Indigenous fishing subprogram: Planning, developing and coordinating Indigenous input to the Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) for Australia's fishing community - Indigenous RD&E Subprogram (IRDES) management
There is a persisting and ongoing need to provide for continued planning and implementation of targeted and effective RD&E activities that address priorities for the Indigenous sectors. This was clearly identified as the first NFARDES was being developed and has again been highlighted as part of the development of the latest Strategy.
The FRDC has provided support to assist in addressing this by supporting and resourcing the IRG through a series of projects, and most recently with the development of an Indigenous RD&E Sub Program.
This project provides the support and resourcing for the IRG to manage and oversee the Sub Program on behalf of the FRDC to ensure there is greater Indigenous input, engagement and inclusivity in the development of the revised NFARDES and FRDC's RD&E plan and to address identified Indigenous priorities.
There are synergies and efficiencies to be achieved by more closely linking the FRDC Indigenous development scholarships program with the Sub Program.
Final report
This report outlines the role that the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) has had in providing high level and strategic advice to the FRDC on its Indigenous Research Development and Extension (RD&E) investment and also the IRG’s role in managing the FRDC Indigenous Subprogram.
The IRG has made significant progress in broadening stakeholders’ understanding of the Indigenous sector and its place in the broader fishing and seafood industry. The IRG continues to receive positive feedback and strong support from most sectors and has allowed greater engagement and input from an Indigenous perspective with the Australian fishing and seafood industry. This project has been exceptionally successful and the previously identified gap in articulating priorities for the Indigenous sector and as a means for formal engagement at a national level has started to be addressed in a very short period.
Thanks to the work of the IRG there has been increased investment in RD&E in the fishing and seafood industry that acknowledges and engages with Indigenous Australians. Ten projects are currently underway, and additional projects are anticipated to be in place in late 2017/early 2018 to address areas of Capacity Building and Data Collection. In addition, via the involvement of the IRG, the views of the Indigenous sector are now being incorporated in the many forums that consider RD&E, policy and fishing and seafood governance.
Indigenous Fishing Subprogram: Improving access for Indigenous Australians to and involvement in the use and management of Australia's fisheries resource
The need for this project comes from the continuing assertion by ICF that their ongoing relationship (use, management and spiritual associations) with fisheries resources is yet to be sufficiently addressed by various Australian fisheries jurisdictions. While this relationship is recognised in various international instruments and agreements including the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries Section 7.6.6, the United Nations Declaration on rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, this recognition hasn't converted to an 'on ground' full realisation in any fisheries jurisdiction. Indigenous participants at the Cairns workshops in 2012 identified a need for further work to be done to address these deficiencies, see FRDC Project 2010/401. Similarly, project 2009/038 documented the concerns of ICF in NSW with the impacts of commercial and recreational fishing on their cultural fishing practices.
There is a need for consistent approaches to the recognition and protection of ICF in fisheries management and governance at various levels of government. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the current status of fisheries management approaches taken in each jurisdiction to address Indigenous fisheries interests in order to; (i) identify achievements and gaps, (ii) build on recent achievements made in this area (e.g. existent indigenous fisheries strategies, establishment of the IRG and recent FRDC funded research initiatives), (iii) benchmark management approaches in each jurisdiction with national and international best practice.
There is a need to complete the work on developing an Indigenous GCT described by Fletcher et al (2000) using different approaches to collect the relevant data for the GCT so that a risk assessment methodologies can be applied in assessing risks and impacts of nIF on the ICF as part of achieving ESD in Australia.
Final report
This report provides details of the FRDC Project 2014-233 Improving access for Indigenous Australians to and involvement in the use and management of Australia’s fisheries resources. The project was undertaken because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to assert that their rightful place in the use and management of fisheries resources is yet to reach a level that would enable them to meet their cultural, social and economic needs.
Some key issues underpinning this perception were identified by Indigenous fishers at a national workshop supported by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) held in Cairns 2011. Two specific issues identified in Cairns were the basis for this project, they included the need to identify barriers and opportunities for Indigenous fisheries within legislation and policy and the need to address non-indigenous impacts on Indigenous fisheries. This project comprised two phases addressing two objectives based on these two issues.
Phase 1 of the project centred on the first objective, to audit as many fisheries related documents (legislation, policy, management strategies and plans) so as to develop a picture of how Indigenous fisheries are addressed within these documents. Phase 2 of the project focussed on the second objective which was to trial a methodology for conducting a risk assessment of the potential impacts of non-indigenous fisheries on Indigenous cultural fishing.
It will take time for the outcomes to have an impact on end users such as fisheries managers. However, there has already been some uptake of information from the project into fisheries decision making spaces. This has been achieved through information from the
audit being provided to a number of governmental reviews and inquiries over the past 3 years. For Indigenous end users’ findings from this section of the project will be communicated through a recently commenced FRDC project 2017-069 in the form of educational content and key messages developed through a new project the FRDC Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) is supporting to commence in 2019 (‘Identify and synthesizing key messages from IRG projects’).From Phase 1 of the project the research team recommends the development of a more comprehensive set of national Indigenous fishing principles to further guide the development, implementation and monitoring of Indigenous fisheries policy across all jurisdictions. The team also recommends the inclusion in all fisheries acts, across all jurisdictions, of an objective that specifically addresses Indigenous cultural fishing, provisions for the establishment of Indigenous fisheries advisory committees, the inclusion of provisions to identify, measure and address impacts of non-indigenous fisheries on Indigenous fisheries and provisions to protect and enhance Traditional Fishing Knowledge (TFK). The research team also recommends a review of the Commonwealth’s ESD guidelines to include a requirement for the assessment of the impacts of non-Indigenous fisheries on Indigenous cultural fishing.
The aim of Phase 2 of this project was to run a series of case study workshops for Indigenous fishing communities to test a methodology for making risk assessments of fisheries that was developed by Fletcher et al 2002. This methodology was used to assess
the potential risks posed by non-indigenous fisheries on Indigenous cultural fisheries.
Tactical Research Fund: using industry expertise to build a national standard for grading of live mud crabs
Differing interpretations of grading standards for live mud crabs between fishers and buyers is highly emotive and greatly impacts industry revenue and relationships throughout the supply chain. Live mud crabs are the Sydney Fish Market’s second most valuable product and one of its most problematic, mainly due to grading issues. The urgent need for national grading standards is illustrated by the high level of confusion existing within all industry sectors.
This is compounded by the current environmental conditions that created an oversupply and low mud crab prices at market. Recent floods resulted in old crab with little meat content entering the market in higher than normal proportions, as well as an abundance of newly moulted ‘empty’ crab that are more susceptible to mortality within the supply chain and are lower priced. With newly adopted improved handling practices, harvesters are looking for new markets and experiencing various grading interpretations.
Lack of consumer confidence in purchasing a ‘full' crab impacts industry revenue. Having purchased a crab with poor meat content, consumers are unlikely to purchase again.
There is overwhelming Industry support to develop a universal, objective, agreed and workable standard. To achieve this national standards needs to be developed to ensure all harvesters, buyers and marketers agree on consistent grading standard for live mud crab. Many currently active industry members indicated they are unclear of grading parameters for live mud crab.
With the Qld crab-review in progress, the development of grading standards is timely and will assist the transition to any adjusted management regime.
As the catch of mud crab is a major component of the recreational fishery in many jurisdictions it is important to educate them on how to tell if a crab would be best returned to the water.
Final report
This project lead to a large number of outcomes that provided significant benefit to the Australian live mud crab industry supply chain. These include:
- Agreement on an easy to use, national, industry-driven, grading scheme for live mud crabs (the Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme) and the development of a range of material to extend the scheme widely
- Industry ownership and support for the grading scheme has been evident, with many sectors, individuals and groups taking the scheme on board, including the Sydney Fish Market (SFM) adopting the Australian Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme as part of its grading guidelines.
- Improved revenue return to the supply chain through a reduction in downgraded live mud crab, resulting in maximum price per unit. Even though not formally adopted until December 2012, data indicates up to a $1.40/kg increase in value for properly graded product at the SFM since the forum.
- Supply chain partners have indicated greater consumer satisfaction and less disagreement due to the development of the extension material and easy to use grading scheme. With the formal launch of the scheme on 3rd December 2012, in conjunction with the SFM, the linking with key sector sites and groups, and all of the material going live, it is anticipated that as consumers become better informed in their decision making process when choosing mud crab, there will be elevated consumer confidence to buy premium quality, live mud crab, engendering more frequent purchases.
- The linking of project 2010/302 and this project has seen far greater utilisation of Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) resources along the supply chain. Six trips were undertaken jointly to meet with key people and groups along the supply chain (NT x 2, NSW x 2, Vic x 1, Qld x 1), and the linking of best handling and grading became intertwined. In addition, when work on either project has taken place by the individual project teams, the opportunity to cross reference the projects has allowed the combined knowledge of the projects to be further extended.
- The forum methodology, which focused on providing optimal input from industry, was extremely well supported and can serve as a template for future whole of supply chain meetings.
- The benefits of using professional media/design personnel as part of capturing outcomes from the workshop and developing extension material proved very successful and resulted in production of high quality, client focussed, targeted material.
Keywords: Mud crab, grading scheme, quality, facilitation, extension, industry, supply chain.
Project products
Facilitation of the FRDC Indigenous reference group (IRG) to progress RD&E outcomes
At the ‘Shaping Indigenous RD&E Forum’ a key outcome was the development of a revised Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) which was tasked with a number of responsibilities including;
- determining a meeting schedule and work program
- developing terms of reference for the group
- developing processes under which the IRG will operate
- building communication channels within the IRG, to broader forum participants and beyond
- working towards processes to identify a more permanent arrangement with respect to representative(s) for the National Priorities Forum
- working towards developing a ‘futures plan’ from the Cairns workshop outcomes and principles to provide more solid actions for progression
- key outcomes have been developed and there is a need to identify the RD&E to deliver on the key principles
- providing advice on a process for getting the Cairns forum group back together to review the IRG outcomes and processes
- providing advice to FRDC, National Priorities Forum, people development program and assistance with the scholarship selection promotion.
This project seeks to provide a means to support the IRG so it can achieve the tasks it has been requested to address. These tasks could not be achieved without logistical, financial and human resource support for the group. Without the support of FRDC none of these actions will be able to take place.
Final report
Shaping advice for Indigenous fishing and aquaculture RD&E within the national strategy
Less than 2% of State fisheries agency RD&E capacity is focussed towards indigenous needs. Only the NT has an operational group focusing on indigenous fishing and aquaculture.
Indigenous input and project assessment by FRDC is limited due to the complexities and costs of engaging effectively with indigenous Australians on fishing and seafood related RD&E.
The ability of FRDC’s IIRG to provide advice and input has been limited by the relatively short time available during teleconferences to thoroughly work through proposed concepts. While the IIRG is made of experienced members, the small numbers involved lack some clarity around the type of advice that it can provide towards a national approach, whilst being cognisant of FRDC’s limitations. The group has identified that a face to face meeting/workshop is vital to allow it to develop identifiable Indigenous sector input to the National Strategy.
Following presentation of the IFCoE scoping study the Board noted;
• building capacity was a crucial first step
• that FRDC needs to progress its indigenous investment strategy slowly with much care
• the IIRG will link FRDC to people and hubs where FRDC’s investment would have the greatest chance of success
• FRDC should look for opportunities to partner with organisations on indigenous investment.
The proposed meeting will allow the expansion of the group’s capacity by broadening its network through the inclusion of additional people who provide expertise and links to improve FRDC’s strategic investment in indigenous focussed RD&E and providing an environment conducive to building trust and securing genuine and well-considered input.
This forum will provide advice and assistance to help address the above needs of the FRDC, and to assist the Forum to enhance engagement and enhance RD&E needs for the indigenous commercial and customary sectors.
Final report
Scoping study to assess the potential to develop an Indigenous Fisheries Centre of Excellence (IFCoE)
Around 2.5% of Australia’s population is Indigenous, with the NT higher at 30%. Many remote communities in northern Australia are largely Indigenous.
Current discussion between the NTG and Indigenous groups is likely to see increased opportunities for Indigenous engagement in a broad range of fishing industry activities. The need for improved, coordinated, culturally appropriate RD&E and capacity building has been raised a number of times.
Despite extensive funding for Indigenous employment, training and education, Australia still lacks numbers of appropriately qualified Indigenous people, particularly in remote areas. Many previous attempts to provide these opportunities have largely been unsuccessful. Therefore to maximise these opportunities there is a need to have innovative and coordinated RD&E to assist in building capacity.
A number of institutions are undertaking Indigenous RD&E across Australia. Many Indigenous people feel that better results would be achieved by undertaking this in Indigenous communities where existing seafood industry and resource management activities already occur. Top End Indigenous groups have expressed an interest in developing local institutions to deliver RD&E and training related to the seafood industry, including wild-harvest, research, aquaculture, fishing tourism and resource management through a coordinated vehicle.
There is a need to investigate Indigenous people’s aspirations to scope the types of services required and delivery models which will address needs in a culturally appropriate manner, through Indigenous specific programs.
The NT is well placed to take a lead role in investigating the potential for a national investment in Indigenous Fisheries-RD&E. The aim of the project is to assess the potential for the establishment of a CoE in which investments can be planned, coordinated and funded across a range of prospective partners. However, before such a decision can be made, it is considered prudent to undertake a scoping study.
Final report
A number of individual, organisations and institutions across Australia are undertaking some form of Indigenous focussed Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) that has a fishing and seafood focus. However in many instances this RD&E to the Indigenous sector has not been delivered in a strategic and coordinated manner.
A number of Indigenous groups have expressed an interest in developing local institutions to deliver training, and to a lesser extent undertake RD&E, related to the seafood industry, including wild-harvest, research, aquaculture, fishing tourism, compliance and resource management. It has been proposed that optimised outcomes may be best achieved by developing a coordinated approach through a more formalised service delivery vehicle, thereby allowing the development of areas of expertise across northern Australia to enhance delivery of RD&E to Indigenous people, service providers and funders.
Many Indigenous people have expressed a view that greater involvement and better results would be achieved by undertaking RD&E in Indigenous communities, in close collaboration with, or being lead by Indigenous people. Discussions have also shown that there is a need to focus RD&E towards programs that provide real socio/economic benefit to Indigenous people.
This Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) supported project sought to collect information that would allow an assessment of the feasibility of establishing an Indigenous Fisheries Centre of Excellence (IFCoE) to cover northern Australia.
Keywords: Indigenous, Research, Development & Extension (RD&E), fishing and seafood industry.