Researchers from Charles Darwin University are conducting studies on tropical rock oysters and Vibrios to understand the implications for food safety and human health. The research, presented at an international Aquaculture conference, aims to understand the behavior of pathogenic strains of Vibrio bacteria and identify genes that enable them to cause illness. The team has been working on Vibrios in Northern Australia for over a decade and plans to use the genes to develop mobile testing capability for early warning of pathogenic strains. The annual World Aquaculture Conference, held in Darwin, provides a platform for the aquaculture community to exchange ideas and develop a future vision for the industry.