Fishing Industry

The fishing industry in which FRDC operates The fishing industry is Australia’s sixth most valuable food-based primary industry with a landed value of more than $2.1 billion a year. In addition more than 3.4 million Australians recreationally fish each year spending an additional $2.5 billion. For indigenous communities the fishing industry not only provides a significant role in culture and subsistence but also an avenue for income.

The "fishing industry" is defined in the PIERD Act 1989 for the purposes of the FRDC as any industry or activity carried on in or from Australia concerned with:

• taking; or
• culturing; or
• processing; or
• preserving; or
• storing; or
• transporting; or
• marketing; or
• selling;

of fish or fish products.

Based on this definition there are four principal industry sectors that the FRDC invests in and with:

• Wild-catch
• Aquaculture
• Recreational
• Traditional

Overview

Employment statistics (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)) for the fishing industry indicate that commercial fishing employment in 2007-08 was 13 000 persons, more than 30 per cent higher than in 2006-07, but around 32 per cent lower than in 2000-01.

The FRDC (the Corporation) has a significant responsibility in ensuring, on behalf of the Australian Government, that research is undertaken to assist in the management of the fisheries resource for ongoing sustainability. This means that a significant proportion of funding is directed at research that has a public good benefit.

The Corporation also invests in industry development activities that aim to assist all sectors of the fishing industry to be more efficient and profitable. This research and development covers the spectrum of the supply chain from catching, through processing, and ultimately to the end consumer.

In addition, significant work is being undertaken to develop the people within the seafood industry by providing opportunities to build on skills helping to progress the industry.

Table 1: Industry results 2008-09*

*  The figures quoted from the Australian Fisheries Statistics are for 2007–08, and are from the latest edition that can be downloaded from the FRDC website.