Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100131
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$539,000.00
Summary
Federated Omniverse Facilities for Smart Digital Futures. A world-first trans-disciplinary, -domain, and -institutional smart 3D omniverse R&D ecosystem AuVerse will be built in NSW, affiliated with Queensland, and accessible to academia and industry. AuVerse will support cloud-based, reality-virtuality-fused, immersive, interactive and secure future-oriented digital design, development, training and society. In the new era of digital innovation and paradigm shift, AuVerse will substantially boo ....Federated Omniverse Facilities for Smart Digital Futures. A world-first trans-disciplinary, -domain, and -institutional smart 3D omniverse R&D ecosystem AuVerse will be built in NSW, affiliated with Queensland, and accessible to academia and industry. AuVerse will support cloud-based, reality-virtuality-fused, immersive, interactive and secure future-oriented digital design, development, training and society. In the new era of digital innovation and paradigm shift, AuVerse will substantially boost Australia’s pivotal research leadership and business competitiveness in nurturing new-generation, collaborative and transformative digital R&D and talent pipeline. It will enable large-scale strategic business innovation and transformation including smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0.Read moreRead less
Towards Generalisable and Unbiased Dynamic Recommender Systems. This project aims to develop the foundations, including models, methodology, and algorithms for building generalisable and unbiased dynamic recommender systems to facilitate intelligent decision-making, prompt contextualised and personalised strategic plans, and support context-aware action recourse. To ensure that fundamental principles, such as fairness and transparency, are respected, a set of algorithms and techniques are propos ....Towards Generalisable and Unbiased Dynamic Recommender Systems. This project aims to develop the foundations, including models, methodology, and algorithms for building generalisable and unbiased dynamic recommender systems to facilitate intelligent decision-making, prompt contextualised and personalised strategic plans, and support context-aware action recourse. To ensure that fundamental principles, such as fairness and transparency, are respected, a set of algorithms and techniques are proposed to develop recommender systems in a more responsible manner. The result of this project will not only maintain Australia's leadership in this frontier research area, but also serve as an excellent vehicle for the education and training of Australia's next generation of scholars and engineers.Read moreRead less
Fisheries Digital Data Framework: A Workshop To Share Vision, Evolve Requirements For Fisheries Data
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$26,347.32
Summary
For FRDC to further investment into the fisheries data space, it must first understand industry needs as well as concerns. It is hoped that this workshop will devlop a way forward for FRDC in the data-space, informing a plan that enables both industry and commercial entities to benefit. Objectives: 1. Re-discover the opportunity of – and blockers to – using data to drive industry sustainability & growth 2. Unpack concerns around data governance from the FRDC board ....For FRDC to further investment into the fisheries data space, it must first understand industry needs as well as concerns. It is hoped that this workshop will devlop a way forward for FRDC in the data-space, informing a plan that enables both industry and commercial entities to benefit. Objectives: 1. Re-discover the opportunity of – and blockers to – using data to drive industry sustainability & growth 2. Unpack concerns around data governance from the FRDC board 3. Capture additional industry hopes, requirements and concerns about data capture, sharing, governance and applications 4. Develop a Now-Next-Long Roadmap – with task owners – to address requirements & concerns, remove blockers. Read moreRead less
Measuring Non-commercial Fishing Catches (traditional Subsistence Fishing) In The Torres Strait In Order To Improve Fisheries Management And Promote Sustainable Livelihoods
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$250,288.00
Summary
Following the initial groundwork to assess community support and approaches for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program in the Torres Strait (Bedford et al 2021 - https://www.pzja.gov.au/sites/default/files/final_report_-_monitoring_the_non-commercial_catch_in_torres_strait_update_06042021.pdf ), the following five steps were proposed: 1. Community consultation and sign on (engaging community re support for the suggested monitoring method). 2. Assess self-reporting web-based tool/AP ....Following the initial groundwork to assess community support and approaches for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program in the Torres Strait (Bedford et al 2021 - https://www.pzja.gov.au/sites/default/files/final_report_-_monitoring_the_non-commercial_catch_in_torres_strait_update_06042021.pdf ), the following five steps were proposed: 1. Community consultation and sign on (engaging community re support for the suggested monitoring method). 2. Assess self-reporting web-based tool/APP platform design and development options (including data collection and storage options), through co-design with communities and Government to meet stakeholder needs. 3. Develop self-reporting web-based tool/APP platform, database and data flow infrastructure. 4. Community rollout – pilot (in some communities). 5. Community rollout – full-scale (to all communities).
The Torres Strait Scientific Advisory Committee (TSSAC) recommended that steps 1 and 2 (above) be undertaken first and they form the scope of this proposal.
As also noted in the TSSAC committee meeting of June 2021, the project was an initiative of the quota working group subcommittee of the Torres Strait Regional Authority Board, and identified as a priority by the Traditional Inhabitants (https://www.pzja.gov.au/sites/default/files/tssac_79_meeting_record_final.pdf). In particular, by ‘improving estimates of non-commercial catch of commercial species to inform stock assessment and set sustainable catch levels, as well as determine the catch sharing between the sunset sector, and how much to allocate for community consumption, in order to protect Traditional non-commercial catches and help ensure sustainable management.’
As noted in the ‘Opportunity’ section of this proposal, this project help fill a range of needs for Torres Strait communities, including: • More accurate assessment of the Recommended Biological Catches of commercial species from all sources of fishing in the Torres Strait • Reliable assessments of ongoing catches from the substantial non-commercial sectors in the Torres Strait, including knowledge of future change in catches that may be due to pressures from fishing, coastal industry, climate change, other ecosystem regime change • Stronger ownership of marine resource management by Torres Strait communities, including ownership of non-commercial catch information, and supported by improved knowledge of the temporal and spatial dynamics of non-commercial catches.
The previous project also concluded that a non-commercial fishery monitoring program would have the best chance of success by gaining broad and committed acceptance by local communities and their leaders, with a strong co-design component. The need for this level of consultation was re-iterated by Traditional Inhabitants in several PZJA fishery management fora, including the TSSAC. This project is designed to meet that need.
The proposed project aligns strongly with the Torres Strait Fisheries Strategic Research Plan (https://www.pzja.gov.au/sites/default/files/tssac_srp_2018-2022_post_tssac_final.pdf). In particular: • Theme 1: Protecting the Torres Strait marine environment for the benefit of Traditional Inhabitants; which is based on improving effective management of fishery stocks in order to support Traditional Inhabitant social and economic needs; which is an expectation of the improved fishery data outputs from the project. • Theme 2: Social and Economic Benefits; which promotes social and economic benefits for Traditional Inhabitants from Torres Strait fisheries; for example, through increased capacity required to manage the program and increased knowledge of any future changes in catches through space and time in the Torres Strait. • Theme 3: Technology and Innovation; which promotes the development of technology to support the economic, environmental and social benefits from the fishing sector.
This research project is co funded by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority of the Australian Government. Project co- investigators are Kenny Bedford, David Brewer and Timothy Skewes. Objectives: 1. Collate and review existing and new information about the potential options for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program as recommended by Bedford et al. (2021) 2. Assess the level of community need and support (or otherwise) for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program through a comprehensive and equitable community consultation and participation process throughout Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area communities 3. Develop cost and performance options for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program and its components (e.g. self-reporting web-based tool/APP platform; data management, storage and access; complimented surveys) to allow for an assessment of value (e.g. meeting needs, ease of use, maintenance and data use in stock assessments) Read moreRead less
Empowering Fishing Women To Capitalise On Networks
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$52,802.38
Summary
The role of women is poorly represented in fishing statistics and measures of productivity. There is more information available on fisheries production than there is on women's contribution to the fishing industry. Consequently, there is an immediate need for information to be gathered which will build a picture of the role that women play in the fishing industry and help to develop that role. Such information would provide insight into what areas of the fishing industry were of interest to ind ....The role of women is poorly represented in fishing statistics and measures of productivity. There is more information available on fisheries production than there is on women's contribution to the fishing industry. Consequently, there is an immediate need for information to be gathered which will build a picture of the role that women play in the fishing industry and help to develop that role. Such information would provide insight into what areas of the fishing industry were of interest to individual women, what issues were of concern, and how women might develop an even more productive role in strengthening the fishing industry.
Developing an understanding of the issues of concern to women, improving skill levels of women involved in the fishing industry, and widening of the established network would all provide a better avenue for information exchange and support to all women across Australia .
This project has a number of objectives in meeting its overall aim to form a productive support network for women, through positive"people development", in order to enable them to develop skills that will enhance the role of women within their own working environment and the fishing industry as a whole. Objectives: 1. To add to and strengthen the existing role of WIN in promoting awareness of the roles of women of the fishing industry. 2. To increase the opportunities for women to participate in the decision-making process of their industry. 3. To facilitate the collection and dissemination of information to women within the fishing industry. 4. To build on existing networks such as WIN (SA) and SIN (NSW) with a view to developing a national focus for women in the fishing industry. Read moreRead less
The WRL industry needs to adopt new digital technology to benefit from the digital economy and ensure industry is efficient, highly productive and world-leading in all its management practices and policies. This is fundamental to achieving the WRL Strategic Plan objectives and aims to develop the western rock lobster industry’s competitiveness in digital technologies and ensure that the industry can draw the full benefits from digital innovation.
Discussions on 2017/18 research prioriti ....The WRL industry needs to adopt new digital technology to benefit from the digital economy and ensure industry is efficient, highly productive and world-leading in all its management practices and policies. This is fundamental to achieving the WRL Strategic Plan objectives and aims to develop the western rock lobster industry’s competitiveness in digital technologies and ensure that the industry can draw the full benefits from digital innovation.
Discussions on 2017/18 research priorities and potential areas for collaboration were discussed extensively at the FRDC Annual Stakeholder Workshop in August 2017 with digital technology a commonality across all groups, including scoping data collecting and analysis innovations for policy, management and operations; New apps for commercial recreational catch, management, markets and effort; and Monitoring and sensor (environment to consumers).
There is a need for the WRL to seek expertise to create a new digital platform that will be capable of adding new modules and applications in to the future as required as well as interoperability with other systems. Industry wants to generate and manage its own data (noting that it will make every effort to be compatible with a national industry data management project) and supply the requested data to government when it is required and in the appropriate form. This will require trust but industry needs to accept this responsibility if it wants to act fast and make the most of opportunities in the digital economy. Industry can't rely on government to achieve this.
The WRL needs to identify and implement new digital applications that will improve process efficiency and assist fishers, managers, scientists, regulators and key stakeholders to make more informed and better decisions.
The WRL needs to scope what other fisheries and non-fishing industries are doing nationally and internationally with collecting data and using it in new and innovative ways to improve operations, management, policy, science and decision making.
This program needs to make provision for extension areas such as a new on-line OH&S standards and automatic reporting, digitised traceability from catch to plate, new auto entry catch application, and new monitoring and sensor technologies. Objectives: 1. Scope national and international data collection and analysis innovation to assist policy development and fisheries management 2. Develop and extend a fully digitised database to achieve at least three management objectives 3. Expand database to meet non-managment objectives. Read moreRead less
Citizen Science Guidelines In Recreational Fishing
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$98,840.00
Summary
Many aspects of marine systems, including diverse species, habitats, and environmental issues, need expansive research to better understand and manage sustainability of the fishing and aquaculture industry. Unfortunately, data collection is one of the most resource-intensive aspects of science and can hinder the progression of commodity-specific research and development (R&D). This project will develop best practice guidelines for the creation, execution, evaluation, and evolution of citizen sci ....Many aspects of marine systems, including diverse species, habitats, and environmental issues, need expansive research to better understand and manage sustainability of the fishing and aquaculture industry. Unfortunately, data collection is one of the most resource-intensive aspects of science and can hinder the progression of commodity-specific research and development (R&D). This project will develop best practice guidelines for the creation, execution, evaluation, and evolution of citizen science projects that specifically address research data collection in the Australian aquaculture industry, which will contribute to research outcomes that facilitate long term productivity and sustainability of the industry. For more than 50 years, formal citizen science programs have proven to be an effective way for communities to contribute to R&D by collecting scientific data that drives decision making and creates innovative solutions. This project involves a four-stage approach to enhancing R&D practices for recreational fishers, fisheries scientists, and fisheries managers by providing researchers with industry-specific information to design citizen science projects that actively engage recreational fishers. The approach provides flexibility and agility to ensure the project can achieve high quality deliverables, on time, and in budget: 1. Consultation with industry stakeholders to determine current barriers and opportunities to developing, implementing, evaluating, and evolving citizen science projects targeted at recreational fishers. 2. Desktop review and global “environmental scan” to best characterise citizen science programs, projects, and frameworks relevant to recreational fishing. 3. Development of researcher citizen science guidelines for recreational fishing that provides detailed information pertinent to industry challenges and opportunities. The guidelines will be led by the results of Stages 1 and 2, and will be intuitive, user-friendly and easily updated in the future. 4. Industry communication of the guidelines to ensure streamlined adoption by researchers and improved return on investment for this project. Strategies to amplify collaborative and sustainable citizen science opportunities identified during this project will enhance FRDC R&D outcomes 3 (a culture that is inclusive and forward thinking) and 5 (community trust, respect, and value). The guidelines will help build an environment where researchers work directly with recreational fishers, which will promote inclusivity with stakeholders, harness the wealth of local ecological expertise and foster a solution-driven culture throughout the supply chain.
Objectives: 1. Characterisation of citizen science programs, projects, and frameworks relevant to recreational fishing in Australia. 2. Facilitating the identification, design, and impact measurement of marine-based citizen science programs that are of benefit to recreational fishers in Australia. 3. Provision of guidelines to citizen science practitioners to optimise community engagement and outcomes in marine-based citizen science projects. Read moreRead less
Status Of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) Reports 2020, And Further Development Of The SAFS Production And Dissemination System
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,383,901.12
Summary
The current application is to produce the SAFS reports in 2020 and address strategic issues outlined above. In order to ensure the continuation of SAFS beyond 2020, it is essential for jurisdictions to develop ownership of the reports and to embed SAFS processes in core business, and for efficiencies in production and report management to continue to progress. A parallel project to develop jurisdictional reporting services is also underway to assist jurisdiction develop their jurisdictional chap ....The current application is to produce the SAFS reports in 2020 and address strategic issues outlined above. In order to ensure the continuation of SAFS beyond 2020, it is essential for jurisdictions to develop ownership of the reports and to embed SAFS processes in core business, and for efficiencies in production and report management to continue to progress. A parallel project to develop jurisdictional reporting services is also underway to assist jurisdiction develop their jurisdictional chapters. As documented in the independent audit of SAFS 2016 (FRDC project 2016-143), the process of compiling SAFS on a co-operative basis between FRDC, Australian government agencies and all fisheries jurisdictions has led to greater joint collaboration, as well as transfers of methodologies and processes, to deliver higher quality and more credible stock status reporting which can be accessed nationally and internationally, as well as assisting in policy decisions regarding changes to particular fisheries management arrangements and in research priorities. Primary drivers for National reporting of the SAFS include: (i) the State of the Environment Report 2011, i.e., ‘lack of a nationally integrated approach inhibits effective marine management’; (ii) a recommendation of the House of Representatives Inquiry into the Role of Science for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Netting the Benefits Report 2012), i.e., ‘producing national status report regularly’; (iii) the Australian Fisheries Management Forum national statement of intent, i.e. a key outcome of ‘Goal 1’ is the National Status of Australian Fish Stocks Report; (iv) the National Fishing and Aquaculture Strategy 2015–20, i.e., ‘Goal 1’ of this strategy will be partially measured by an increased number of fisheries assessed as environmentally sustainable in the Status of Australian Fish Stocks Reports (this includes reducing the number of stocks assessed as uncertain); (v) the FRDC RD&E Plan 2015–20, i.e., key targets for deliverables against National Priority One include (i) “Increase the number of species to 200 in the national Status of Australian Fish Stocks Reports” and (ii) “Reduce the number of species classified as ‘undefined’ from the current figure of approximately Objectives: 1. Continue to develop a set of robust and consistent national stock status reports and a strong sense of report ownership by jurisdictions 2. To produce a fifth edition of the SAFS reports in 2020 3. Increase the number of species in SAFS to provide a comprehensive coverage of species of interest to stakeholder groups that will refer to the reports for information on sustainability and management success. 4. Reduction in the number (percentage) of species classified as 'undefined' where possible using data-poor assessment methodology Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Development Of A Plan To Address National Needs For Recreational Fishing Data For Fisheries Management And Development
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$49,049.10
Summary
Governments and industry have recognised the importance and potential for further development of the recreational fishing sector. However, to increase and measure the social and economic values of the sector, and to ensure sustainability of the fisheries, there is a need to effectively and efficiently collect, curate and share appropriate recreational fisheries data. A systematic national approach to the collection and management of recreational fisheries data would also assist with the managem ....Governments and industry have recognised the importance and potential for further development of the recreational fishing sector. However, to increase and measure the social and economic values of the sector, and to ensure sustainability of the fisheries, there is a need to effectively and efficiently collect, curate and share appropriate recreational fisheries data. A systematic national approach to the collection and management of recreational fisheries data would also assist with the management of the sector and prediction of the impacts of regulatory decisions and program implementation.
A systematic and coordinated approach to the collection and sharing of recreational fisheries data for fisheries management and industry development are common themes in the: - FRDC research and development plan to 2010 - Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF) 2006-2008 research priorities - 2006 State of the Marine Environment Report (SOMER2006) - Fisheries Statistics Working Group’s “strategy to improve the quality, comparability and availability of fisheries data and statistics in Australia”.
The approach proposed here recognises that the 2000 National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey provided information that, while useful and widely used, did not address many industry and government needs and is unlikely to be repeated. As a result, each jurisdiction is independently collecting recreational fisheries data for stock assessment, resource allocation and other management requirements.
Late in 2006, all jurisdictions and industry agreed on the need for a coordinated national approach to collection of recreational fisheries data. Since then AFMF’s Science and Research Sub-committee has been liaising with Recfish Australia and Recfishing Research (FRDC 2007/227) concerning a national approach to data collection and management that meets the needs of government and industry. There is strong support for the development of a national recreational fisheries data plan based on the respective and combined needs of government and industry stakeholders.
Objectives: 1. To develop a national plan for the efficient and effective collection and management of recreational fisheries data for Government and industry. Read moreRead less
Rigorous Privacy Compliance in Modern Application Ecosystems. Modern network applications such as mobile applications and browser extensions have become the primary gateways for consumers to access the Internet in today’s digital landscape. This project aims to address privacy issues in these ecosystems by developing a new privacy-compliance assessment framework. The framework will evaluate the current privacy practices of application ecosystems, enabling users and developers in Australia and wo ....Rigorous Privacy Compliance in Modern Application Ecosystems. Modern network applications such as mobile applications and browser extensions have become the primary gateways for consumers to access the Internet in today’s digital landscape. This project aims to address privacy issues in these ecosystems by developing a new privacy-compliance assessment framework. The framework will evaluate the current privacy practices of application ecosystems, enabling users and developers in Australia and worldwide to reliably identify potential privacy risks and issues on their applications. The intended outcomes should endow data controllers with the capability of evidencing their compliance of data protection legislations such as Australia Privacy Act 1988 and EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).Read moreRead less