Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
Knowledge for fishing and aquaculture into the future
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
VISION
Vibrant Australian fishing and aquaculture sectors, adopting world-class research to achieve
sustainability and prosperity.
Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
By 2020 …
… fishing and aquaculture will continue to be environmentally sustainable.
… science and management related to the sustainability of fishing and aquaculture will be
more transparent
… fishing and aquaculture will be more resilient to social, environmental and economic
change
… fishing and aquaculture businesses will be more productive and profitable
… recreational fishers will have improved opportunities for better fishing experiences and
will play a greater role in the stewardship of fisheries resources
… more Indigenous people will derive benefit from fishing and aquaculture activities and
will play a greater role in the stewardship of fisheries resources.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
CONTENTS
Executive summary ................................................................................................................................. 4
Planned outcome and role...................................................................................................................... 5
REvenue Base ...................................................................................................................................... 6
FRDC’s stakeholders – communication, consultation and accountability .......................................... 7
The operating environment for Australian fishing and aquaculture ...................................................... 9
Drivers and opportunities for 2015 – 20........................................................................................... 11
Sector profiles ................................................................................................................................... 14
A new strategic focus ............................................................................................................................ 19
The National research priorities ....................................................................................................... 19
National initiatives ............................................................................................................................ 21
Implementing the FRDC RD&E Plan ...................................................................................................... 25
The FRDC RD&E Program areas ........................................................................................................ 25
A balanced research portfolio........................................................................................................... 28
Applying for funding ......................................................................................................................... 28
Extension and adoption of research outputs ................................................................................... 28
Collaboration within the national research framework ....................................................................... 29
Australian Government research and development priorities ......................................................... 29
aligned Research priorities ............................................................................................................... 30
Evaluation framework ........................................................................................................................... 31
Funding and expenditure ...................................................................................................................... 32
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The aim of the FRDC is to ensure that Australia’s fresh water and marine resources are used
and managed for the benefit of the whole community, based on the science it funds. This
includes that; aquaculture and commercial fishing continue to provide food for the nation and
are viewed as a key part of Australia’s primary production systems, there is recognition of the
customary and historical role of fishing for Indigenous communities and to derive benefit
from fishing and aquaculture activities, and to ensure recreational fishing is satisfying and
rewarding experience.
This RD&E Plan signifies an evolution in the way the FRDC invests.
The FRDC will now focus its investment during the life of this plan to three national
priorities that the FRDC will lead on:
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To ensure the product of Australia is sustainable and acknowledged to be so.
To improve fisheries productivity and profitability.
To develop emerging aquaculture opportunities.
The FRDC does not spread its efforts too thinly across a large range of Research
Development and Extension (RD&E) – this means doing less, but doing it better, focusing on
outcomes that have greater impact on the future of fisheries in Australia.
The evolution in this RD&E Plan has been driven by extensive consultation with stakeholders
and the people who use the research the FRDC commissions.
This consultation has included the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture,
the Department of Agriculture, those involved in aquaculture, commercial fishers,
Indigenous fishers, recreational fishers, research providers, post-harvest processors and
fisheries managers from federal, state and territory governments.
The FRDC will take the lead on national research initiatives that address whole of industry
and community issues and opportunities. These are: aquatic animal health and biosecurity;
recreational fishing; Indigenous fishing and aquaculture; people development; social sciences
and economics; and delivery of key services (e.g. Fishnames, SafeFish). The FRDC will
continue to partner with various fishery industry groups and regions that have developed their
own RD&E plans and undertake collaborative research, particularly where it addresses
national priorities.
Figure 1 the framework for RD&E investment by the FRDC for 2015 – 20
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
PLANNED OUTCOME AND ROLE
The FRDC is a statutory corporation within the Australian Government’s Agriculture
portfolio. This portfolio aims to enhance the sustainability, profitability and competitiveness
of Australia’s agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry industries. The FRDC contributes to the
achievement of this portfolio aim through achieving the following planned outcome:
Increased knowledge that fosters sustainable economic, environmental and social
benefits for Australian fishing and aquaculture. This includes Indigenous,
recreational, commercial and aquaculture sectors, and the community, through
investing in research, development and adoptions.
To give effect to this planned outcome the FRDC plans, manages and extends knowledge,
created through FRDC funding processes
The FRDC is accountable to the Parliament of Australia through the Minister for Agriculture.
It was formed on 2 July 1991, and has two pieces of governing legislation:
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Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 (PIRD Act); and
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
The Corporation is governed by board of directors. The board has a number of advisory
committees, and one executive director who manages the day-to-day operation of the
Corporation through a small office-based team of people.
BREAKOUT Box: The PIRD Act sets the FRDC’s objectives as follows.
a) Make provision for the funding and administration of research and development
relating to primary industries with a view to:
i.
increasing the economic, environmental and social benefits to members of
primary industries and to the community in general by improving the production,
processing, storage, transport or marketing of the products of primary industries;
ii. achieving the sustainable use and sustainable management of natural resources;
iii. making more effective use of the resources and skills of the community in general
and the scientific community in particular;
iv.
supporting the development of scientific and technical capacity;
v. developing the adoptive capacity of primary producers; and
vi.
improving accountability for expenditure on research and development activities
in relation to primary industries.
b) Make provision for the funding and administration of marketing relating to products
of primary industries.
The FRDC invests in RD&E that supports aquaculture, commercial fishing, Indigenous
fishing and recreational fishing. These four sectors operate across environments that range
from the northern tropics through to temperate seas and icy Antarctic waters, from freshwater
rivers and lakes, to estuaries and to the depths of the ocean.
The FRDC does not undertake RD&E itself. Rather, it partners with other organisations that
have the necessary capabilities to undertake the varied specialised activities. With a focus on
end users of RD&E and markets, the FRDC facilitates the extension adoption and
commercialisation of research and development and evaluates the benefits. The FRDC
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
contributes to a strategic national approach to fishing and aquaculture RD&E that aims to
share knowledge, build cohesion and establish common goals between sectors. Partnerships
and previous RD&E are considered in planning and investment processes, to maximise
leverage and reduce duplication.
As a quality-certified organisation (AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008), the FRDC’s RD&E investment
is underpinned by a quality-management system, which includes mechanisms for reviewing
performance and implementing changes, to ensure continuous improvement.
While the FRDCs focus is on delivering benefits to primary fishing and aquaculture
stakeholders, the RD&E the FRDC invests in also benefits other participants in the Australian
seafood industry value chain, research providers and the wider Australian community.
REVENUE BASE
Revenue for RD&E investment is based on a co-funding model between the Australian
Government and the fishing and aquaculture industries. It is collected through the Australian
Fisheries Management Authority and state and territory governments.
Rationale for the FRDC’s revenue base
The high component of public good in the operating environment of fishing and aquaculture has
significance for the FRDC’s revenue base. The Australian Government’s contributes funding equal to
0.50 per cent of Annual Gross Value of Production (wild-catch and aquaculture) on the grounds that
the Australian Government exercises a stewardship role in relation to fishing and aquaculture
resources on behalf of the Australian community.
The fishing and aquaculture industry contributes to the FRDC on the basis that RD&E will be
orientated to its needs and will deliver economic and social benefits. The Australian Government
matches industry contributions on the basis that the beneficiaries of research should pay roughly in
proportion to the benefits received, but that the government should contribute to the spillover
benefits to the wider community.
Figure 2 The basis of, and rationale for, the FRDC’s revenue base.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
FRDC’S STAKEHOLDERS – COMMUNICATION, CONSULTATION
AND ACCOUNTABILITY
“Consultation, networking and connecting those involved in fishing and aquaculture is the
strength of the FRDC and is pivotal to how we do business.”
– FRDC executive director, Patrick Hone
The FRDC’s stakeholders include:
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The Federal, state and territory governments, including fisheries and natural resources
managers
All of the fishing and aquaculture sectors
The Australian community, on whose behalf aquatic natural resources are managed
Consumers of seafood.
The research community including universities, government fisheries organisations,
further education organisations (eg TAFE) international research organisations and
private-sector research providers.
Box: Evolving our engagement
1996 – The term fishing industry includes any industry or activity in Australia concerned with:
taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing, or selling fish or fish
products.
The fishing industry comprises the recreational, commercial, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander sectors. The commercial sector, including pearling, is also referred to as the seafood
industry.
2000 – Three sectors of the fishing industry;
The commercial sector comprises enterprises and individuals associated with wild-catch or
aquaculture resources and the various transformation of those resources into products for sale. It is
also referred to as the “seafood industry”, including non-food items such as pearls.
The recreational sector comprises enterprises and individuals who – for the purpose of recreation,
sport or sustenance – are associated with fisheries resources that are not for sale.
The traditional sector comprises enterprises and individuals associated with fisheries resources from
which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people derive products in accordance with their traditions.
2005 – Three main sectors of the fishing and aquaculture industry – commercial (wild-catch and
aquaculture), recreational fishing and Indigenous fishing.
2010 – The fishing and aquaculture industry’s three main sectors comprise:
Commercial wild-catch fishers, aquaculture producers, including post-harvest enterprises
Recreational fishers and associated commercial enterprises
Indigenous customary fishers.
2015 – There are four main sectors involved in fishing and aquaculture in Australia:
Commercial wild-catch fishers and businesses
Commercial aquaculture businesses
Indigenous fishers
Recreational fishers and associated businesses.
The term seafood industry incorporates the commercial sectors of the industry, including those
concerned with the commercial take, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting,
marketing or selling fish or fish products (including pearling).
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Fishing and aquaculture industry refers just to those who operate commercially in the
catching/harvesting or growing of seafood.
The FRDC regularly engages with its stakeholders through a range of mechanisms including:
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four ministerially appointed Representative Organisations to which the FRDC is
accountable under legislation:
o National Seafood Industry Alliance
– representing the seafood industry
o Recfish Australia
– representing recreational and sport fishers
o Commonwealth Fisheries Association
–representing commercial fishers who operate in Commonwealth fisheries
o National Aquaculture Council
– representing the aquaculture industry
the Governance Committee that support the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E
Strategy and the National Research Providers Network (representing fisheries
researchers) (FRDC is a member of both groups)
partnerships between the FRDC, industry sectors and regions
the Australian Fisheries Management Forum, representing government agencies
responsible for fisheries management (FRDC is an observer)
FRDC subprograms and coordination programs.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR AUSTRALIAN
FISHING AND AQUACULTURE
Australia has the third largest marine territory in the World. The diverse marine seascapes,
stretching from the tropics to Antarctica, reflect unique biodiversity values and deliver a
valuable flow of ecosystems goods and services. In addition to the marine environment is the
freshwater environment which some fishing and aquaculture occurs in, stretching again from
the tropics and almost outback conditions to the temperate highlands of the southern states.
Australia is a maritime nation - over 80% of its 23 million population live within 50 km of
the coast - and citizens have sovereign rights over the world’s third largest fishing zone.
This marine territory covers 8,148,250 square kilometers – but, because of a lack of nutrientrich currents (and so relatively low productivity), Australia ranks only 52nd in the world in
terms of volume of fish landed.
In line with Australia’s diverse environments, that support the 600+ targeted and produced
species, there is equal diversity in those who fish and farm these species. Each is unique and
having their own specific practices. This ranges from short fishing trips to longer voyages out
to fishing grounds at the boundaries of Australia’s fishing zone. They operate on land, rivers,
estuaries out to the sea using a wide variety of methods and equipment to catch and produce.
Commercial fisheries production in 2012-13 was 157,252 tonnes with an approximate value
of this harvest of $1.38 billion. For the same period aquaculture production was around
80,066 tonnes with a value of around $1.03 billion.
Estimates of harvest, participation and value of the Indigenous and recreational fishing
sectors are harder to determine. Indigenous fishing which is commercial wild-catch or
aquaculture is included in the figures above but is hard to separate from the rest of the data.
Most recent estimates from 2001 have recreational catch at 48,400 tonnes with a retained
catch of approximately 30,000 tonnes. For Indigenous customary fishing practices the
estimate was approximately 2,000 tonnes.
A recent FRDC project (2012-214) has established a proxy valuation methodology for
estimating the economic value of recreational fishing. It has often been discussed that the
recreational sector contributes significantly through investment in boats, fishing equipment
and other associated overhead costs. With the inclusion of these flow on contributions from
recreational fishing the report has estimated for 2013 a value of $2.56 billion.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
Box: The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation in partnership with CSIRO has
identified the five major trends” that are expected to influence primary industries globally during the
next 20 years, in its report Rural Industry Futures – Megatrends impacting Australian agriculture
over the coming twenty years. These trends are described in figure 2.
Figure 3 the five “Megatrends” that will influence primary industries over the next 20 years as
identified in the report RURAL INDUSTRY FUTURES – Megatrends impacting Australian agriculture
over the coming twenty years.
In developing this RD&E plan, the FRDC undertook extensive consultation with its
stakeholders and evaluated the drivers and opportunities in the fishing and aquaculture
operating environment. To ensure the best understanding of the operating environment and to
assess the model from figure 3 to fishing and aquaculture, the FRDC commissioned a review.
Information from the resultant report titled 2014 Australian Fishing and Aquaculture Sector
Overview (sector overview) (FRDC project 2014-503.20) has been used along with other
relevant planning document such as the Australian Fisheries Managers Forum Statement of
Intent, to identify the drivers and opportunities for 2015–20.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
DRIVERS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2015 – 20
Public perception of Australia’s fishing and aquaculture operations (social licence)
Fishing and aquaculture in Australia has a history of high performance, good stewardship and
a focus on best practice.
However, community perceptions do not differentiate Australia’s good fishing and
aquaculture management and practices from sometimes poor global records. This influences
the way in which Australian consumers perceive and purchase seafood, and which, in turn,
flows onto the onto the community’s perception of fishing and aquaculture operations.
Community perceptions – good and bad – have strong influence on access to natural
resources across all sectors and on commercial profitability.
Opportunities: Communicate information to the community on the improvements in
Australia’s fishing and aquaculture management and practices in an accessible, engaging and
trustworthy form.
Create standards to guide the science and management of natural resources in the marine
environment to ensure best practice and improve transparency.
Use research to understand and anticipate community concerns and target research to
formulate appropriate responses.
Food security, globalisation and market access
The global population is rising and with it the demand for food and seafood. An extra billion
consumers globally are expected by 2030, requiring an estimated additional 25 million tonnes
of seafood. Seafood is an important dietary component for the expanding Asian middle class,
which increasingly seeks branded safe seafood. It is also a much-needed protein for
developing countries.
Globalisation and efficient trade are pivotal to meeting these dietary needs. Already, fishery
products are one of the most traded human food commodities, and the most consumed by
volume.
Commodity price forecasts from the World Bank (2014) indicate a modest real price gain for
fish to 2030, but larger gains for fishmeal and oil ingredients needed for aquaculture.
Aquaculture production has grown in Australia over the past 10 years and has shown
potential for further productivity increases, both in currently produced species and in new and
emerging species.
Bycatch and discards continue to be an issue in wild-catch fisheries worldwide, but also
present a potential source for increasing the harvest by adding value to the caught product.
Adding value to processing waste also presents the potential for increasing seafood
availability.
Australia’s Indigenous communities are increasingly seeking opportunities to develop their
fishery resources to achieve outcomes that include improved diets, nutrition and health;
retention of young people in communities; local employment, trade and business skills;
demonstration of cultural heritage and collaboration in investments.
Opportunities: Understand consumer and market requirements and needs (domestic and
international) to assist both aquaculture and the wild-catch sectors optimise production
efficiency and overall profitability.
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Add value to bycatch, discards and processing waste to increase seafood and other products
availability.
Capitalise on globalisation and market access, those operating in fishing and aquaculture
must adapt to market risks, competition and opportunities.
Develop appropriate governance and economic models to better support individual and
community economic development for the Indigenous sector.
Environmental health
Seafood production and the health of environmental systems on which it depends are linked.
Opportunities: Develop tools and resources to monitor, understand and adapt to fishing and
aquaculture’s impacts on fish stocks and ecosystems to ensure sustainable use.
Identify new and more efficient methods of producing and harvesting seafood. It is logical
that healthier environments are more productive than those that are damaged. It is therefore in
the interest of industry and government to make sure all environments are in the best
condition possible.
Resource access and allocation
All fishers need long-term access to aquatic resources to meet their individual and sectoral
needs.
However, competition is increasing – from within fishing and aquaculture sectors, from
external sources such as the oil and gas industry, and from the reduction of fishable area
through marine protected areas.
Opportunities: Establish and document the aspirations of the sectors in relation to access
and allocation of aquatic resources.
Establish the appropriate rights-based framework to maximise the economic, environmental
and social values from the use of aquatic resources. This will require accurate social and
economic data.
Resource management
The focus within natural resources management has changed from single issues (target stocks
or generally isolated environmental concerns) to broader interactions between the
environment, economy and communities across all sectors of fishing and aquaculture. This is
in line with the current expectations of the Australian public.
Formal management of fishing and aquaculture resources has in the past been focused on
commercial interests. There is now a growing push for the inclusion of all sectors of fishing
and aquaculture in management, including Indigenous and recreational fishing.
Opportunities: Develop management practices and processes that better incorporate the
needs, actual catch and impact of all sectors and improve resource access and allocation.
Acquire sophisticated economic data, accurate catch data and ascertain the impact from all
sectors including social impacts.
Create a fisheries management ‘standard’ to foster innovative, streamlined and cost-effective
natural resource management, with greater emphasis on protocols and data.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
Aquatic animal health
Disease-causing organisms, including exotic, new and emerging pathogens, are an increasing
threat to Australian fisheries, aquaculture and their associated ecosystems. The risk is
expected to rise with increased globalisation and potential impacts from changing
environments.
Disease monitoring, prevention and treatment will be especially important to the further
development and expansion of aquaculture.
Opportunities: Develop the capacity to improve surveillance, monitoring, diagnostics,
mitigation of exotic pest risks.
Develop disease control responses, including new vaccines, genetic resistance and veterinary
chemicals.
People development/capacity building
There is concern worldwide about the declining number of students enrolling in primary
industry courses and pursuing primary industry careers. Australia is not immune from this
trend.
Many members of the fishing community are older, and as they begin to retire there is a need
for new people to step into their positions.
There does not seem to be the political will across jurisdictions to manage people
development. In addition, there appears to be a lack of knowledge of the training needs for
fishing and aquaculture in Australia, and hence an inability to make good investments in this
area.
Opportunities: Attract, train and retain a skilled workforce, including researchers, fishers,
innovators and resource managers at the sector, jurisdictional and national levels.
Collect quality data on the training needs of fishing and aquaculture sectors in Australia.
Foster leadership, professionalism and entrepreneurship across all sectors of fishing and
aquaculture to help build resilience.
Bring together the different sectors of fishing and aquaculture to conduct capacity building,
thereby building networks to help unify sectors.
“I heard four overarching issues raised at this conference – social licence to operate
(including resource access), productivity and profitability, market access, and sustainability.
Ultimately, the goals and strategies for this industry are industry’s narrative and our role is
the science and innovation to help get you there.”
– FRDC director Peter O’Brien, summing up the biennial Seafood Directions 2013
conference
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SECTOR PROFILES
Aquaculture
The aquaculture sector typically consists of business-savvy, value-adding ventures. The
larger operators process, package and brand their own produce. The outlook for aquaculture
in Australia is positive.
Increased consumer demand is driving industry growth, and creating opportunities to
vertically integrate seafood production all the way through to consumers. This is taking
Australian aquaculture on a course to be the major seafood production sector.
Aquaculture in Australia is in a position to capitalise on advances in breeding and disease
management, and from associated technological advances that can increase productivity
while reducing environmental impact. Advanced aquaculture production techniques also have
the potential to produce seafood with the smallest use of environmental resources of any
primary production sector.
As with the wild-catch sector, certification processes are being used in aquaculture to
promote environmental and production credentials and build consumer and societal trust.
Challenges:
Aquatic animal health – Exotic and new virus and disease incursions continue to be a major
risk to aquaculture in Australia. There is a continued need for RD&E for adequate viral and
disease diagnostic capability, surveillance and treatment in aquaculture.
Resource access – A major impediment to the growth of aquaculture is adequate access to
suitable production areas (land and water). This is mostly a concern in coastal regions in
close proximity to residential areas, where conflict exists with local communities and other
recreational users of these waterways. Another key factor impacting on resource access is
lack of community support both locally and, more broadly, on a national scale.
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Commercial fishing
The commercial fishing sector has a long and remarkable heritage. Structural adjustment in
recent times has led to a more sophisticated and modern industry, characterised by excellent
fisheries management, arguably amongst the best in the world. This has achieved a balance
between long-term environmental sustainability and economic viability.
The wild-catch industry is made up of about 15,000 licence holders, managed by Australian
governments and can be generally categorised two ways. There are a small number of
operators that take a large portion of the harvest (by value and volume). These are diverse
operations that may hold multiple licences. They may operate in a range of fisheries and in
some instances they are vertically integrated along the supply chain.
The remainder of the wild-catch sector is made up of a large number of small business
owner-operators. They are vital to sustaining small coastal communities and are passionate
about what they do; supplying Australia with seafood.
Challenges:
Public perception – There is ongoing need for the sector to demonstrate that its practices are
world’s best. In recent times this has been largely centred on obtaining third party
certification of fishing practices and management and this will continue. Additionally there
are sustainability issues that arise from external factors impacting on the environment, such
as pollution, climate variability, disease, biosecurity and destruction of habitat from a variety
of means, including coastal development.
Resource access – The marine environment is a multi-user environment. There are competing
claims for the resource between fishing and aquaculture sectors, and from other users such as
the oil and gas industry and stakeholders wanting more areas protected.
Productivity and profitability – Economic viability requires efficient harvesting methods,
elimination of unnecessarily complex legislation, better use of underutilised species and
opportunities to increase yield.
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Infographic
* The commercial sector in Australia comprises about 120 wild-catch fisheries and 70
aquaculture species.
* The total quantity of wild-caught fish in 2012–13 was 157,252 tonnes and approximately
$1.4 billion.
* Total aquaculture production reached 83,786 tonnes in 2012–13, with a value just more
than $1 billion. Value and volume are increasing, underpinned by advances in genetic
breeding, feeds, animal health and access to new areas.
* Historically, the Australian commercial seafood industry has maximised returns through
exports and contributes to about 28 per cent of domestic seafood demand.
Infographic page 12, Annual Report 2013-14
Infographic: Global context
Fishing and aquaculture provide 16 per cent of the world’s animal protein consumption.
According to the World Bank, 57 per cent of commercial wild marine fish stocks are
exploited to their full potential and another 30 per cent are overexploited and are likely to
decline.
Globally the wild fish catch has remained constant for more than 10 years.
Aquaculture encompasses more than 500 species and is currently the only seafood source
able to meet growth in demand.
Aquaculture is currently the fastest growing food production system in the world and is
forecast to expand by a third.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that aquaculture will
provide 62 per cent of fish for human consumption by 2030.
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Indigenous sector
Indigenous Australians are a distinct group by virtue of their ancient ties to the land and sea,
carried on through traditional practices that include fishing. Core values exist around the
sharing of fish with communities and families, where there is a culture of ‘no waste’.
However, Indigenous Australians also participate in the aquaculture, commercial wild-catch
and recreational sectors across Australia.
Indigenous fishing is focused around coastal, estuarine, and inland waters with a preference
for a mix of species, some of which are also important to other sectors. Marine and
freshwater species are an important food source, and a component of many customary,
ceremonial and social events.
Fishing helps communities and families to retain their independence and connection to
country, reinforces social networks through the sharing of gathered food and maintains
traditional fishing knowledge. Fish and fishing are important educational tools in many
Indigenous communities, with traditional fishing knowledge being passed on to successive
generations.
Many Indigenous Australians believe their traditional fishing rights have been ignored or are
not sufficiently recognised by government across Australia. Several state and territory
governments and authorities do explicitly recognise some Indigenous rights, including
through legislative provision of Indigenous fishing rights and opportunities, but adoption has
been slow.
Challenges:
Resource access and management – Building two-way understanding and engagement is
needed between Indigenous fishers and policy makers, resource managers, other stakeholders
and researchers to improve the adoption of completed research. While many agencies are
working with Indigenous Australians to improve outcomes, there is still significant work
required to create better futures for them through the use, acknowledgement and management
of aquatic resources.
Economic Opportunities – Australia’s Indigenous communities are increasingly seeking
opportunities to develop their fishery resources and related capacity to achieve a number of
outcomes, including improving diets, nutrition and health, retaining young people in
communities, engagement in local employment, developing local trade and business skills,
demonstrating cultural heritage and collaborating in investments. A key area is the
development of appropriate governance and economic models to best support individual and
community economic development.
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Recreational sector
For recreational fishers, aquatic resources represent opportunities for a hobby, a sport or a
vacation. These resources provide an enjoyable activity that allows people to engage with
nature, reconnect with friends and family, and provide a source of food.
The economic value for the recreational sector comes from the business activities that support
it. This includes the bait industry, tackle manufacturers and retailers, fishing tourism and
charter or guide operators.
Resource managers do not restrict the number of recreational fishers, so there are no
regulatory barriers to the growth of this sector. Rather, management focuses on fishing
impacts by controlling catch using for example bag limits, method of catching, spatial or
seasonal closures and minimum or maximum fish sizes.
However, Australia’s recreational fishing community is increasingly being asked to
demonstrate greater responsibility for aquatic resources. This will help to maintain the
sector’s social licence, and to enhance the quality of fishing opportunities, given that healthy
aquatic environments are fundamental to this pastime. The sector also wants to ensure that
decision-making is based on sound scientific information that encompasses ecological, social
and economic dimensions.
Challenges:
Management and data – The recreational sector will need to make a greater contribution to
funding and collecting quality data on economics, as well as catch and effort, particularly
where they are the sole users of a resource.
Resource access and allocation – The recreational sector wants to optimise the quality of
fishing experiences, which requires an appropriate allocation of aquatic resources. Between
fishing and aquaculture sectors and from other users such as, the oil and gas industry and
from stakeholders wanting more areas protected.
Environmental health – Linked to the desire to improve the experience of recreational fishing,
is environmental health. The recreational sector sees that gains can be made by improving the
quality of habitats that fish rely on at different life stages, thereby maximising productivity.
Funding – Recreational fishers need to establish a long-term and sustainable national funding
model to help increase the quality of fishing opportunities available in Australia through
investment in RD&E, education, and fisheries enhancement initiatives.
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A NEW STRATEGIC FOCUS
Following extensive consultation and an evaluation of the drivers and opportunities in the
fishing and aquaculture operating environment, the FRDC’s 2015-20 RD&E plan is focused
on ensuring maximised impacts by concentrating on three high priority issues:
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To ensure Australian fishing and aquaculture products are sustainable and
acknowledged to be so
Improved fisheries productivity and profitability
Development of emerging aquaculture opportunities.
The FRDC invests in RD&E to create benefit for fishing and aquaculture, and outcomes for
Australia more broadly, by investing in knowledge to create change. The FRDCs focus in
1991 was primarily on research for the management of commercial fisheries, which was
mainly concerned with target stocks and environmental effects, reflecting the priorities at the
time.
Investment by the FRDC has evolved to reflect the broader fishing and aquaculture
stakeholder base and the increased sophistication of these end users. This has resulted in an
increase in RD&E on such things as the economic and social drivers of change across the
fishing and aquaculture sectors. (For more information see: Evolution of FRDC:
http://frdc.com.au/about_frdc/corporate-documents/Pages/default.aspx)
Previous FRDC RD&E plans have included the diverse range of activities relevant to all
stakeholders. This has resulted in a range of sector-specific plans including the FRDC’s
Industry Partnership Agreements, FRDC subprograms and the RD&E Strategy. This previous
work now allows the FRDC to reference and link to these already identified priorities without
needing to duplicate them in the 201520 RD&E plan.
THE NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Australian fishing and aquaculture product are sustainable and acknowledged to be so
Aim: By 2020, the community has greater access to, and understanding of, RD&E that
underpins fishing and aquaculture sustainability, which informs perceptions of Australian
seafood.
Strategy: Report and market RD&E that displays the FRDC’s role as an independent,
science-based knowledge bank.
Continue to prioritise RD&E that ensures sustainability of fishing and aquaculture.
Deliverables:





An Australian fisheries management and/or technical standard that addresses all
fisheries and can be taken up by any management agency in Australia
A scheme for responsible fisheries management that can specifically be applied to
small-scale, data-poor Australian fisheries
Bycatch performance metrics
Much increased level of commercial species in the national Status of Key Australian
Fish Stocks Reports
Reduction in the percentage of species classified as undefined in the national Status of
Key Australian Fish Stocks Reports
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20

Expanded capacity to connect with seafood consumers and markets in Australia and
abroad and use of these channels to understand community perceptions and to tell the
Australian fishing and aquaculture story.
Targets: Community attitudes to fishing and aquaculture are more positive based on an
awareness of Australian seafood’s sustainability credentials.



Number of species in the national Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks Reports
increases to include 200 species
The number of species classified as ‘undefined’ is reduced from the approximately 30
per cent currently down to less than 10 per cent
Positive perceptions of the commercial fishing industry increase from 28 per cent to
40 per cent of the Australian public by 2020.
Improved productivity and profitability
Aim: By 2020, productivity and profitability of fishing and aquaculture are on an upward
trajectory while still ensuring environmental sustainability.
Strategy: Fund RD&E to understand profitability factors in fishing and aquaculture, link this
to business education, and encompass the needs of Indigenous communities.
Deliverables:




Strategic market intelligence and knowledge to improve market access
RD&E on energy efficiency and waste mitigation
RD&E that demonstrates how to use underutilised and undervalued species
sustainably
Case studies to understand barriers and obstacles to measuring productivity and
profitability.
Targets: Continual increase in the production and profits from Australian fishing and
aquaculture products.


Industry is more resilient and adaptable.
Environmentally sustainable increase in profits and production in fishing and
aquaculture:
o Volume of aquaculture production rises to more than 100,000 tonnes
o The value of Australia’s fishing and aquaculture increases by 20 per cent
(from $2.4 billion to $3.2 billion).
Development of emerging aquaculture opportunities
Aim: By 2020, develop at least two emerging aquaculture opportunities to the point of
significant commercialisation, with profitable business operations.
Strategy: Identify obstacles to growing the industry – such as potential markets, cost of
production, survival, deformities and uniformity of growth – and invest in outcomes that
make the commercial activity more competitive. Potential species include Yellowtail
Kingfish.
Deliverables:


Improved hatchery production technologies
Improved feeds
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20



Removal of barriers to aquaculture development
Improved husbandry
Improved health systems
Targets:

There are 2 – 3 emerging aquaculture species that are seeing good productivity
and profitability growth.
NATIONAL INITIATIVES
There are also the following specific national initiatives that the FRDC will lead through preestablished projects, subprograms and coordination programs.
Aquatic animal health and biosecurity
Aquatic animal health and biosecurity continues to be a focus area for fishing and aquaculture
RD&E. The FRDC will continue a subprogram dedicated to this area to ensure that adequate
RD&E is occurring to protect fishing and aquaculture from disease and biosecurity related
issues within Australia.
Deliverables:



Improved knowledge of the biology of disease agents, including epizootiology,
taxonomy of pathogens, pathophysiology and histology. Key diseases include:
o taxonomy of Bonamia species and its relationship to B. exitiosa and B. ostreae
o identification of the aetiological agent of oyster oedema disease.
Development of highly sensitive/specific and validated diagnostic tests for significant
enzootic, exotic, new and emerging diseases of aquatic animals in Australia
Specific and sensitive molecular diagnostic tests developed for the newly identified
aetiological agent of oyster oedema disease.
Recreational fishing
FRDC’s recreational fishing subprogram, Recfishing Research, will continue under this
RD&E Plan. The priority areas of research for the recreational sector include:

community support







access
sustainable fisheries
improvement in the experiential return from recreational fishing
safety
providing information to fisheries management
education, knowledge and adoption
health and wellbeing benefits.
Deliverables:

Better data on recreational fishing is available
o The economic value of recreational fishing in Australia is quantified
o The social impact of recreational fishing on Australian communities is better
understood, including clarification of health and wellbeing benefits
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20



o Catch and effort levels of Australia’s recreational fishing community are
quantified on appropriate spatial and temporal scales
An increased proportion of Australia’s recreational fishing community are actively
engaged in improving the quality of fishing opportunities through fish habitat
enhancement
The rights and responsibilities of Australia’s recreational fishing community are more
clearly defined and strengthened within fisheries legislation
A long-term national funding model for recreational fishing RD&E and management
in Australia is developed and agreed upon.
Indigenous fishing and aquaculture
Indigenous Australians have strong customary ties to fishing and aspire to rights, recognition,
participation and service provision within, and to, fishing and aquaculture. The FRDC funds
research on priority areas of RD&E for Indigenous people through the Indigenous Reference
Group (IRG) subprogram. The IRG has examined the aspirations for Indigenous fishing and
aquaculture. The key issues are:
 primacy for Indigenous Australians
 acknowledgement of Indigenous Customary Practices
 self-determination of Indigenous rights to use and manage culture assets and
resources
 economic development opportunities arising from Indigenous Australians’ customary
assets and associated rights
 enhanced capacity building opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Deliverables:


All FRDC projects consider the relevance to Indigenous Australians and addresses
this during the project and in reporting, as appropriate
Knowledge and understanding of size, scale and nature of Indigenous fishing
improves.
People development
Having strong leadership capacity will lead to strong fishing and aquaculture communities
that are productive and profitable and resilient to change, and people development remains an
important focus for RD&E.
Long-standing projects include the National Seafood Industry Leadership Program and
funding participants to the Australian Rural Leadership program. Within this plan, the FRDC
will develop opportunities for industry to collaborate or co-invest in people development
projects to ensure continued capacity building for fishing and aquaculture.
Deliverable:




Continue to invest in leadership capacity building
Co-invest with partners in other areas of capacity building
Invest with universities in students to study marine-science-specific topics relevant to
the FRDC’s stakeholders
Collection of data to better understand the training needs for fishing and aquaculture.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
Social sciences and economics
The FRDC initiated the Social Sciences and Economics Coordination Program in 2009 to
address the limited understanding around the social aspects of the fishing and aquaculture
industry. The response to this program has encouraged its continued funding.
The program’s focus includes fisheries management, change management, community
perceptions, the adoption of RD&E and the ability of industry to adapt to change. Research
generally focuses on how individuals, businesses, groups or sectors interact within the
broader community and regional industries.
Deliverable:






Increased knowledge about how community values align with the value of Australian
fishing and aquaculture sectors, with the aim of improving community perceptions
Increased involvement of social scientists and economists in fisheries RD&E
Improved integration of social and economic research tools and frameworks with
biological approaches to support fisheries assessment and decision-making
Social and economic components of fisheries are more explicitly accounted for in
management objectives for and performance indicators
Fishing and aquaculture leaders and organisations are aware of the major research
findings and tools available to inform and address the social acceptability of
Australian seafood
Improved understanding of the social and economic challenges facing fishing and
aquaculture in Australia, with the skills available to meet those challenges.
Delivery of key services
The FRDC has invested in the development of services to support fishing and aquaculture on
important issues, from data to facilitate international trade, to the creation of relevant
fisheries-based Australian Standards. As part of this RD&E plan the Corporation will
continue to provide these services, with new cost-effective operating models being developed
that will allow the provision of expanded services.
Continuing activities include those related to standards, auditing and trade. Changes to the
FRDC’s enabling legislation now make it possible for the Corporation to engage in marketing
activities that include promoting Australia’s seafood products, recreational fishing and worldleading management practices.
In the future, the FRDC will also focus on a more integrated IT platform that allows for more
efficient use of the Corporations stock of electronically held records and data to help
streamline program activities, from management and reporting to communications and
marketing.
Deliverable:




The FRDC maintains accreditation to develop Australian Standards
Delivery of trade market access data
Continuation of the SafeFish program
Delivery of fisheries data and statistics.
“A key activity for the FRDC is to identify gaps in the industry data and knowledge to inform
industry end users. Information and data should be the foundation for all marketing
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
activities. Without it, stakeholders are flying blind when it comes to their investment in
marketing.”
– FRDC manager for communications, trade and marketing, Peter Horvat
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
IMPLEMENTING THE FRDC RD&E PLAN
FRDC’s will invest in RD&E using the following three processes.
Lead
The FRDC will lead RD&E prioritisation and investment in three national priority areas as
well as six national initiatives. These priorities/initiatives are designed to deliver RD&E with
‘public good’ aspects and will, therefore, be funded from the Australian Government’s
‘public good component’ of FRDC revenue.
Partner
Under partnership agreements the FRDC gives autonomy to some sectors and regions to form
their own RD&E priorities. Under these agreements, the Corporation will work with sectors
and regions to set out the guidelines, timelines and evaluation processes, from funding
application to adoption of RD&E outputs. This will help to link the sector-based or regional
plans with the FRDC’s RD&E Plan, and ensure they incorporate the objectives of the PIRD
Act. Further information on partnership agreements is available in the FRDC’s investment
framework policy.
Funding for these activities involves the combination from that sector/region coupled with the
matching funding from the Australian Government contribution.
Collaborate
The collaboration element of the RD&E Plan provides a vehicle whereby sectors or regions
may leverage funding from the national priorities or national initiatives if there is alignment
with the sectors’ own priorities. This encourages sectors to collaborate with each other.
In addition, the FRDC encourages sectors and regions to collaborate in specific areas of
RD&E such as people development, service functions and social sciences.
THE FRDC RD&E PROGRAM AREAS
The FRDC has five broad programs of RD&E investment that directly align with its
governing legislation, the Primary Industry Research and Development Act 1989:





environment
industry
communities
people
extension.
The FRDC will assess and model its RD&E investments based on these program areas to
ensure a balanced portfolio is maintained to meet the long and short-term needs of
stakeholders, including the Australian community.
Environment
Relates to research that provides outputs to underpin natural resource sustainability in
managing the fishing and aquaculture activities Commonwealth, state and territory waters.
Many components of RD&E undertaken by the FRDC focus on improving the sustainable
use of Australia’s aquatic resources.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
Industry
Relates to RD&E outputs that assist the production and the value of seafood. This could come
in the form of business profitability, international competitiveness, opportunities for
productivity increases, resource access, experience or wellbeing benefits depending on the
sector. This program aims to assist all sectors improve their overall performance.
Communities
Relates to research outputs that maintain the long-term sustainability (triple bottom line) of
the fishing industry by understanding the interactions and co-dependence between the
community and fishing/aquaculture. This program is underpinned by the knowledge about the
social importance of fisheries.
People
Relates to outputs needed to continue to attract and develop people who will take the industry
forward, towards a sustainable and profitable future. The FRDC has taken a strong role in
supporting people development, from employing and developing young researchers, through
to facilitating access to leadership development for all levels of industry.
Extension
Relates to the delivery of project outputs in ways that allow easy adoption and support
stakeholder decision-making and practices. The FRDC continually works with researchers
and end users to determine and implement the most effective way of extending results. In
addition, the FRDC is continuing to develop its systems to ensure that its ‘knowledge bank’ is
easily accessible.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
WHO WILL LEAD
The FRDC in conjunction with
national bodies and structures
takes the lead in this area
A sector or region will collaborate
with another or bid for additional
funding to achieve common
priorities
Sectors and regions have control over setting their
priorities. Proposals then come to the FRDC and are
reviewed through the normal process as per the investment
framework policy
Figure 4 The ’what, how and who’ for the FRDC RD&E Plan 2015–20, including the link to the FRDC program areas.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
A BALANCED RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
Most FRDC investment in RD&E is driven by stakeholder needs. This RD&E Plan seeks to
be more targeted in three major areas, delivering against strategic national priorities.
Sector and regions also have autonomy in setting their own RD&E priorities; although these
must balance across the FRDC’s program areas.
The FRDC also works to balance its RD&E portfolio including:






national, regional and sector-focused projects
long and short-term project timelines
low and high risk projects
tactical and strategic initiates
blue sky and applied projects
domestic and international relevance.
APPLYING FOR FUNDING
The FRDC investment framework policy details the mechanisms and processes involved in
RD&E investment. This includes how to apply for funding and the requirement for
Partnership Agreements. More detail can be found in the FRDC investment framework policy
and on the FRDC website.
EXTENSION AND ADOPTION OF RESEARCH OUTPUTS
The FRDC ensures that extension and adoption processes are embedded into all of the
research and development which it funds.
The process that the FRDC follows to ensure results are extended and adopted is to build in
the consideration of extension throughout the entire project process. This includes from the
point of deciding on priorities to the end users involved, through the design and proposal
phase, as well as execution of the project, and through to the finalisation of reports. This is
often easier for short term applied research but does need to be more considered for blue sky
longer term research.
Within the project management process the FRDC follows it ensures that results are delivered
in a timely manner and that extension and adoption processes are conducted within projects.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
COLLABORATION WITHIN THE NATIONAL RESEARCH
FRAMEWORK
Where possible, the FRDC collaborates with other primary industry Research Development
Corporations (RDCs) through the National Primary Industries RD&E Framework. The
National Framework consists of 14 sector-based strategies and eight cross-sector strategies.
FRDC is a member of the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations and
actively engages in this forum. As with many of the other RDCs, the FRDC is continually
looking for opportunities to collaborate on RD&E of benefit to multiple primary industries.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
PRIORITIES
Figure 5 shows how the FRDC RD&E Plan national priority areas link to the Australian strategic
research priorities and the national rural R&D priorities. Note that the people development priority
does not directly align with Australia’s Science and Research Priority areas but there is what is
termed a cross-cutting issue in these Science and Research priorities which deals with ensuring a
dynamic and skilled research workforce.
The FRDC takes great care to ensure the most efficient and effective links are developed
across RD&E for fishing and aquaculture. The objectives of the PIRD Act provide the basis
of the FRDC’s outcome statement – its reason for being – but there are other key planning
documents that also contain relevant research priorities such as:







Australian Government Strategic Research Priorities;
Rural R&D Priorities;
The National Marine Science Plan;
The National Primary Industries RD&E Framework – National Fishing and
Aquaculture RD&E Strategy;
Partnership Agreement Strategic Research Plans
(for industry sectors and Fisheries Research Advisory Boards);
FRDC subprogram plans; and
Department of Agriculture’s AQUAPLAN 2014–2019.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
ALIGNED RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Structurally, the National Marine Science Plan is the key planning document for marine
science in Australia. However, the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 201520 incorporates research priorities and themes from the National Marine Science Plan and
aligns with that plan. In turn, the FRDC’s RD&E Plan aligns with the research priorities and
themes of the fishing and aquaculture strategy.
The FRDC has been a major contributor to National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E
Strategy. Aligning the FRDC RD&E Plan with the fishing and aquaculture strategy allows
the Corporation to minimise duplication. The FRDC can support the delivery of relevant
objectives and assess opportunities to provide leadership or address RD&E gaps. The FRDC
will link strongly with national initiatives, such as those in the Fishing and Aquaculture
Strategy to establish major and supporting research services.
The Corporation will draw on international research expertise and outputs where these are
relevant, to minimise duplication, and maximise efficiency and develop partnerships with the
potential to increase returns for stakeholders.
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
EVALUATION FRAMEWORK
While each measure is summarised here, the FRDC is required to report on its performance annually. These annual reports provide a snapshot for
how the corporation is working towards the aims and targets of this RD&E Plan.
Table 1 For each of the three national priority areas the FRDC has set targets to track how they are progressing through the life of the RD&E Plan.
Aim
Target
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
By 2020, the community has
greater access to, and
understanding of, RD&E that
underpins fishing and
aquaculture sustainability,
which informs perceptions of
Australian seafood
Number of species in the national
status of key fish stocks report
increases to include 200 species
114
160
200
The number of species classified as
‘undefined’ is reduced from the
approximately 30% currently down to
less than 10%
~30%
~20%
<10%
Perception of the commercial fishing
industry increased from 30% to 40%
by 2020.
28%
30%
34%
36%
40%
By 2020, productivity and
profitability of fishing and
aquaculture are on an upward
trajectory while still ensuring
environmental sustainability
Volume of aquaculture rises to above
100,000 tonnes.
85,000
90,000
95,000
100,000
110,000
The value of Australia’s fishing and
aquaculture increases by 20% ($2.4
billion to $2.8 billion).
2.4
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.2
By 2020, develop at least
two aquaculture
opportunities to the point of
significant commercialisation
with profitable business
operations
There are 2 – 3 new aquaculture
species that are seeing good
productivity and profitability growth
as measured by an increase in tonnage
from other species
2,000
2,800
3,200
3,600
4,000
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
FUNDING AND EXPENDITURE
Table 2 FRDC financial income and expenditure planning 2015 – 2020
2015-16
REVENUE
Revenue from Australian Government
Contributions
Other
Total revenue
EXPENSES
Programs:
Environment
Industry devleopment
People development
Communities
Extension and adoption
Total programs expenditure
Management and accountability
Total expenses
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
$19,244,243 $20,206,455 $21,216,778 $22,277,617 $23,391,498
$7,850,128 $8,242,634 $8,654,766 $9,087,504 $9,541,880
$1,267,000 $1,330,350 $1,396,868 $1,466,711 $1,540,046
$28,361,371 $29,779,440 $31,268,412 $32,831,832 $34,473,424
$9,715,466
$9,715,466
$2,428,867
$485,773
$2,268,910
$24,288,665
$4,072,706
$28,361,371
$10,164,976
$10,164,976
$2,541,244
$508,249
$2,382,355
$25,412,440
$4,367,000
$29,779,440
$10,641,765
$10,641,765
$2,660,441
$532,088
$2,501,473
$26,604,412
$4,664,000
$31,268,412
$11,165,933
$11,165,933
$2,791,483
$558,297
$2,626,547
$27,914,832
$4,917,000
$32,831,832
$11,708,170
$11,708,170
$2,927,042
$585,408
$2,757,874
$29,270,424
$5,203,000
$34,473,424
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Fisheries Research Development and Extension Plan 2015–20
Table 3 allocation of funding across the strategic investment areas, strategic priorities, national initiatives and the partnership agreements
Activity view of expendituare
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
Existing contracts, plus recommended approvals
$ 15,588,665 $ 12,162,440 $ 7,104,412 $ 3,064,832 $ 2,020,424
for 2015 round (using forecast date)*
National Priorities
$ 1,600,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 2,300,000 $ 3,600,000 $ 5,000,000
National Initiativess
$ 1,000,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 2,700,000 $ 3,300,000 $ 3,300,000
Response Fund+
Partnership Agreements (sectors)
Partnership Agreements (regions)
Total programs expenditure
$ 1,500,000
$ 4,500,000
$ 100,000
$ 24,288,665
$ 1,500,000
$ 6,200,000
$ 2,550,000
$ 25,412,440
$ 1,500,000
$ 8,000,000
$ 5,000,000
$ 26,604,412
$ 1,500,000
$ 9,000,000
$ 7,450,000
$ 27,914,832
$ 1,500,000
$ 10,000,000
$ 7,450,000
$ 29,270,424
* note that there are existing contracts for RD&E, this funding is mostly from the sector and region partnership agreement line items.
+
the response fund is to conduct urgent RD&E needs outside of other funding processes.
Page 33