The FRDC Board asked the FRDC Secretariat to develop an extension plan for the Sydney Fish Market Occupational Health and Safety Video and Quality Index. As a result of this request FRDC approached OceanWatch/SeaNet to develop a plan for the roll out and extension of these project outputs.

Additionally, FRDC has related completed research in the areas that could be incorporated into the extension and add value.

Both OH&S and Quality have been identified by industry as major issues that require on-going action. The FRDC over the past 10 years has invested in numerous projects to develop tools for both issues, however very little has been allocated to extension of these materials.

In recent research funded by both the FRDC and Seafood CRC Quality has been identified as a major issue for the seafood industry. The increased cost of seafood has meant that consumers are becoming heavily focused on quality. The issue of quality, flows onto the credibility and standing of the industry - consumers do not like paying high prices for seafood that has been handled badly or is of poor quality. In addition waste and spoilage are factors that consumers can readily see and have associated with sustainability.

Presenting at the Summit, themed "Reducing Risk, Increasing Sustainability: Solutions through Collaboration", will increase my contact/collaboration with leading marine industries experts that use the marine space and resources. As the summit aims to assist marine businesses in addressing shared ocean environmental challenges and develop the practical programs to develop and implement solutions - issues raised at the 2010 Seafood Directions, there is opportunity for me to gather ideas, techniques and contacts that are relevant to the sustainability of Australian fisheries and mechanism for improved communication to the public. Further travel to discuss progress in Ireland on wild caught seafood EMS and its impact on market share, will further assist the work of OWA and the industry nationally, particularly the inshore fisheries which often are in direct conflict with other estuarine/marine user groups.

Given the current trend by groups such as Planet Ark, local councils, DEH and other industries it is important that
the seafood industry is aware of the options/alternatives available for reducing plastics and is seen to be operating
as a responsible industry. Internationally, particularly in the EU, there is also a drive to reduce plastics and other
non-recyclable materials such as polystyrene. There is no forward planning in the Seafood industry to cover this
issue and because of the environmental damage that can be caused by plastics it is essential that some
background work be done to assess the current position and to create some viable alternatives.