Development Of A Business Plan For Enhancement Of Saucer Scallops In Sub-tropical Waters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$70,448.00
Summary
The Victorian scallop industry has decline substantially and does not appear to be recovering. Scallops have traditionally been one of Victoria's largest fisheries and the ability to resurrect a failing native fishery offers obvious benefits. Victoria has not committed time or moneys to the development of reseeding but in light of the recently successful scallop trials in Victoria it is an area that MAFRI has shown some new interest. This economic feasibility study and the potential direction ....The Victorian scallop industry has decline substantially and does not appear to be recovering. Scallops have traditionally been one of Victoria's largest fisheries and the ability to resurrect a failing native fishery offers obvious benefits. Victoria has not committed time or moneys to the development of reseeding but in light of the recently successful scallop trials in Victoria it is an area that MAFRI has shown some new interest. This economic feasibility study and the potential direction for research is now very relevant to Victoria Fisheries.
There is considerable industry interest in enhancing saucer scallop populations for subsequent harvest. The Western Australian government has granted exclusive use areas off the Western Australian coastline for two companies to undertake pilot enhancement work. Neither company has developed suitable hatchery technology to support their proposed operations. There has been long-standing industry interest in enhancement in Queensland, and pilot hatchery research on saucer scallops is underway at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre.
The Queensland trawl industry is facing restructuring and considerable reduction in the area in which it can fish. Profitability in the industry appears to be generally low (Taylor Moore, pers. com.). It is not difficult to forecast that environmental pressure groups will attempt to further curtail industry activities and reduce fishing effort in and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and that this will further impact on the industry's economic performance. At the same time, the trawl industry is a significant generator of employment and economic wealth in regional areas where unemployment levels are far higher than the national average. Any proposals that have realistic potential to improve social and economic welfare have obvious benefit to such communities, as well as to the national interests.
Those scallop enhancement operation that been successful are now making super-normal profits. The Japanese enhancement operations, for example, are giving returns in the order of 400% profit. While this figure does not adequately address or account for previous research and development expenditure, there is no doubt enhancement operations run properly, and supported by adequate investment and infrastructure can be financially profitable. At the same time, there are numerous examples of scallop enhancement and culture operations that have been financially unsuccessful. Operations such as those in Newfoundland, Scotland, and, to a lesser extent, in Tasmania, have failed to become long production sources of scallops. Developing feasibility studies and business plans seems to be the only way to determine whether it is worth while making the considerable investments in time and money needed for a successful enhancement or culture project. Objectives: 1. Identifiy key operational procedures and potential operational and bio-technological bottlenecks associated with successful and unsuccessful scallop enhancement and culture operations. Document critical knowledge gaps for potential enhancement of saucer scallops. 2. Identify financial, social and biological risks associated with enhancement and culture of saucer scallops in sub tropical Australian waters and commercial scallops in southern waters. 3. Undertake a preliminary feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis for enhancement and culture of saucer scallops in subtropical Australian waters and commercial scallops in southern waters, based upon outcomes of Objective 1. 4. Develop business plans (operational procedures, financial framework and timetable) for conducting a financially viable and ecologically sustainable saucer scallop enhancement or culture program in sub tropical waters of Australia and / or for commercial scallops in southern waters. Read moreRead less
What’s Stopping You From Protecting Yourself And Your Mates? Identifying Barriers To The Adoption Of Safe Work Practises In The Small-scale Wild Catch Commercial Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$321,720.00
Summary
High rates of work related injury and illness exist within Australia's commercial fishing industry, compared to other primary industries. A large proportion of current WHS approaches appear to be either underutilised or ineffective in reducing work related injury and illness frequency rates. The wild catch sector has identified a need to explore how to affect cultural shifts that increase the adoption of behaviours that create safe work environments and improve outcomes for the industry. Opportu ....High rates of work related injury and illness exist within Australia's commercial fishing industry, compared to other primary industries. A large proportion of current WHS approaches appear to be either underutilised or ineffective in reducing work related injury and illness frequency rates. The wild catch sector has identified a need to explore how to affect cultural shifts that increase the adoption of behaviours that create safe work environments and improve outcomes for the industry. Opportunities exist to learn from fisheries that are in the process of, or have adopted improved and positive WHS attitudes and behaviours, and to identify how they may be successfully shared with other fisheries.
Fishing industry representatives identify the desirability of simultaneously generating positive WHS outcomes while undertaking research. It is clearly recognised that the industry is averse to strengthening regulatory and compliance requirements, but seek the identification of behaviours and psychological factors that underpin established, or potential improvements in safety culture and behaviours, with a view to improving WHS outcomes. Given sensitivities to WHS regulatory recriminations, it is also a clear requirement and undertaking of this research to respect the anonymity of research participants in the data, and to protect them from any direct negative regulatory actions as a result of their participation in the research.
A need has also been identified to develop a set of principles, that may be promulgated nationally and utilised by industry to improve WHS outcomes, with the benefit of potentially minimising regulatory impositions.
It is also acknowledged that opportunities exit to improve WHS outcomes in the aquaculture and retail sectors. While the wild catch is the focus of this project, it will seek to identify any knowledge that may also by applicable to and utilised by these other sectors.
Objectives: 1. To generate knowledge to foster a stronger safety culture in the wild catch commercial fishing industry, and identify relevant recommendations also applicable to the aquaculture and retail sectors. 2. Identify the barriers (environmental, behavioural, psychological, regulatory, and market based) to adoption and implementation of safe work practises. 3. Identify the specific factors contributing to improvements in industry safety culture. Read moreRead less
RFIDS: Identifying The Health And Well-being Benefits Of Recreational Fishing
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$29,459.89
Summary
Recreational fishing is a form of outdoor recreation providing physiological, psychological and social benefits to the community. These benefits, while widely recognised, are inherently difficult to identify and quantify. This project will collate research efforts, initiatives and programs currently underway in Australia around the topic of recreational fishing, health and well-being. This investigation will increase understanding of the health and well-being benefits derived from recreational f ....Recreational fishing is a form of outdoor recreation providing physiological, psychological and social benefits to the community. These benefits, while widely recognised, are inherently difficult to identify and quantify. This project will collate research efforts, initiatives and programs currently underway in Australia around the topic of recreational fishing, health and well-being. This investigation will increase understanding of the health and well-being benefits derived from recreational fishing for different community sectors and stages of life. Determination of the health and well-being benefits to communities from recreational fishing will allow for consideration of these factors in allocation of resources. As an outdoor pursuit that can be enjoyed throughout life, it is important that the recreational fishing sector is recognised for promotion of well-being. Factors requiring consideration include a positive impact on mental health, perceived well-being, prevention of chronic disease and associated reductions in health care burden. These and other factors need to be considered for the true value of recreational fishing to be recognised. Recreational fishing is one of the few outdoor recreational activites that can be enjoyed at almost any age regrardless of skill, experieince or disability. Outcomes of Australian Institute of Criminology research investigating sport, physical activity and antisocial behaviour in youth, as well as international efforts such as the UK 'Get Hooked on Fishing' initiative aimed at providing diversions for youth from antisocial behaviour, will be included in the final analysis. This project represents a first step in consolidating the value of recreational fishing across Australia.
Objectives: 1. Identify current research activities and programs in Australia relating to recreational fishing and health or well-being. 2. Investigate the impact of recreational fishing on the health and well-being of Australian Society Read moreRead less
The End Of An Era: Acknowledging The Socio-cultural History And Contribution Of Australian Small-scale Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$25,000.00
Summary
This project will document and acknowledge the contribution and social-cultural history of Australia’s oldest small-scale commercial fisheries which have operated since the 1800s. The Australian commercial fishing industry which is now valued at over $1.5 billion, was built on these original small-scale fisheries operating in the bays, inlets and estuaries. However, with increasing population, development, and competition for space and access increasing in recent decades, these original fisherie ....This project will document and acknowledge the contribution and social-cultural history of Australia’s oldest small-scale commercial fisheries which have operated since the 1800s. The Australian commercial fishing industry which is now valued at over $1.5 billion, was built on these original small-scale fisheries operating in the bays, inlets and estuaries. However, with increasing population, development, and competition for space and access increasing in recent decades, these original fisheries and the associated ways of life are disappearing all around Australia.
In Victoria, eight out nine Bay and Inlet fisheries have been subject to closures over the past 20 years. The Gippsland Lakes commercial fishery is the most recent to face closure. The fishery began in the 1870s and formed the basis and beginning of a number of fisheries which now operate from the largest fishing community in Victoria, Lakes Entrance. In 2018, the remaining ten Gippsland Lakes commercial licenses were informed they would be compulsorily acquired, ending a multi-generational and historically significant fishery.
This project will document and present the social-cultural history of the last ten Gippsland Lakes fishing families, their journey and stories, their connection to the land and sea, and their contribution to fishing communities and the Australian fishing industry as a whole. The project will use oral histories, audio recordings and photography which will be collated by the National Library of Australia, and publicly exhibited in Lakes Entrance, Melbourne and online. While it is important to record this important pioneering fishery for the East Gippsland communities and Victoria’s social and cultural history before it disappears, this project will also contribute to public acknowledgment of the importance of small-scale near-shore fisheries around Australia and provide a tested template for other fisheries to tell their rarely-heard stories.
Objectives: 1. To collect and preserve oral life histories of the Gippsland Lakes Fishery, the way of life and connection to place and people 2. To collect and preserve photos documenting Gippsland Lakes Fishery, the way of life and connection to place and people 3. To exhibit an interactive display of the Gippsland Lakes Fishery locally, in Melbourne and online 4. To provide a template for other Australian fisheries to showcase publicly their fishery 5. To write a report that captures the history of the fishery from inception, with a focus on how the fishery has adapted and changed over time Read moreRead less
Social Science Research Coordination Program: Identifying, Communicating And Integrating Social Considerations Into Future Management Concerns In Inshore Fisheries In Coastal Queensland
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$75,000.00
Summary
This study documents the needs and concerns of fishers and their families in Queensland coastal regions to expand the corpus of knowledge about fishing as an industry, for the sake of informing government of social impacts, and to incorporate local social considerations into current and future management plans. The study focuses on how fisheries policies impact on fishers and their families socially and culturally, and how these groups negotiate and respond to political, market and ecologically ....This study documents the needs and concerns of fishers and their families in Queensland coastal regions to expand the corpus of knowledge about fishing as an industry, for the sake of informing government of social impacts, and to incorporate local social considerations into current and future management plans. The study focuses on how fisheries policies impact on fishers and their families socially and culturally, and how these groups negotiate and respond to political, market and ecologically driven management measures. It is significant as it brings together important but little researched aspects of the impact of management decisions on fishers, families and communities. Research is crucial to understand the social legacy of those decisions on the social wellbeing of fishing communities, including the health and quality of life of fishers, families, and those involved in fisheries-related businesses.
Understanding the social costs of policy decisions can help mitigate harmful physical and mental health outcomes, a situation of critical significance to rural, state and national economies. Fishing families and communities are important; they provide substantial regional employment and income to local economies; they underpin the social fabric of many coastal regions which display a strong fishing cultural heritage and are substantial contributors to the social and economic viability of rural communities. However, their ability to weather the social and economic stressors of closures, especially at times of increasing global fisheries pressures, has received limited attention. Few studies have been conducted on the way fishers and their families perceive and value their status as fishers, and how their worldview influences their quality of life, social wellbeing, and their attitudes towards place and the marine environment. Our findings will be of direct use to policy developers in adopting intrinsic measures for social impact assessment, and in integrating local knowledge into future social impact assessments.
Objectives: 1. To examine and compare the attitudes, values and experiences of those involved in viable and vulnerable fisheries, both inshore and offshore, and those fishers and their families who have left the industry; 2. To identify the social and cultural impacts, examining wellbeing, quality of life outcomes and social resilience as a result of fishing closures and fishing effort rationalisation; 3. To examine adjustments in households amongst fishers and spouses; 4. To investigate the ways in which fishers, their families and local communities are adapting to social, economic and ecological change. Read moreRead less
This project will provide for the first time, a platform for abalone divers to come together from different jurisdictions and exchange their wealth of knowledge, skills, and best practices with each other for the benefit of the Australian abalone industry. In addition to the objective of improving practices and building industry capacity and resilience, the project will also provide the opportunities for divers to network, build relationships, exchange ideas, and work toward other joint ventures ....This project will provide for the first time, a platform for abalone divers to come together from different jurisdictions and exchange their wealth of knowledge, skills, and best practices with each other for the benefit of the Australian abalone industry. In addition to the objective of improving practices and building industry capacity and resilience, the project will also provide the opportunities for divers to network, build relationships, exchange ideas, and work toward other joint ventures.
While the Australian abalone industry is a highly collaborative fishing sector through industry peak bodies and associations, there is little-to-no interaction between divers across jurisdictions. Divers in the abalone industry historically do not necessarily have a voice or a mechanism to come together, to discuss and share their issues, their knowledge, operational skills and best practices. Yet divers are the custodians of the resource, are the eyes under the waters, and have extensive knowledge and expertise to share.
Given the current state of the industry and issues faced - for example strict quotas, descending TACCs, safety concerns, biosecurity concerns, increasing shark populations, environmental change, market fluctuations and opportunities, an aging industry - it is now critical for abalone divers to come together and exchange their knowledge for the benefit of all stakeholders in the Australian abalone industry and the fishery.
Each jurisdiction has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, Victoria is a leader in industry-led data collection and safety, Tasmania leads on value-adding to the product, and Western Australia is current leaders in shark mitigation. The purpose of the project is to share these strengths with each other. The project will also utilise industry expertise and contacts in key strength areas. For example, fisheries scientists, health practitioners, processing and marketing sectors.
The most important part of this project is that it is diver-led, which will ensure industry participation, and that it will contain relevant and appropriate content for divers. Objectives: 1. To facilitate improved knowledge exchange between Australian abalone divers across jurisdictions 2. To build collaboration and exchange knowledge between divers, experts, and stakeholders across all abalone fishing jurisdictions 3. To deliver appropriate dissemination materials which are accessible to all Australian abalone divers 4. To review the AWA® Quality Assurance Code of Practice Read moreRead less
People Development Program: WINSC Annual Conference Sponsorship
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$49,500.00
Summary
The need exists to bring together WINSC members from wide geographical and demographic spheres as well as from a diverse range of women involved in the Australasian Seafood Industry to hold an annual conference and AGM to build the capacity of its seafood women to contribute to their industry.
Objectives: 1. Organise and conduct a successful annual conference
Practicing Aquatic Animal Welfare: Identifying And Mitigating Obstacles To Uptake And Adoption By The Australian Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$100,100.00
Summary
Recent research shows general public support for Australia’s fishing industry (Sparks 2017; Voyer et al 2016) that depends on people’s assessments of industry’s commitment to implement best practice and demonstration of being effective environmental stewards (Mazur et al 2014). The FRDC has recognised external pressure for the fishing industry to move beyond compliance with environmental and other regulations and improve its performance in key areas, including animal welfare. As noted above, th ....Recent research shows general public support for Australia’s fishing industry (Sparks 2017; Voyer et al 2016) that depends on people’s assessments of industry’s commitment to implement best practice and demonstration of being effective environmental stewards (Mazur et al 2014). The FRDC has recognised external pressure for the fishing industry to move beyond compliance with environmental and other regulations and improve its performance in key areas, including animal welfare. As noted above, the FRDC has provided support for a range of research and industry initiatives to achieve positive aquatic animal welfare outcomes. The FRDC also recognises that further improvement to the seafood industry’s aquatic animal welfare practices are required.
Recent FRDC project investments has produced valuable knowledge about how when change is called for it is very important to recognise that multiple factors influence – positively and/or negatively - people’s decisions to take up those new, innovative, and/or different practices (i.e. 2017-133, 2017-046, 2017-221). These factors typically include personal values and belief systems, access to different kinds of resources required to make changes, particular features of the recommended practices, as well as a range of macro-levels factors that while they may be outside of people’s direct control still affect their choices. FRDC Project 2017-133 generated important insights about how and to what extent these kinds of factors have been keeping the seafood industry from making more substantive progress towards building greater stakeholder and community trust (Mazur & Brooks 2018).
Further work of this nature is now needed to shed greater light on aquatic animal welfare in the seafood industry (FRDC 2017-221). In particular the research should be focused on identifying the particular features of ‘best care’ for aquatic animals, the range of factors that may be obstructing industry members’ use of those practices, and examples of recent (extension) initiatives used to encourage better aquatic animal welfare.
Objectives: 1. Identifying best practice in (aquatic) animal welfare. 2. Identify the extent to which fishers and finfish aquaculture farms are applying best practice in Australia 3. Identify factors impeding the uptake and adoption of a selection of recommended aquatic animal welfare practices in wild-catch commercial fishing and finfish aquaculture 4. Identify appropriate strategies to mitigate obstacles to improved uptake and adoption of those recommended practices 5. Help build the Australian fishing industry's capacity to design and implement extension programs, especially those targeting increased uptake and adoption of recommended aquatic animal welfare practices 6. Contribute to increased likelihood of more widespread and enduring practice-change in the seafood industry's aquatic animal welfare practices in wild-catch commercial fishing and finfish aquaculture Read moreRead less
Our Pledge: Australian Seafood Industry Response To Community Values And Expectations
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$153,484.97
Summary
Despite considerable investment in RD&E to understand why the Australian seafood industry has been experiencing diminished levels of socio-political and community acceptability, there is still uncertainty regarding the significant values of different segments of the Australian community for coastal and marine systems, their management and industry (Essence Communications 2015). Further, there is evidence these values and associated expectations are highly changeable and can have significant indi ....Despite considerable investment in RD&E to understand why the Australian seafood industry has been experiencing diminished levels of socio-political and community acceptability, there is still uncertainty regarding the significant values of different segments of the Australian community for coastal and marine systems, their management and industry (Essence Communications 2015). Further, there is evidence these values and associated expectations are highly changeable and can have significant individual, business and national repercussions. While the seafood industry already operates from a strong values-based position of its own - ‘sustainability’, there is evidence the community's concerns have expanded to include animal welfare, supply chain integrity, modern slavery for example.
Understanding community values and expectations is important but not enough. Industry must articulate and demonstrate its commitments to addressing kncommunity expectations. This is critical to breaking the reactive negative cycle that threatens resource access, mental health and viability of our industry. A means of monitoring and tracking industry's success in responding to the community's changing expectations and values must also be developed.
Seafood Industry Australia's (SIA) members have identified social licence. This project is a tangible commitment to a national conversation and action to address community values. It is an opportunity to build seafood industry unity on the basis of a set of shared values and supporting practices.
Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries (ACPF) has initiated a lot of this listening and values-related work relevant to wild catch prawns. ACPF is ready to design, implement and evaluate activities that embed these values as messages and convey the supporting or changing behaviours as proof. ACPF needs to ensure that its outputs reflect the direction of the Australia seafood industry and sees advantages in liaising with SIA as it produces outputs at sector level. In doing so, it will provide a test case for how other seafood industry sectors can undertake to acknowledge and respond to community values and expectations, and make a national set of shared industry-community values their own. Objectives: 1. Identify values of major segments of the Australian community for fisheries resources and seafood industries, and expectations of industry behaviours that support those values 2. Identify values of the Australian seafood industry that are common across the industry at national and sector/regional scales 3. Establish industry response to community values and expectations, including measurable benchmarks of industry behaviours and performance that demonstrate commitment 4. Demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of a community engagement and communication strategy that is built on recognised shared values and committment to supporting industry behaviours (Extension proof of concept – Prawns) 5. Increase capacity of industry's current and emerging leaders to engage in values-and-behaviours conversations with community leaders on an ongoing basis Read moreRead less
Socio-economic Characterisation Of A Small Scale Commercial Fishery: Opportunities To Improve Viability And Profitability In The Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$249,855.00
Summary
The Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery (TSF) is a multi-species, commercial fishery involving many operators and a diversity of methods and gears. For some operators the TSF represents a full-time business whereas for others it is a component of a larger diversified fishing operation or a part-time activity. A previous socio-economic study conducted in 2002 highlighted substantial heterogeneity in both the nature and scale of operations within the sector. A more recent high-level assessment of econom ....The Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery (TSF) is a multi-species, commercial fishery involving many operators and a diversity of methods and gears. For some operators the TSF represents a full-time business whereas for others it is a component of a larger diversified fishing operation or a part-time activity. A previous socio-economic study conducted in 2002 highlighted substantial heterogeneity in both the nature and scale of operations within the sector. A more recent high-level assessment of economic and social performance found that the TSF was failing to generate economic returns for commercial operators, and the level of benefits to the broader Tasmanian community flowing from the fishery through employment and supply of fresh local seafood were diminishing.
Over the past two decades annual landings of scalefish in the TSF have declined sharply from over 1000 tonnes to just 300 tonnes in 2016/17. With few exceptions, catches of many of the traditionally important scalefish species are at historic lows, as is the number of active licence-holders and levels of effort. While several recent management changes have been influential in driving these trends, other factors such as changing market demand, substitution with imported or farmed product, variability in the abundance/availability of some species, competition from the recreational sector; and increased operating costs for fishers have played a role.
This project will determine what factors are driving under performance in this fishery through an economic and social characterisation of the fleet and analysis of current supply chains and available markets. This will enable the feasibility of measures to remove these barriers to be addressed, including provision of incentive structures to enable fishing and identification of market strategies that improve economic and social outcomes.
Read the article: Finding value and tackling challenges in a small-scale fishery (https://www.frdc.com.au/finding-value-and-tackling-challenges-small-scale-fishery). Objectives: 1. Characterise the fleet dynamics, capacity and fishing strategies of the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery (TSF). 2. Profile key social and economic characteristics (livelihood strategies and preferences, ownership and cost structures, attitudes to risk) of the commercial sector of the TSF 3. Assess market conditions and supply chains for Tasmanian finfish species. 4. Identify strategies and opportunities to improve economic returns and broader flow-on of benefits in the TSF. Read moreRead less