Seafood CRC: funding options for the Australian oyster industry

Funded Activity Summary

In Sept 2009 the industry completed a Discussion Paper regarding optional Governance Models as part if its move to "Oysters Australia." This paper identified a number of key issues:
1. LACK OF R&D INVESTMENT - the industry collects and invests a relatively small 0.22% of turnover in R&D,
2. UNCERTAINTY on R&D Spend - there is uncertainty at a number of levels about ongoing certainty of R&D funding at current levels. These concerns arise from: the effectively ‘voluntary’ nature of R&D collections from SA and Tasmania; potential legal risk regarding the collection mechanism in NSW; uncertainty regarding the long term retention of the current FRDC $ for $ funding gearing model; uncertainty about what will happen with R&D fund matching from the Seafood CRC beyond 2013/14; and industry feedback suggesting state based service models are not always meeting all growers' expectations.
3. LACK OF MARKETING & PROMOTION SPEND - industry relies solely on other organisations (SCRC, SEA and other private organisations) to promote oysters to consumers. Surveys highlight industry’s desire to better promote the oyster industry and its product. There is no mechanism in place that allows the industry to invest collectively and efficiently in marketing, industry promotion and other service (e.g. bio-security, training) activities.
4. LACK OF FUNDS to support a national full-time Executive Officer for OA.



Objectives:
1. Collate & review information on existing funding mechanisms used in the oyster industry and relationship to any relevant legislation
2. Collate & review recommendations on funding required for high priority strategies for oyster industry growth
3. Collate & review recommendations (based on previous industry consultation) on preferred levy mechanisms
4. Document external stakeholder views re arrangements and options for funding mechanisms - consulting with NSW legislation and agencies (high priority), and FRDC
5. Draft and release a Briefing Paper (with 1 page summary) to Industry identifying the need for funding, levy options, and some case examples and stakeholder questionnaire feedback
6. Present at state industry meetings (August in SA, August in Tas, TBA in NSW) and document responses to Briefing Paper issues
7. Document the preferred funding option in detail, related mechanisms, rates and impacts, proposed adoption pathway, implementation process and time frame
8. Conduct a meeting (possibly teleconference) with industry leaders / key stakeholders to confirm the recommended funding option and implementation pathway
9. Conduct a meeting with stakeholders in NSW to discuss recommended funding options and implementation pathway as relevant to NSW
10. If supported funding option is a national levy, draft a short brief for the conduct of the ballot process and conduct the ballot process.
11. Draft and submit a final report of the project process and recommended outcomes for Oysters Australia

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-10-2012

End Date: 30-04-2013

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $45,758.79

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Shellfish Industry | Stakeholder | Sustainability

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