Media Release

For immediate use - 13th August 2002

QUEENSLAND TO RECEIVE OVER $10M FOR FISHERIES R&D

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) has announced funding of over $10.2 million for new research and development projects in Queensland.

FRDC Chairman, Mr Denis Byrne, announced details of the 2002-03 funding round today.

"Queensland's fishing industry and other stakeholders will benefit from funding allocated to 13 new projects to be conducted by state government fisheries research institutes, industry groups and other research providers over the next couple of years.

"Projects funded this year reflect the industry and governments' commitment to ensuring the sustainability of Australia's fisheries resources, developing leadership within industry and building on previous success to deliver benefits to Queensland.

"The rapidly expanding prawn farming industry has identified the domestication of black tiger prawns as critical to its future competitiveness. FRDC has supported an Australian Prawn Farmers' Association initiative, in partnership with researchers from CSIRO, the Department of Primary Industries Queensland, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Australia's leading prawn hatcheries to attempt to achieve this formidable goal.

"FRDC is also working with researchers to address the worldwide concern for the sustainability of shark stocks which stems from their generally low productivity, coupled with some species' naturally small populations.

"One of this year's projects will attempt to establish long-term information on the catch composition from target shark fisheries in northern Australia in order to ensure sustainable management.

"This project is tied closely to the National Plan of Action for the Conservation of Sharks which has been developed as part of Australia's commitment to an international plan of action (IPOA) for sharks being negotiated by member states of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

"In investing in two shark projects this year, the FRDC Board has made clear to management agencies that the funding is conditional on their implementing the national action plan.

"FRDC has also advised agencies that this research should not be used to delay management actions needed to conserve sharks. FRDC has raised the bar for investing in tactical projects where there is a clear fisheries management outcome," he said.

"FRDC is also working with industry to ensure the fishing industry maximises opportunities for its sustainable development. A key step in achieving this has been the formation of Seafood Services Australia Ltd, based in Brisbane.

"Through SSA, the seafood industry will be able to tap into government funding programs for which it had previously found difficult to access.

"SSA will assist industry throughout Australia, by providing finance and expertise for seafood developments promising a whole-of-chain benefit, inspiring a more integrated, forward-looking approach by key industry operators and assisting industry adoption of environmental management, quality management and food safety systems, plus their associated certification," he said.

The FRDC is responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing fisheries R&D and facilitating the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation of the results. The FRDC is a statutory authority of the Commonwealth Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia.

ENDS

Contact: Kylie Paulsen, Communications Manager - Extension, Ph 0438 630 491
Black tiger prawn domestication: Nigel Preston, CSIRO, phone 07 3826 7221
Seafood Services Australia Ltd: Ted Loveday, SSA, ph 1300 130 321
Northern Australian sharks and rays: Ilona Stobutzki, CSIRO, ph 07 3826 7295