Published: 21 June 2021 Updated: 7 August 2023
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The Commonwealth Research Advisory Committee (COMRAC) formerly the Commonwealth Fisheries Research Advisory Body (FRAB), is an Australian Government statutory authority that was established by the FRDC in March 2016 under the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 (PIRD Act).

The Commonwealth Research Advisory Committee (COMRAC) is an expertise-based committee is comprised of a membership group with expertise in wild catch (commercial and recreational), aquaculture, resource management, processing/post-harvest, indigenous, RD&E management or people development. The committee is responsible for facilitating the identification and delivery of efficient and effective research for stakeholders in Commonwealth.

Research Priorities

Research, Development and Extension Plan

COMRAC has developed a 5-year Research, Development (RD&E) Plan that provides a framework to identify and invest in key strategic research needs of Commonwealth stakeholders, with the intent to ensure a healthy marine ecosystem and efficient, productive and profitable fisheries (including commercial, Indigenous and recreational).

The FRDC invests through a flexible approach. Part of this approach allows the Research Advisory Committees (RACs), Industry Partnership Agreements (IPAs) and Subprograms to call for applications based on their priorities, drawn from the RDE Plan, up to three times per year in November, April and August – see whether this IPA has put forward any priorities in the current call for applications.

FRDC Management Contacts

Associated Industry Partnership Agreements

IPAs are an agreement between the FRDC and a sector body to manage a suite of sectoral projects over a specified time period against an agreed industry strategic plan. Some sectors in a jurisdiction may have their RD&E need represented by the IPA as opposed to the RAC – find more information on IPAs.

Related projects

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