Enhanced Education And Engagement With NSW Commercial Fishers Re Biosecurity With Focus On White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$88,000.00
Summary
The project aims to address 3 issues: 1. Improved in-field identification of aquatic pests by fishers over a longer term, 2. understanding the need for early detection. 3. Greater community and industry awareness of threats of aquatic biosecurity
Improved in-field identification of aquatic pests by fishers over a longer term Most fishers need to be re-familiarised with WSSV and associated diseases. Although an Extension Program was run in response to the 2016 south e ....The project aims to address 3 issues: 1. Improved in-field identification of aquatic pests by fishers over a longer term, 2. understanding the need for early detection. 3. Greater community and industry awareness of threats of aquatic biosecurity
Improved in-field identification of aquatic pests by fishers over a longer term Most fishers need to be re-familiarised with WSSV and associated diseases. Although an Extension Program was run in response to the 2016 south east Queensland WSSV incursion, there is a need to refresh the local fishing industry about WSSV and what to keep an eye out for.
There is some belief that this is due to the fact that the original extension program was not supported with any continued material or instruction. The PFA believes that this can be addressed through linking Biosecurity and WSSV information into the fishers reporting devices. It is through constant reaffirmation of WSSV and other such biosecurity risks that it will remain forefront for the fishers
Understanding the need for early detection It is understood that some fishers expressed reluctance in assisting in field surveys for WSSV as they were concerned about the negative impact such detection has to their immediate business. However, many case studies demonstrate that early detection can be the key in eliminating a biosecurity threat versus attempts to contain. The program will focus on the essential component within its materials and engagements
Greater community and industry awareness of threats to aquatic biosecurity Previous campaigns did not target the high risk vectors - for example, recreational fishers using green imported prawns for bait are not likely to fish from boat ramp. A dedicated social media campaign to saturate popular platforms would be utilised to run a regular program.
Objectives: 1. To improve awareness of biosecurity threats to the commercial fishing industry of northern NSW, with a focus of WSSV 2. To improve awareness of the importance of early detection of biosecurity threats within the northern NSW commercial fishing industry 3. To improve greater awareness that the use of imported green seafood as bait has to the ecosystem amongst the NSW community Read moreRead less
Phase 2. Designing The Integration Of Extension Into Research Projects: Tangible Pathways To Enhance Adoption And Impact.
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
The investment will see the appointment of a 3rd party provider that will oversee the design and implementation of the key principle/practices that each individual RDC are interested in trialling. Each investor will be expected to nominate a recent project/program or one that is under development to trial. The appointed coordinator will work with each RDC and assist them in initiating the key principles/practices and provide support throughout the duration of the trial process. The coordinator w ....The investment will see the appointment of a 3rd party provider that will oversee the design and implementation of the key principle/practices that each individual RDC are interested in trialling. Each investor will be expected to nominate a recent project/program or one that is under development to trial. The appointed coordinator will work with each RDC and assist them in initiating the key principles/practices and provide support throughout the duration of the trial process. The coordinator will also collate and record the experiences of each investor and provide the collective knowledge and evaluations of the pilot outputs through a community of practice forum. This forum will provide a coordinated approach to sharing the experience of each and RDC. Objectives: 1. to demonstrate the benefits in program/ project design, delivery, and evaluation and therefore benefits to producers through adoption by funding bodies and delivery partners of the key principles and practical steps developed from Phase 1. 2. Project team members (Researchers and extension practitioners) increased their knowledge, attitude, skill, aspiration and practice (KASAP) in applying the key principles and practical steps developed from Phase 1 to their work which has a positive impact on the delivery of project outputs and beneficial outcomes for producers. 3. Increase in cross RDC collaboration in the areas of Peer to Peer learning, issue identification of common concern and investments. 4. RDC funders have initiated adoption of the key principles and practices from phase 1 into their ways of working. Read moreRead less
Capability And Capacity: Understanding Diverse Learning Approaches And Knowledge Transfer Opportunities To Inform And Enable Change
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$130,000.00
Summary
FRDC recently co-funded a cross-commodity project on Designing the integration of extension into research project (James, 2022), which sought to improve adoption of outcomes from RD&E project. At the conclusion of this report, recommendations for Phase 2 were made, and these included several focused on developing and trailing different learning approaches for knowledge transfer. Understanding learning approaches required for different topics and cohorts is an essential next step to improve pract ....FRDC recently co-funded a cross-commodity project on Designing the integration of extension into research project (James, 2022), which sought to improve adoption of outcomes from RD&E project. At the conclusion of this report, recommendations for Phase 2 were made, and these included several focused on developing and trailing different learning approaches for knowledge transfer. Understanding learning approaches required for different topics and cohorts is an essential next step to improve practical outcomes associated with development, change, and adoption processes. This project represents an opportunity for FRDC to build on this initial investment and generate new knowledge on the connection between learning approaches and knowledge transfer to enhance the fisheries and aquaculture sector’s capability and capacity for adaptability and change.
A systematic review of the literature on the topics of adult learning, knowledge transfer, and transformational change will identify and evaluate relevant findings for the fisheries and aquaculture sector. These will be further ground-truthed through extensive stakeholder consultation within (a) wild catch organisations, (b) aquaculture organisations, and (c) through the wider industry knowledge network (e.g. extension officers and research teams). A compilation of informal and formal learning and development opportunities in fishing and aquaculture within organisations and in the wider industry will be analysed, and case studies of best practice identified, analysed and showcased as examples of successful change, adoption, skill development and shift in mindset.
These evidence-based context-specific insights will be translated into a guide, tool or micro-credential for best practice in designing and delivering knowledge transfer and practice change activities. The usefulness and ease of use of this resource will be tested in a workshop with FRDC extension professionals and other interested stakeholders, refined and then introduced to the fisheries and aquaculture community for application to learning and training in organisations and throughout the wider industry. It is expected that the findings of this project will have implications for the project Capability and capacity: Navigating leadership pathways in fishing in aquaculture, in particular insights on how learning approaches for the topic area of non-technical skills development (e.g. communication, team effectiveness, career self-management, problem-solving, strategic thinking and foresight) occur within organisations that may prove to be the start of the leadership pathway for people within fisheries and aquaculture, and if done effectively may widen and diversity the talent pipeline into mid to high leadership level development opportunities.
This project has been designed with a 12-month timeline, with options to scale down if required by FRDC.
Objectives: 1. This project will establish a practicable evidence-base for understanding the interaction between learning approaches and knowledge transfer to enhance human, organisational, and industry capacity and capability for adaptive change in the fisheries and aquaculture sector 2. A guide/tool/micro-credential to apply insights regarding successful learning approaches and knowledge transfer for the design and delivery of interventions targeting change, adoption, skill development and shift in mindset for a diverse range of relevant topics and segments of the fisheries and aquaculture sector 3. Deliver 2 workshops to test the use and ease of use of the guide/tool/micro-credential for key industry stakeholders 4. Deliver a webinar to share research findings and launch the guide/tool/micro-credential to the wider fisheries and aquaculture community 5. Determine multiple pathways to delivery for use of the guide/tool/micro-credential including integration and alignment to other relevant project such as Capability and capacity: Navigating leadership pathways in fishing and aquaculture and the Fishing and Aquaculture Workforce Capability Framework Read moreRead less
Southern Rock Lobster Planning And Management For A National Research Development & Extension (RD&E) Program
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,001,807.88
Summary
The Southern Rock Lobster industry has a complex array of business structures. Many of the quota units or catch shares are owned by small family businesses while an increasing amount is owned by larger companies. Catch is taken by around 625 vessels and packed and processed by a number of different companies. The large and complex array of firms across three States means there is a need for leadership in prioritising and coordinating the investment in and managing industry RD&E.
Fo ....The Southern Rock Lobster industry has a complex array of business structures. Many of the quota units or catch shares are owned by small family businesses while an increasing amount is owned by larger companies. Catch is taken by around 625 vessels and packed and processed by a number of different companies. The large and complex array of firms across three States means there is a need for leadership in prioritising and coordinating the investment in and managing industry RD&E.
For the past three years the value of the catch (producer prices) has increased from $176 million to $228 million with the 2013/14 year the highest on record with 2014-15 likely to be higher again. Profitability has increased at a greater rate than this trend in revenue would indicate, because of gradual improvement in catch rate. There is opportunity to further increase the financial return from the resource through improvements in price and reduction in costs. Research investment tends to have an exceptional ROI in this industry due to the scale of the fishery.
In 2012, SRL partnered with the Australian Abalone industry to form the Seafood Trade Advisory Group (STAG) to primarily address issues regarding exports to China. This proved timely as the negotiations for a China - Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) became a Government priority and the STAG contributed significantly to successful inclusion of lobster and abalone. This agreement is expected to create substantial change in the SRL fishery in the future and we need to be well prepared to respond.
This project will build on the existing capacity to deal with Southern Rock Lobster RD&E needs in a strategic and efficient way. The industry will benefit from continued collaboration with the New Zealand Rock Lobster industry on R&D projects will continue under this project including sharing R&D initiatives with other Australian Rock Lobster representative bodies.
Objectives: 1. Coordinate Southern Rock Lobster RD&E planning and management so that RD&E is strategically prioritized and delivered cost-effectively. 2. Deliver a corporate structure, resources and processes for SRL that ensures:a) Leadership focusing on continuous industry development through the delivery of the SRL Strategic Plan b) a strategic focus on maximising profitability across the value chain within the limits of sustainability of the resource, c) high level governance at the operational, planning and strategic level; and d) effective engagement of all stakeholders in planning and building SRL’s value proposition to ensure further development within the fishery and relevance of SRL’s functions. 3. Engage with Southern Rock Lobster Processors and Exporters (post-harvest sector) to establish a representative body and processes for contributing to industry development, RD&E initiatives and representation of this body on the SRL Board. 4. Communicate consistent information and the extension of R&D outputs to support and promote the adoption of new technology, science and other project outcomes through mediums such as the SRL Newsletter, website and fact sheets Read moreRead less
Sea Change: Co-developing Pathways To Mitigate And Adapt To A Changing Climate For Fisheries And Aquaculture In Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,628,586.00
Summary
There is a need to increase effective engagement between fishing and aquaculture stakeholders and climate science and scientists in an ongoing strategic way, and not ‘just’ for single-project outcomes.
Improved engagement will help increase understanding of the likely implications of a changing climate in relevant contexts, and lay foundations for a shared exploration of available options for reducing risk exposure. We have worked with stakeholders and the FRDC Extension Officer Networ ....There is a need to increase effective engagement between fishing and aquaculture stakeholders and climate science and scientists in an ongoing strategic way, and not ‘just’ for single-project outcomes.
Improved engagement will help increase understanding of the likely implications of a changing climate in relevant contexts, and lay foundations for a shared exploration of available options for reducing risk exposure. We have worked with stakeholders and the FRDC Extension Officer Network to design a strategy that will engage fishing and aquaculture stakeholders on existing knowledge regarding risks and opportunities associated with a changing climate, to enable resource managers and researchers to better understand the ways in which many sectors are already adapting autonomously and to identify the barriers to further adaptation, and to co-design solutions that are relevant at local- and industry-levels to help build climate-ready communities and to stimulate economic resilience.
In many cases (but not all), extensive information regarding marine climate change - including key risks to fisheries and aquaculture producers (at a high level) - is already available, along with information on how to develop adaptation plans. However, despite this, progress and uptake within most sectors in terms of planned adaptation responses has been very slow – although many individual operators are already making ‘autonomous’ changes to their day-to-day operations in response to climate change drivers. If these changes are being made without access to best available knowledge, then it is very likely that substantial portions of these responses are maladaptive in the longer term, or may be countervailing to planned government adaptations (see Pecl et al 2019, Ambio, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-019-01186-x). This is a pattern evident within many different industries around Australia and across the rest of the world. ‘What’ needs to happen has thus been outlined in general terms in many cases, but such information is not co-developed or provided in consultation with end-users in ways that resonate or are useful to them. This project will address this need for relevance and usefulness.
The project aims to develop reflexive, ongoing, and two-way knowledge exchange between industry representatives, operators and manager, and the marine climate change impacts and adaptation research sector, so that solutions are co-designed, usable, and adoptable.
Objectives: 1. Work with seafood industry leaders to establish two-way climate conversations that can strengthen and underpin Australian fishing and aquaculture’s resilience to a changing climate. This approach will facilitate co-design of pathways to increase agility and build capacity for climate change adaptation with a select number of fisheries and aquaculture operations. This process will also create a model that can be applicable to other RDC’s. 2. Create a climate conversations platform to facilitate knowledge exchange (including identifying ‘gaps’ and shared issues), and thus capture, disseminate, and showcase:a. How fishing and aquaculture sectors are already adapting and responding to recent changesb. What has facilitated these changes made, and what the barriers are to further adaptationc. The story of fishing and aquaculture’s efforts towards achieving climate resilience - using a dynamic ‘story map’ approach, and other multi-media, communicate progress to target audiences. 3. Identify a) key factors influencing the agility of fisheries and aquaculture to adapt to climate change, and b) which factors (e.g. opportunities) are most important for adaptation capacity-building for different types of operations - building on work underway across multiple domestic and international projects and working groups. 4. Co-develop pathways, with a select number of fisheries and aquaculture operations, to increase their agility and build sector capacity for climate change adaptation and resilience. 5. Support the development of communities of practice for groups of fisheries and/or aquaculture operations that have similar opportunities and pathways – to support increased agility and capacity building for climate change adaptation (determined in objective 3). Read moreRead less
Digital Campaign: Innovation, Sustainability, Labour Retention In Western Australian Inshore Fisheries - National Video Stories Investment
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$182,505.00
Summary
FRDC has an already developed video and image library, however, does not have the resources to keep it supplied with new and relevant images, or to produce a series of short video clips and capture professional photos to showcase the innovation and sustanability of Australia's commercial fisheries. This is planned as a Phase #1 proof of concept project focusing on fisheries in 3 states: WA, SA and Queensland.
There is a need to produce a digital campaign that encapsulates the stories of commerc ....FRDC has an already developed video and image library, however, does not have the resources to keep it supplied with new and relevant images, or to produce a series of short video clips and capture professional photos to showcase the innovation and sustanability of Australia's commercial fisheries. This is planned as a Phase #1 proof of concept project focusing on fisheries in 3 states: WA, SA and Queensland.
There is a need to produce a digital campaign that encapsulates the stories of commercial fishers and the role of their seafood supply locally and outside of Australia. These fisheries, their people, their fishing techniques and their markets have changed considerably over time. This presents an opportunity to showcase these changes –the new fisheries, the innovations and the inspiring young people taking over the reins.
This project is well aligned with the FRDC’s Strategic R&D priorities, and aims to build community, trust, respect and value (FRDC R&D Plan 2020-2025: Outcome 5) by providing foundational information and support services (FRDC R&D Plan 2020-2025: Enabling Strategy V). Objectives: 1. Increase the awareness of innovation and sustainability in wild catch seafood producers and their link to ongoing local seafood supply. 2. Increase the socio-economic development in coastal fishing communities. 3. Improve social acceptability and perception of the people, products, and organisations who are part of the regions featured in the series. Read moreRead less
This project will result in a high quality, documentary style production that can be used to protect, share and promote Indigenous peoples' own narratives about their fishing practices, rights, customs and knowledge. Indigenous Australians have a rich and enduring connection with their sea country. This connection is powerfully reflected by their traditional and ongoing sustainable management and harvesting of marine and coastal resources. In communicating this connection to Indigenous Austra ....This project will result in a high quality, documentary style production that can be used to protect, share and promote Indigenous peoples' own narratives about their fishing practices, rights, customs and knowledge. Indigenous Australians have a rich and enduring connection with their sea country. This connection is powerfully reflected by their traditional and ongoing sustainable management and harvesting of marine and coastal resources. In communicating this connection to Indigenous Australians, it is more powerful to use visual, spoken or pictorial means. This project is also vitally important in terms of Indigenous knowledge preservation, through recording the stories and knowledge of Elders about their marine resources, rights and responsibilities.
Through a series of culturally appropriate, on-country interviews with Indigenous fishers from around Australia, as well as IRG members, our project team will create a documentary that captures valuable stories, insights and aspirations of Indigenous Australians in regard to management and use of marine resources. These perspectives will be complemented by contemporary research findings and best-practice management approaches in relation to Indigenous fisheries issues. The production will touch on the Indigenous RD&E priorities endorsed at the Cairns Forum 2012, including:
•Primacy for Indigenous people •Acknowledgement of Indigenous cultural practices •Self-determination of Indigenous rights to use and manage cultural assets and resources •Economic development opportunities arising from Indigenous peoples' cultural assets and associated rights •Capacity building opportunities for Indigenous people are enhanced.
Through background research and structured interview processes, the production will draw attention to customary knowledge, cultural rights and responsibilities Indigenous people have over their marine and coastal resources, their contemporary fisheries management and economic development aspirations through the fisheries and seafood sectors, as well as the current impacts on Indigenous fishing practices. The production team will also work to develop a cohesive and compelling narrative for the video, in consultation with the IRG.
Objectives: 1. Research and develop with the IRG 10 compelling stories that together make an informative and educative contribution to Indigenous fishing knowledge systems. 2. Produce 10 by 5 minute stories that particularly relate to Cairns Principles and RD&E Priority Areas 3. Develop an overarching narrative that ties the 10 stories together into a strong 50 minute documentary 4. Document the project methodology in order to provide a framework for future outputs to ensure consistency ofapproach and promote best practice/continual improvement. 5. Provide advice to IRG as required on publishing, distribution and audience uptake of stories. Read moreRead less