Australia's National Recreational Fishing Conference 2015
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$60,000.00
Summary
The 2012 National Recreational Fishing Conference was highly successful, enabling the recreational fishing community to gather and discuss issues of national importance. The event also catalysed four initiatives to advance fishing in Australia: development of a charter for the sector, a national fish habitat rehabilitation plan, and renewed commitment to communicating social benefits of fishing, and delivering leadership development initiatives.
The value of regular fishing sector conf ....The 2012 National Recreational Fishing Conference was highly successful, enabling the recreational fishing community to gather and discuss issues of national importance. The event also catalysed four initiatives to advance fishing in Australia: development of a charter for the sector, a national fish habitat rehabilitation plan, and renewed commitment to communicating social benefits of fishing, and delivering leadership development initiatives.
The value of regular fishing sector conferences is recognised among the fishing community, and supported by FRDC, to facilitate continued progress, coordination and recognition of achievements. The next national event for the recreational fishing community is planned for 2015.
The primary aim of this event will be to engage the largest cross-section of Australia's recreational fishing community possible in discussing key issues of relevance to their sector, developing a shared vision for the future and agreeing upon strategic actions to pursue this vision. The 2015 event will be re-focused to more directly benefit grassroots recreational fishers, involving a new format, lower cost to participants, higher levels of involvement of well-known fishing personalities in the program, a focus on increased levels of participant interaction in discussions, and a series of events designed to be both informative and entertaining. The revised approach and program of this event will seek to deliver engagement of the broader recreational fishing community on a scale not previously achieved in Australia.
Objectives: 1. Deliver a National Recreational Fishing Conference in 2015 which increases the level of meaningful engagement with the recreational fishing community in national issues of importance. 2. Engage with participants at the National Conference to identify priority actions to be progressed following the forum. 3. Acknowledgement of recreational fishing community achievements. 4. Publication of extension products from the event. Read moreRead less
Implementing The FRDC's 2020-25 R&D Plan - Strategic Activities
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$290,972.50
Summary
The FRDC's new R&D Plan signals a change of direction, building on systems thinking, and acknowledges a need to find new and better ways to make progress, including building on design-thinking to ensure that the right problems are solved, the right way. There is opportunity, as this is done, to leverage off shifting occupational norms associated with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic by experimenting with new, less expensive, more inclusive and democratic ways of thinking and working together tha ....The FRDC's new R&D Plan signals a change of direction, building on systems thinking, and acknowledges a need to find new and better ways to make progress, including building on design-thinking to ensure that the right problems are solved, the right way. There is opportunity, as this is done, to leverage off shifting occupational norms associated with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic by experimenting with new, less expensive, more inclusive and democratic ways of thinking and working together that might endure into the future.
The FRDC’s new R&D Plan signals an intent to co-invest and collaborate more actively in order to deliver impact, and this will be particularly important in early years to overcome revenue limitations associated with COVID impacts.
The 2020-25 R&D Plan also describes an intention to develop and implement a new performance measurement framework to coordinate the monitoring of organisational progress against the five R&D Plan outcomes, as well as corporate performance. The aim is for the framework to be adaptive and updateable as new information becomes available, and as benchmarks for best practice change.
To assist in planning and investing in a complex and adaptive system it is proposed to scope and implement new process for collating and generating insights from intelligence, that will provide continuous feedback on external conditions, technology changes and external factors likely to be relevant in the future.
This proposal seeks to enable building of the foundations for implementing the FRDC's 2020-25 R&D Plan, scoping and implementing the new intelligence system, delivery of consultation to guide implementation of the plan, and enabling finalisation and implementation of the new performance management framework.
Objectives: 1. Deliver roadmaps to guide implementation of R&D Plan 2020-25 2. Maintain and leverage national and international partnerships to deliver R&D Plan 2020-25 3. Develop and implement performance management framework to support implementation of R&D Plan 2020-25 4. Develop and implement system for gathering and using intelligence Read moreRead less
WRL Communication, Education And Engagement Program
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$750,000.00
Summary
The Western Rock Lobster Council’s (WRLC) Strategic Plan defines the organisation’s purpose as providing the community with the economic and social benefits of a sustainable western rock lobster industry supplying its iconic product to local and overseas markets.
It outlines a vision for industry to have the full confidence of government, the community, and members as a well-resourced, self-funded peak body engaged in advocacy and co-management for improved resource security.
O ....The Western Rock Lobster Council’s (WRLC) Strategic Plan defines the organisation’s purpose as providing the community with the economic and social benefits of a sustainable western rock lobster industry supplying its iconic product to local and overseas markets.
It outlines a vision for industry to have the full confidence of government, the community, and members as a well-resourced, self-funded peak body engaged in advocacy and co-management for improved resource security.
One of the key actions outlined in the Strategic Plan under the fourth key objective ‘Ensure the social licence to operate is supported by government, community and industry’ is to develop and implement a revised communications strategy for members, stakeholders, and the community.
While the indications for achieving social licence for the western rock lobster industry are currently positive, consolidating and increasing that support depends on the evolving social and political landscape. Building on the on innovation and lessons learnt during the execution of the previous Communication Program 2020-058, and through the development and application of more mature initiatives drawn out from its updated Communication and Engagement Strategy, the industry will strengthen its connection to the community, continue to increase support from key stakeholders and the general public, and consolidate its Social Licence to operate. This Program application delivers on that commitment. Objectives: 1. Strengthen industry members' engagement: Increase the full participation by internal stakeholders in Council activities, to best enable the Council to represent the industry to government and other stakeholders. This includes industry engagement and communication of WRL IPA activities and R&D outputs. 2. Broaden and deepen relationships with external stakeholders from government and other industries to make the Council and the industry more resilient. 3. Build awareness of the significant contribution the industry continues to make to coastal communities, and the state. 4. Increase community awareness of the availability and accessibility of western rock lobster. 5. Ensure the industry is getting maximum social license benefits from its Marine Stewardship Council certification as a sustainable fishery. Read moreRead less
Assessing The Feasibility Of An Industry-based Fishery-independent Survey Of The SEF
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$87,033.00
Summary
This proposal is part of a strategy co-ordinated by SEFAG and SEF Research Committee aimed at addressing the need for fishery independent survey data.
In order to address this broader need, SEFAG and SEFMAC Research Committee have identified two more immediate needs.
1. The need to build industry support for this initiative is paramount. As identified by SEF Research Committee, SEF industry members have little faith in the use of commercial catch rates as an index of abunda .... This proposal is part of a strategy co-ordinated by SEFAG and SEF Research Committee aimed at addressing the need for fishery independent survey data.
In order to address this broader need, SEFAG and SEFMAC Research Committee have identified two more immediate needs.
1. The need to build industry support for this initiative is paramount. As identified by SEF Research Committee, SEF industry members have little faith in the use of commercial catch rates as an index of abundance because they are substantially influenced by quota availability, market demands and environmental conditions. The concern that they express is that short term variability due to these factors will be interpreted and acted upon by managers as a change in actual abundance. In other countries where long-term industry-based surveys have been conducted, however, the fishery independent indices have made it possible to remove the influences of quota and market demand and quantify the impact of environmental variability on catch rates. This has made it possible, over time, to standardise survey catch rates for the impact of environmental effects. Exposing members of the SEF community to this international experience should go some way to addressing these concerns and building support.
2. If it is to succeed, there is a need to develop a cost-effective and statistically robust design for a long-term program of industry-based surveys. To build support and move towards implementation it is necessary to develop a survey design. Obviously any survey design needs to be cost-effective and capable of providing statistically robust indices of abundance. With an a agreed survey design members of the SEF community can start considering a concrete proposal for implementation and assessing the costs and benefits of proceeding with implementation. Objectives: 1. Conduct a power analysis of the shot-by-shot data collected by the ISMP project so that an initial assessment can be made of the sampling intensity that will be required to develop robust indices of relative abundance on the basis of trawl surveys. 2. Design and hold a workshop involving industry, scientists, managers and invited experts with experience with industry-based surveys in multi-species, shelf edge and slope fisheries like the SEF. 3. Develop industry support for implementing industry-based surveys. Read moreRead less
Let’s Talk Fish: Assisting Industry To Understand And Inform Conversations About The Sustainability Of Wild-catch Fishing
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$195,500.00
Summary
As already noted (see Background), substantive social research and industry and natural resource management experience has shown that public and stakeholder acceptance is very important for the success of primary industries like the wild-catch sector of the commercial fishing industry. Unproductive debates about sustainable development and ecosystem protection have increased, and projects, programs, or policies lacking greater social acceptability are unlikely to be implemented (Shindler et al 2 ....As already noted (see Background), substantive social research and industry and natural resource management experience has shown that public and stakeholder acceptance is very important for the success of primary industries like the wild-catch sector of the commercial fishing industry. Unproductive debates about sustainable development and ecosystem protection have increased, and projects, programs, or policies lacking greater social acceptability are unlikely to be implemented (Shindler et al 2004). Strong future economic, environmental and social performance of wild catch fisheries depends on productive three-way communications between the fishing industry, their stakeholders, and the wider public (see Figure 2). In order to achieve those conversations, however, we need greater understanding of what drives social acceptability and how it influences decision-making.
This project was developed with reference to the research themes and priorities identified by the: • National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 2010 (pp 28-30) • FRDC RD&E Plan 2012-15 (pp 27, 28, 30; 32-33; 34-35; 37-38) • Social Sciences Research Coordination Program Plan 2009-2012 (p.5)
The Strategy and Plans consistently identify the need for research that helps build mutual benefits and support between the fishing industry and its (national, regional, stakeholder) communities and that has explicit strategies for facilitating the adoption of research findings, thereby building industry capacity in the process.
Our research will meet that need by: • Generating knowledge about the drivers of the wild-catch sector’s social acceptability and to what extent and how social acceptability influences resource access decision making processes; • Enhancing value of current and future communications approaches through provision of key messages and approaches that extend one-way provision of information to ways to build public trust; and • Possibly improving existing social acceptability benchmarks for the wild-catch sector.
Objectives: 1. Obtain comprehensive and reliable knowledge about the basis for people’s (decision-makers, interest groups, general public) attitudes and behaviours towards the sustainability of wild catch fishing (and other primary) industries and the extent to which social acceptability influences resource access decisions; 2. Use interactive processes to share that information with the project’s primary audience (government decision makers (fisheries managers), fishing industry leaders, and the fisheries research/extension community) and help build industry capacity to: identify and understand the values, beliefs, attitudes and actions of the general public and other stakeholders; and select topics and identify strategies that will enable more effective engagement with those audiences. 3. Review current benchmarks of the social acceptance of wild-catch commercial fishing with a view to revising existing and/or identifying new indicators for widespread use in future time series comparisons. Read moreRead less
Implementation Of The National Recreational And Indigenous Fishing Survey
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$10,303.77
Summary
Equitable fisheries management requires an information base on all extractive and non-extractive users of the resource. This has been well implemented for the commercial fishing sector where legislated catch and effort returns are standard practice. However, many inshore fisheries incorporate a significant recreational sector and efforts to collect comprehensive data from this sector have generally been ad hoc, responding to critical management needs rather than an orderly, routine monitoring ....Equitable fisheries management requires an information base on all extractive and non-extractive users of the resource. This has been well implemented for the commercial fishing sector where legislated catch and effort returns are standard practice. However, many inshore fisheries incorporate a significant recreational sector and efforts to collect comprehensive data from this sector have generally been ad hoc, responding to critical management needs rather than an orderly, routine monitoring program.
Although increased research effort has been allocated to recreational fishery data collection, a national assessment of the sector has not recently been attempted. The only previous national survey in Australia was conducted in 1983 by PA Management Consultants. Their results drew widespread attention to the scale and economic impact of recreational fishing in Australia and, although subject to some criticism, are still cited today despite the passage of 15 years.
An urgent need therefore exists to produce relevant and up to date recreational fishery statistics. The adoption of the National Policy by SCFA and MCFFA recognises this need and has provided the impetus for the work of the Steering Committee to date, and for this application to implement the National Survey. The primary focus of the Survey is to collect nationally consistent and comparable data on catch, effort, participation rates, demographics, economic activity, attitudes and awareness covering all aspects of ‘non-commercial’ fishing. These comprehensive datasets will then be available for incorporation into stock assessments of the nation's fisheries and resource allocation decisions.
In addition to the telephone / diary survey of the general population, two other components of the overall Survey are being designed – development of a survey of indigenous communities and of international visiting fishers. While these latter components will have different value to each State and Territory, the combination of recreational, indigenous and international fishing data will provide a comprehensive picture of non-commercial fishing, and allow exhaustive analysis of the extractive sectors of Australia’s fishing resources. Objectives: 1. To determine the participation rate in recreational fishing nationally, by States and Territories and regionally, and profile the demographic characteristics of recreational fishers 2. To quantify catch and effort of the recreational fishing sector nationally, by States and Territories and, where appropriate, regionally 3. Collect data on expenditure by the recreational fishing sector nationally and regionally. 4. To establish attitudes and awareness of recreational fishers to issues relevant to their fishery 5. To quantify fishing activity by indigenous fishing communities (where significant) in terms of participation, catch and effort and attitudes 6. To quantify fishing activity of overseas fishers in terms of participation, effort and attitudes Read moreRead less
National Social And Economic Survey Of Recreational Fishers 2019
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,233,987.00
Summary
Currently there is a lack of national scale, consistent and robust data on the motivations and behaviours of recreational fishers, and lack of robust data on the social and economic contribution of recreational fishing. Where many commercial fisheries have regular collection and estimation process for economic data, this is not the case for recreational fishing in most of Australia. This lack of data also includes behaviour and motivations and how they are changing. These data are useful for inf ....Currently there is a lack of national scale, consistent and robust data on the motivations and behaviours of recreational fishers, and lack of robust data on the social and economic contribution of recreational fishing. Where many commercial fisheries have regular collection and estimation process for economic data, this is not the case for recreational fishing in most of Australia. This lack of data also includes behaviour and motivations and how they are changing. These data are useful for informing discussions on resource allocation and in understanding and managing recreational fisheries more generally. If these data are to be used to inform governments and the general public, there is a need to make sure it is collected in a robust way that is representative of the Australian population. Large scale representative data sets are often expensive to acquire and as a result do not get undertaken regularly. One off surveys only provide useful data for any particular point in time, but understanding trends can often be more useful. This study aims to implement and test methodologies to provide a robust and representative sample, while trying to reduce costs to allow for more regular data gathering. To do this requires addressing another need: that of testing new survey methodologies for collecting data from recreational fishers that enables assessment of social and economic contribution. Recreational fishing surveys traditionally use probability based phone or mail surveys, however both methods are experiencing rapid decline in response rates and representativeness. It is expected that going into the future, online surveys that use a range of appropriate recruitment methods will be the most common survey method. There is a need to invest in establishing robust approaches to using these methods, and in understanding how their findings differ to those of traditional probability based surveys. Objectives: 1. Assess social and economic contribution of recreational fishing using multiple methods, including direct and flow-on economic benefits, and market and non-market benefits 2. Identify which approaches to recruiting survey participants and completing surveys produce the most representative and robust results 3. Recommend most appropriate and cost effective survey method to use to track change social and economic aspects of recreational fishing in Australia over time Read moreRead less
Indigenous Cultural Fishing And Fisheries Governance
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$181,761.38
Summary
Historically, funding for indigenous research generally has been limited hence not enough is known about indigenous use of aquatic biological resources (fish etc). For example the lack of knowledge about cultural fishing and how to engage indigenous fishers is one of the reasons that the ESD project (Fletcher et al 2002) was unable to come up with any significant contributions on the how to measure impacts of non-indigenous fishing sector on indigenous fishing other than 'a different approach ....Historically, funding for indigenous research generally has been limited hence not enough is known about indigenous use of aquatic biological resources (fish etc). For example the lack of knowledge about cultural fishing and how to engage indigenous fishers is one of the reasons that the ESD project (Fletcher et al 2002) was unable to come up with any significant contributions on the how to measure impacts of non-indigenous fishing sector on indigenous fishing other than 'a different approach was needed to involve indigenous stakeholders (see below for further details)' page 43 of (Fletcher, W.J., Chesson, J., Fisher M., Sainsbury, K.J., Hundloe, T., Smith, A.D.M. and B. Whitworth (2002) National ESD Reporting Framework for Australian Fisheries: The 'How To' Guide for Wild Capture Fisheries. FRDC Project 2000/145, Canberra, Australia.) All governments need to do more to encourage indigenous research, recognising the associated complexities in conducting this research and therefore the associated added costs.
In relation to the project proposed in this application, there are two interrelated elements both of which expand on the recent FRDC project 2009/308. Participants expressed the need for an extension of that project to investigate governance issues through the development of a LICFMP for their area. Such a plan is needed to provide a basis for better engagement with NSW DPI and it's development will serve as a possible model for the development of other throughout NSW.
The second element of the proposed project is an expansion of the research on the indigenous cultural catch to take other areas of NSW. This work is needed to assist in the further development of culturally appropriate regulations by NSW DPI in consultation with the NSW AFAC and NSWALC.
Objectives: 1. Use methodology developed in project 2009/038 to estimate indigenous cultural catch in coastal and inland waters of N.S.W. 2. Develop a local indigenous fisheries management plan for the Tweed region. 3. Identify other Aboriginal communities that would be willing to develop local fisheries management plan. Read moreRead less
WINSC - Providing Pathways For The Involvement Of Women In Seafood Industry Development
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$42,960.92
Summary
Internationally it is well documented that despite having a high participation rate in the seafood industry women are very under represented in key decision making roles and have difficulty having their views heard and taken notice of. Other industries have found that supporting a greater involvement by women in decision making fora has provided industry wide benefits, and it is expected that such support would have the same result for seafood.
WINSC itself has recognised the need to better co ....Internationally it is well documented that despite having a high participation rate in the seafood industry women are very under represented in key decision making roles and have difficulty having their views heard and taken notice of. Other industries have found that supporting a greater involvement by women in decision making fora has provided industry wide benefits, and it is expected that such support would have the same result for seafood.
WINSC itself has recognised the need to better connect with all women in seafood, no matter what their roles may be. WINSC also needs to better understand and use anew technologies to improve communication, connection and support of women in seafood. This proposal seeks funding for 10 months to initiate and undertake the first stage of the proposed WINSC renewal process. This process aims to result in WINSC having capacity and capability to better connect with women in the seafood industry and to deliver support and services that help them to increase their profile, capitalise on and improve their skills and contributions as well as ensure better participation in key decision making roles.
WINSC also recognises the need to mainstream WINSC activities and to involve men as part of the network. In this context WINSC has identified an opportunity to support an annual Seafood Fresh Ideas seminar (to be held as part of Seafood Directions conference in the years that is held and as a stand alone activity in the years that it is not). This will be open to participants from the entire industry and will feature thought provoking presentations from futurists and innovative entrepreneurs. WINSC will explore the feasibility and practicality of this idea as part of the proposed stakeholder review process.
WINSC will also use the stakeholder review process to review the WINSC Bursary process to ensure that it meets the needs of WINSC and FRDC stakeholders Objectives: 1. To support the renewal of WINSC as a key organisation providing support to women in seafood through profiling their achievements and providing opportunities for personal development Read moreRead less
National Strategy For The Survival Of Released Line Caught Fish: Investigating Survival Of Fish Released In Australia’s Tropical And Subtropical Line Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$674,340.00
Summary
The report by McLeay et al. (2002) (“National strategy for the survival of line-caught fish: a review of research and fishery information”) summarises the need for this research as follows:
“The commercial and recreational line fisheries are the most highly participatory of all Australia’s fisheries. They are managed by a complex array of regulations, including size and catch limits, which create a high potential for captured fish to be released. The growing interest of recreational and ....The report by McLeay et al. (2002) (“National strategy for the survival of line-caught fish: a review of research and fishery information”) summarises the need for this research as follows:
“The commercial and recreational line fisheries are the most highly participatory of all Australia’s fisheries. They are managed by a complex array of regulations, including size and catch limits, which create a high potential for captured fish to be released. The growing interest of recreational and charter fishers in catch-and-release practices has also increased release rates of line-caught fish. The susceptibility of line-caught fish to post-release mortality (PRM) is largely unknown, and is not taken into account in most current stock assessments”.
Perhaps half of the fish caught by line in Australia are released, for a variety of reasons including minimum legal sizes, bag limits, catch-release philosophy etc. However, we have little idea of how many of these die as a result of hook damage, inappropriate handling, barotrauma or capture stress, nor what effect this source of ‘cryptic’ mortality will have on the long-term sustainability of the various fisheries.
While there is good information on release rates in the recreational line fishing sector there is also a need to test the supposition that the commercial sector catches few undersized fish and also establish any differences between the general recreational community and the charter sector.
To more realistically appreciate the full effect of line fishing on the various species, the released catch needs to be described and quantified, and an attempt made to estimate post-release survival (PRS) rates. Alternative capture methods (hook designs) need to be tested, to determine whether a change in apparatus (via regulation or a Code of Practice) could reduce the catch of undersized fish. Pre-release handling and barotrauma relief procedures need to be evaluated to determine whether any changes may increase survival of fish returned to the water.
Objectives: 1. To quantify the effects of hook type, hooking damage, barotrauma and barotrauma relief procedures on the short-term post-release survival (PRS) of key tropical and sub-tropical line-caught fish species. 2. To quantify the effects of hook type, hooking damage, barotrauma and barotrauma relief procedures on the long-term post-release survival (PRS) of key tropical and sub-tropical line-caught fish species. 3. To develop and extend ‘best practice’ handling procedures applicable to the recreational, commercial and charterboat sectors in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Read moreRead less