FRDC is appointing regionally based Extension Officers across Australia to directly engage with the people involved in fishing and aquaculture, to increase the adoption of research outcomes and to help tailor research and development (R&D) to their needs. 

Managing Director Dr Patrick Hone says FRDC has created the Extension Officer Network based on feedback from fishing and aquaculture stakeholders. 

‘They told us that we needed a team on the ground, in the regions, to help accelerate the adoption of R&D outcomes and drive practice change’, he says.  

‘The Extension Officers will help increase our engagement with people across aquaculture and fishing and deepen our engagement with people who are not in leadership positions and on committees. 

‘It’s part of our commitment to collaborating with and supporting our stakeholders across aquaculture, commercial wildcatch, Indigenous and recreational fishing and connecting them with the latest innovations, research and development.’ 

The extension officers are Nathan Bicknell (SA), Kris Cooling (NSW), Felicity Horn (WA), Matthew Jones (Victoria) and Lauren Thornton (NT). Nathan and Matt have started with FRDC, and Felicity, Lauren and Kris will come onboard in late April and early May. 

Recruitment is underway for Extension Officers in Queensland and Tasmania. The Extension Officers will work both regionally and nationally as relevant to their skill sets. 

Dr Hone says they have been chosen for their extension skills, experience and knowledge of fishing and aquaculture and their connections to industry and regional communities. 

‘They are a great group of engaging people who are passionate about fishing and aquaculture and bring a wealth of experience across different sectors’, he says. 

‘We are really excited to have them on board and look forward to seeing their impact on the ground. 

‘Their broad remit is to work with the people and organisations in aquaculture, commercial wildcatch, Indigenous and recreational fishing to extend R&D outcomes that meet user needs, incorporate their input into R&D priorities and to bring stakeholders together to solve problems’, he says.  

The extension officers will also help identify end-user R&D needs for FRDC’s Research Advisory Committees (RACs). There is a RAC for each state and territory and the RACs provide advice to FRDC on their jurisdiction’s research priorities and investment needs. 

Chair of the WA and SA RACs Brett McCallum says the Extension Officers will facilitate a wealth of input from stakeholders. 

‘In our experience, the opportunity for industry people to sit with an Extension Officer in the familiar surrounds of their vessel wheelhouse, the kitchen table, the local coffee shop or the port association meeting and discuss R&D requirements for their industry allows the less formal consultation approach that our industry stakeholders prefer’, he says. 

Laying out their ideas in their own words, without the pressure of public speaking, will bring the best out of the industry.’ 

Dr Hone says the Extension Officers will look at regional solutions for regional issues in ways that can be adapted across the country, and they will help industry tap into previous, current and future research to find workable solutions. 

‘Fishing and aquaculture are facing complex challenges and opportunities, including profitability, access to aquatic resources, climate change, transitioning to a circular economy, the development of alternative proteins and increasing opportunities for Indigenous communities in fishing and aquaculture’, he says. 

‘These are challenges that require a collaborative effort within and across sectors and industries and the Extension Officers will be part of that effort.’  

Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) Chief Executive Officer Veronica Papacosta says SIA looks forward to welcoming the new FRDC Extension Officers to the sector. 

‘We look forward to the Extension Officers engaging with industry to increase knowledge sharing, research awareness and adoption of research to help industry and drive change’, she says. 

‘The true value of research can be seen when it is used to unlock outcomes such as adoption into practice, innovation or management change.  

‘SIA looks forward to these officers growing FRDC's R&D outputs and providing solutions to industry problems and challenges.’ 

Nathan Bicknell 

Nathan grew up in a Rock Lobster fishing family in Port Lincoln, South Australia and studied environmental science, majoring in fisheries management. He has worked for Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Ocean Watch Australia and the Marine Fishers Association, which represents SA’s marine scalefish licence holders. Most recently, he was an industry consultant, which included developing a Master Fisherman training module with peak industry bodies. He also held part-time positions with the Murray Darling Basin Authority and the Murray Darling Association, facilitating workshops and industry participation to improve cooperation and conflict resolution between stakeholders. Nathan says he is keen to ensure that fishers, those involved in aquaculture and other stakeholders have a chance to be involved in all phases of research and development so that outcomes are more finely tuned for adoption. Nathan says his approach as an extension officer will be to tap into the intrinsically innovative and pioneering nature of the people involved in fishing and aquaculture to help achieve material benefits for their sectors. 

Dr Matthew Jones

Matt has worked with stakeholders across the fisheries, aquaculture and maritime industries for 12 years in Victoria and Tasmania. He graduated with dual degrees of Bachelor of Applied Science (Aquaculture) and Bachelor of Aquaculture from University of Tasmania, followed by honours and a PhD in aquatic animal nutrition and disease management. He took up a role as fish health specialist with Huon Aquaculture, providing technical advice and spending time on the company’s vessels and its broader operations. He later became a training and industry liaison officer with Seafood and Maritime Training, working with industries including Salmon, Oyster and Abalone. Matt helped design on-board training for topics such as disease identification, biosecurity and nutrition. He enjoys developing practical approaches to bridge the gap between scientific outcomes and industry. In his role with FRDC, Matt says he will distil the outcomes of research and development in a way that is tangible for people involved in fishing and aquaculture.