Application Of Tracking Technologies To Understand Space-time Explicit Patterns Of Movement, Residency And Habitat Use Of Pelagic Sharks In Spencer Gulf: Resolving Overlaps With Key Community Activities And Marine Industries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$382,063.00
Summary
Following many expressions of public concern regarding the potential for finfish/tuna aquaculture to attract sharks to coastal areas, at both regional development and individual site applications, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture identified the need for an understanding of the factors that may explain associations between sharks and finfish/tuna aquaculture activities. This view was reinforced at meetings of the AAC (including a presentation from the PI on 22 Feb 2013), who are a legislated body ....Following many expressions of public concern regarding the potential for finfish/tuna aquaculture to attract sharks to coastal areas, at both regional development and individual site applications, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture identified the need for an understanding of the factors that may explain associations between sharks and finfish/tuna aquaculture activities. This view was reinforced at meetings of the AAC (including a presentation from the PI on 22 Feb 2013), who are a legislated body under the Aquaculture Act 2001, advising the State Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries on matters relating to aquaculture development. As a consequence, this project was listed as a priority area for investment by the SAFRAB.
A previous FRDC funded workshop (2002/040) identified a need to understand factors that may explain interactions between pelagic sharks and aquaculture activities. Some of the findings highlighted during this workshop are now considered to be outdated. For example, anecdotal accounts from finfish farmers and commercial fishers suggest that white sharks sightings have increased in the past decade in Spencer Gulf and this may have implications for the frequency of interactions with the fishing and aquaculture industry. The provision of data to further inform the public’s current perception of the aquaculture industry represents a key priority in South Australia’s Fisheries and Aquaculture R&D Strategy. During the development of this project the need for this research was discussed with key industry representatives. This proposal addresses key objectives of the Draft White Shark Recovery Plan, 2010 (2c, 7a, 9a and 9b).
Objectives: 1. Determine if activities associated with finfish aquaculture correlate with spatial and temporal residency and migration patterns of pelagic sharks. 2. Assess and compare patterns of residency of pelagic sharks in ‘natural’ foraging areas, and any overlaps with community activities. 3. Develop a Code of Practice for removal and release of pelagic sharks from finfish aquaculture cages. Read moreRead less
Evaluating the impact of Indigenous preferential procurement programs. This project aims to conduct a multi-disciplinary, multi-method evaluation of the implementation and impacts of Indigenous preferential procurement programs (IPPPs) on Indigenous businesses, Indigenous communities, procurers’ operations and outcomes. Bringing together researchers in partnership with corporate and government procurers, Indigenous data custodians and the Australian Bureau of Statistics we aim to produce a signi ....Evaluating the impact of Indigenous preferential procurement programs. This project aims to conduct a multi-disciplinary, multi-method evaluation of the implementation and impacts of Indigenous preferential procurement programs (IPPPs) on Indigenous businesses, Indigenous communities, procurers’ operations and outcomes. Bringing together researchers in partnership with corporate and government procurers, Indigenous data custodians and the Australian Bureau of Statistics we aim to produce a significant national program evaluation of IPPPs and the impact at the community level. The project aims to highlight ways in which IPPPs can be [re]designed to reduce implementation friction, facilitate access and participation among Indigenous businesses and help guarantee positive effects on Indigenous communities.Read moreRead less
Navigating New Waters: Supporting Fisheries And Aquaculture Businesses To Pursue Seafood Tourism As A Diversification Pathway
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$135,000.00
Summary
This project is a strategic initiative to support seafood businesses in diversifying into new economic markets. Amidst evolving global challenges and the impact of Covid-19 on the seafood industry, the need for diversification is more pressing than ever. The proposed project addresses this need by providing seafood business with the necessary support and resources to diversify into a sector which boasts much potential: seafood tourism. Seafood tourism presents a practical and feasible appro .... This project is a strategic initiative to support seafood businesses in diversifying into new economic markets. Amidst evolving global challenges and the impact of Covid-19 on the seafood industry, the need for diversification is more pressing than ever. The proposed project addresses this need by providing seafood business with the necessary support and resources to diversify into a sector which boasts much potential: seafood tourism. Seafood tourism presents a practical and feasible approach to diversification, which leverages the intrigue of marine environments and the seafood production process. Whilst feasible, there are inherent challenges and risks involved in pursuing this diversification pathway. This project directly responds to the request of F&A for support in navigating the diversification process. Central to its approach, is the delivery of decision-support tools which can facilitate informed decision-making and mitigate potential risks involved in diversifying. These tools will be vital in ensuring F&A businesses make sound and strategic decisions regarding their suitability to different seafood tourism models.
Objectives: 1. Identify the range of seafood tourism business models and determine success factors for different models. 2. Document and compare the operating environment and the regulations in each jurisdiction (across production, food safety, tourism) for establishing and maintaining seafood tourism enterprises. 3. Identify the business capacity and capability needed for successful seafood businesses, inclusive of skills, assets, and networks. 4. Develop decision support tools for seafood operators to undertake a first pass assessment of the potential suitability of different tourism models. Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Develop tropical oyster farming with a view to supplying the local and tourist trade with plate and bottled oysters, and 2. supply oysters suitable for processing - smoking, canning etc.
Tactical Research Fund: Identifying Indigenous Business Opportunities In The Recreational Fishing Tourism Industry On Cape York Peninsula
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$67,500.00
Summary
Modern tourism markets are hungry for indigenous content and Cape York Peninsula (CYP) has the potential to become a leader in catering to these markets. Figures from the Coen Biosecurity vehicle counter reveal a 250% increase in traffic on CYP in the past 5 years, a statistic that indicates the time is right for indigenous communities to become involved. There is an urgent need for enterprise development opportunities to be identified and potential personnel to be supported. All governm ....Modern tourism markets are hungry for indigenous content and Cape York Peninsula (CYP) has the potential to become a leader in catering to these markets. Figures from the Coen Biosecurity vehicle counter reveal a 250% increase in traffic on CYP in the past 5 years, a statistic that indicates the time is right for indigenous communities to become involved. There is an urgent need for enterprise development opportunities to be identified and potential personnel to be supported. All government and community agencies approached agreed that addressing this need is long overdue and requires immediate action. This has to be achieved within the constraints of seasonal conditions that severely restrict CYP access from December to May each year. Recreational fishing tourism has already been identified by various surveys as having major economic importance on CYP, particularly to the Weipa and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) economies. Extending this market based on the capacity to build on the knowledge and experience of local indigenous people has already been suggested by visiting clientele in anticipation of an enriched CYP fishing experience. Similar enthusiasm has been shown from those involved in ecotourism orientated activities, that, for the purposes of this report, will be included with recreational fishing tourism, given that infrastructure is often shared. Establishing a comprehensive data base that would provide a platform for government and communities to address the empowerment of CYP indigenous communities via recreational fishing and ecotourism opportunities is obviously a significant step in getting the process underway and should be completed at the earliest opportunity - the 2011 dry season. This confirms the tactical nature of this project that seeks to investigate, identify and document current and future opportunities leading to the development and coordination of an indigenous recreational fishing tourism market sector for Cape York Peninsula.
Objectives: 1. To identify indigenous enterprise development opportunities within the fishing charter and associated tourism industry on Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait 2. Identify current indigenous tourism industry status 3. To identify trends and opportunities for indigenous tourism on Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait 4. To identify barriers and solutions to indigenous tourism on Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait 5. To recommend solutions to the development of Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait tourism that are both general and community specific Read moreRead less
SCRC: Tourist Visitation To The Sydney Fish Market: Understanding Opportunities And Leveraging Value
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The Sydney Fish Market (SFM) is a prime attraction for tourists visiting Australia. For the large and growing Chinese tourist cohort, it is a 'must see'. Tourists constitute a significant but unspecified proportion of SFM's 2.5 million-plus visitors each year. SFM has very limited market information about these visitors and what value they represent to their business - from both site-management and retail-outlet perspectives. The primary objective of this project is to help SFM develop a better ....The Sydney Fish Market (SFM) is a prime attraction for tourists visiting Australia. For the large and growing Chinese tourist cohort, it is a 'must see'. Tourists constitute a significant but unspecified proportion of SFM's 2.5 million-plus visitors each year. SFM has very limited market information about these visitors and what value they represent to their business - from both site-management and retail-outlet perspectives. The primary objective of this project is to help SFM develop a better understanding of its tourist visitor base in order to maximise returns for both SFM and its retailers. Currently, all-important information about this large consumer segment does not exist. Understanding this group's visitation motivation, purchase drivers and perceptions of its experience are key areas requiring further understanding if SFM is maximise the value of its business.
SFM is also in a unique position to support the salience of the Australian seafood industry as a whole. Recent research in the area of country-of-origin and tourism indicates that tourist visitation to a country can lead to improved preference and purchase probabilities for that country's products. Such an effect is found in the absence of specifically targeted marketing activities. Therefore, this project will also be framed in such a way as to determine how Australian seafood exporters can develop an effective pull-strategy by harnessing the potential of tourists, particularly from Asian countries such as China and Japan. As a must-see attraction for tourists SFM is a suitable conduit for testing the promotion of Australian seafood products to a large and valuable consumer cohort.
In summary, the two key overarching research objectives of this project, with particular interest in Chinese tourists, are:
1. To enable SFM to tailor effective marketing initiatives in order to enhance the tourists experience at the market, thereby leading to improved revenue and profit, including from sales of seafood products, for SFM and its retailers.
2. To guide the seafood industry in developing effective strategies to improve customer perceptions of Australian seafood. SFM provides an ideal conduit to reach these consumers.
Specific issues that this project attempts to address are:
1. What is the demographic composition of the visitor cohort (local, interstate and overseas) to SFM? 2 Which are the key drivers of tourists’ satisfaction at SFM? 3 Which initiatives can improve the tourists’ experience at the SFM? 4 Which initiatives with the tourist cohort can enhance revenue and profit for SFM and its retailers? 5 Which initiatives at SFM would enable SFM to serve as a conduit for informing and influencing consumers about Australian seafood?Read moreRead less
Incentivising On Country Aboriginal Employment: Anangu Futures. . This project aims to investigate the changing face of cultural tourism in central Australia and examine pathways towards sustainable aboriginal employment in and around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The project is significant because it brings together Aboriginal community members, industry and government stakeholders to identify micro-business opportunities, youth training initiatives, better relations across cultural divides, ....Incentivising On Country Aboriginal Employment: Anangu Futures. . This project aims to investigate the changing face of cultural tourism in central Australia and examine pathways towards sustainable aboriginal employment in and around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The project is significant because it brings together Aboriginal community members, industry and government stakeholders to identify micro-business opportunities, youth training initiatives, better relations across cultural divides, and the economic value of Aboriginal knowledge. Outcomes include a model for sustainable Aboriginal employment in remote and very remote contexts, and the development of culturally relevant and sustainable governing guidelines for regional investment. Benefits include more sustainable jobs for Aboriginal people.Read moreRead less
Bayini, Macassans, Balanda and Bininij: A Case Study of Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management and Tourism in West Arnhemland Northern Territory. Contact between cultures is a defining theme in history and is especially relevant to contemporary Australia. The timing of contact between South East Asians and Europeans with Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land is of great historical significance to Australia. This knowledge will enhance the national heritage registration efforts for cultural heri ....Bayini, Macassans, Balanda and Bininij: A Case Study of Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management and Tourism in West Arnhemland Northern Territory. Contact between cultures is a defining theme in history and is especially relevant to contemporary Australia. The timing of contact between South East Asians and Europeans with Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land is of great historical significance to Australia. This knowledge will enhance the national heritage registration efforts for cultural heritage places in the region. Conservation efforts will be undertaken for the first time for these potentially world heritage significant Indigenous cultural heritage places. Indigenous communities will potentially make significant economic gains from developing sustainable land management and cultural tourism initiatives through the results and skills obtained from his project.Read moreRead less
People Development Program: Aquatic Animal Health Training Scheme - Marianne Douglas
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$3,340.88
Summary
The Molecular Biology group at the Animal Health Laboratory of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment, provides diagnostic and disease investigation services for aquaculture industries in Tasmania. The increasing reliance on molecular techniques for the detection and identification of disease agents in aquatic animal health is undeniable. Due to the ever increasing number and more efficient molecular techniques becoming available and the dynamic nature of newly emerging ....The Molecular Biology group at the Animal Health Laboratory of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment, provides diagnostic and disease investigation services for aquaculture industries in Tasmania. The increasing reliance on molecular techniques for the detection and identification of disease agents in aquatic animal health is undeniable. Due to the ever increasing number and more efficient molecular techniques becoming available and the dynamic nature of newly emerging pathogens, specialist training is increasingly important for the delivery of effective and useful services to aquaculture. Presently, species identification relies heavily on biochemical tests and cellular fatty acid analysis, or 16S rDNA gene sequencing, all of which at times can be non-definitive. Multi-locus sequence analysis uses several housekeeping genes to assign a species designations, and is a technique that is easy to use, accurate, and has great discriminatory power (McTaggart et al., 2010). The multi locus sequencing skills acquired would enable us to more specifically and accurately perform species identification and determine genetic diversity among different isolates and build up a gene bank of sequences in the future. Objectives: 1. Obtain training in advanced molecular biology techniques with an emphasis on DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis at a known international specialist laboratory 2. Undertake training in bioinformatics programmes with an emphasis on Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) at a known international specialist laboratory Read moreRead less