drops of 1.9 per cent in July and 0.8 per cent in June.

“The contrast between the first half of the year and the last two months is stark,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and chief executive.

“The slowdown has been so sudden that airlines can’t adjust capacity quickly enough. While the drop in the oil price is welcome relief on the cost side, fuel remains 30 per cent higher than a year ago. And with traffic growth continuing to decline, the industry is still heading for a US$5.2 billion loss this year.”

Air freight has declined for the past three months, led by Asia Pacific carriers that posted a 6.5 per cent decline in July and a 6.8 per cent decline in August. “Airlines carry 35 per cent by value of the goods traded internationally. The  three-month decline—led by weakness in Asia-Pacific markets—is a clear indication that global trade is slowing down. This shows that the impact of the financial crisis is broad geographically and will worsen before it gets better,” said Bisignani.

Cargo

•  The 6.8 per cent decline in international freight shipped by carriers in the Asia Pacific region had the greatest impact as they comprise 45 per cent of the global air cargo markets.

• The other big market players also showed weakness. European carriers experienced a 0.9 per cent decline, while US carriers reported weak growth of 0.8 per cent.

• Sharp declines in freight traffic in Latin America (-13.2 per cent) reflect restructuring in Brazil with cuts in capacity.

“The industry crisis is deepening and no region is immune. Urgent measures are needed. From taxation to charges and operational efficiencies, all areas impacting the business must be examined for ways to reduce costs and drive efficiencies. It’s a matter of survival,” said Bisignani.

Bisignani noted significant progress in Brazil where presidential approval for the removal of a fuel tax for international flights was published on 26 September. “After a two-year campaign, this is great news and the US$411 million savings over the next four years could not be better timed. The challenge is for other governments to follow Brazil’s example, conform with global standards and free the industry of crazy taxation. This is particularly true of India. Its carriers will post the largest losses outside of the US—US$1.5 billion this year—and they are being crippled by enormous taxation on fuel, particularly in domestic markets,” said Bisignani.

Dutch-Chinese combo is blooming hard for Aust to beat — FECA

Magazine Stories January Issue 2009

Thursday, 28 January 2016

What do ABBA and Australian flowers have in common?  They both were a hit in the early 1980s, writes John Newton.

But while the original ABBA has long gone, Australian flower exports have blossomed — though it has been a hard grind for growers over the past 25 years, with international competition getting stronger all the time.

According to Sally Sutton executive officer of the Australian Flower Export Council (AFEC) — previously the Flower Export Council of Australia (FECA) — air freighted flower exports today have remained stable and have been worth about A$80 million per annum for the past five years.

But she says it has taken “an enormous effort” to keep the competition at bay.

“Increasing competition from third world countries now sees Australia’s favourite floral exports — kangaroo paw, wax flower and  banksias — being grown in some of the world’s most exotic places.

“A decade ago, Australian flower exports were challenged, in quality and quantity, by the premium Israeli grown product, but far more worrying competition was yet to come. South America, particularly Chile and Peru, have produced excellent Australian product this season, entering the lucrative US$3 billion American floral market through Miami.

“But there is far more threatening Australian growers, such as Dutch investment in China. Australian flowers are ideal for the harsh growing conditions of the outer provinces. The Dutch remain the best growers in the world, with the Chinese the most prolific. It is a lethal combination for any competition,” said Sutton.

“While it is a natural occurrence to have competition, Australia was slow in managing its resources, selling out genetic property that has paved a golden trail for competing countries. FECA has managed enormous success from very little resources,” she said. Emphasis has had to be on clever promotions — and several promotions have succeeded in development of an Australian brand that equates our flowers to our own Australian resources.

“A lot of the success of Australian flowers has been through example — and an average of three to four AFEC international promotions per year has continued to ensure that Australian flowers stay a focus within the sights of global buyers.”

Sutton said that from Amsterdam to Atlanta and Beijing to Tokyo, Australian flowers show consistency in being wherever there are world floral buyers.

“We have become masters in achieving results on very little: we have won the highest accolades in the world for our exhibits, including winning at the Chelsea Flower Show and at the prestigious Horti Fair in Amsterdam.”

Sutton said AFEC remains an integral force within the industry. “Its positioning, as an association that is financially reliant on membership fees, confirms the group’s remarkable longevity for an industry body. Two decades of active promotion have contributed to what is an enviable global reputation.”

She said a large government grant had resulted from an AFEC proposal that looked to establish a national body for the industry. The new body — named ‘Wildflowers Australia’ had the responsibility of ensuring the Australian flower industry moves forward.

“AFEC takes its place on the board representing export, but the future of this highly competitive industry demands all facets of the industry are represented and work together. Other board members include the air freight industry, growers, researchers and investors.

“Developing the domestic market is another important strategy that the united body will look towards in ensuring the industry’s future is well planned,” added Sutton.

Emirates starts its slow, controlled migration to Dubai’s Terminal 3

Magazine Stories January Issue 2009

Thursday, 28 January 2016

THE LONG bus journeys from flight arrivals to the existing Emirates terminal at Dubai International airport are about to come to an end.

This follows the move next month by the airline to its dedicated new home in Dubai.

In a carefully-orchestrated move, the first phase of Emirates’ operations from Terminal 3 (T3) will launch all flights to the GCC and the Americas — 40 flights a day, around 15 per cent of the carrier’s total services. Phase two will include flights to the rest of the Middle East and Africa as well, increasing operations to 99 flights a day — 37 per cent of all flights.

Services to Europe will take off in the next phase, escalating operations to 168 daily flights or 60 per cent of all Emirates’ services. The fourth and final phase will include flights to the Indian sub-continent, East Asia and Australasia, bringing to 269 the number of daily flights ex Dubai.

The airline says each phase will commence after receiving a ‘Clean operational chit” from the previous one to ensure customers enjoy a smooth, seamless Emirates experience. Trials and testing at T3 continue at a feverish pace to iron out operational creases and remove any system bugs before the soft opening. The next major passenger trial is scheduled for September 27, with the phased opening of T3 set for October 14.