Media Release

For immediate use - 16th September 2002

SA FISHERIES TO BENEFIT FROM $1.8M R&D FUNDING

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) has announced funding totalling over $1.8 million towards new research and development projects in South Australia.

FRDC Chairman, Mr Denis Byrne said South Australia's fishing industry and other stakeholders will benefit from funding allocated to 11 new projects to be conducted over the next few years by state government fisheries research institutes, industry groups and other research providers.

"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 South Australia.

"Many questions about South Australia's significant snapper fishery will be answered in a project on snapper movement and stock structure. Are the snapper a single population mixed from different regions or are there separate regional populations? Do fish return from the continental shelf to the region of their origin and eventual capture?

"South Australian Research and Development Institute researchers will analyse fish otoliths (the tiny ear bone) to attempt to provide the answers for a fishery that produces sharply differing results from its two major regions - northern Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent.

"Their conclusions will be combined in a final report with all previous relevant information on snapper movement and stock structure in South Australia, including data from tagging studies and genetic analyses. This is expected to give managers the information they need to ensure the fishery is managed sustainably.

"Another significant project seizes the opportunity to investigate the nation's blue mackerel stocks while catch rates are low.

"This major project will bring together managers and researchers from four States and the Commonwealth to assess populations from the Great Australian Bight to the Queensland/NSW border and will also provide information on the NSW recreational catch for resource access decision-makers. It is co-funded by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

"FRDC is also committed to developing the leaders of the seafood industry and to ensure there is good succession planning.

"South Australia has taken the lead in this area, developing a national seafood industry advanced leadership development program," he said. "FRDC is proud to join with other program sponsors to fund this initiative."

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, 0438 630 491
Leadership program: Martin Smallridge, Seafood Council SA, ph 08 8272 7766
SA snapper: Anthony Fowler, SARDI, phone 08 8200 2432
Blue mackerel stock assessment: Tim Ward, SARDI, phone 08 8200 2433