This project is needed to:

1. Phase the Oyster Consortium in to the R & D body within ‘Oysters Australia’
This project is intended as an extension of Seafood CRC project 2007/715: “Oyster consortium - communication, extension and management of R&D results” during phase in of a proposed national entity for the edible oyster industry (‘Oysters Australia’).

The Oyster Consortium was formed to defragment state based approach to R & D in the oyster industry. 2007/715 was designed to facilitate strategic and national commissioning, management, communication and extension of the industry’s R & D projects.

The national industry plans to form a national entity enabling it to take further ownership of its R & D investment. Agreement on structure of ‘Oysters Australia’s’ R & D body and funding mechanisms has not yet taken place. It is premature to cease co-investment in oyster industry R & D project co-ordination while it has no other funding option.

Funding mechanisms and future budget will be addressed and actioned from January 2012 in Stage 2 of the formation of Oysters Australia.

2. Advise and co-ordinate oyster specific CRC projects for Seafood CRC

The Oyster Consortium has/is engaged in almost 50 projects to date. These projects require varying levels of intervention. The oyster industry's investment benefits from a co-ordinated approach to project link and communication so as to maximise return on investment. Co-ordination and communication will continue with stakeholders including industry, CRC and R & D providers.

Value for money

The industry comprises around 970 small owner operator businesses throughout Australia. Each state has an industry council to coordinate a strategic approach to its R&D priorities. The Seafood CRC has provided a unique opportunity for the oyster industry by providing an opportunity for future growth but it is contingent upon coordinated investment in industry development at the whole of industry level.

The oyster consortium is a collegial group of Industry bodies and private companies and represents the cutting edge or Research and development in the oyster industry. By forming the consortium the oyster industry has become a core participant in the Seafood CRC and will deliver a strategic approach to R&D to maximize returns.

This proposal will provide the resources to ensure that the outcomes of the research and development undertaken through the CRC are adopted and commercialised quickly and extensively throughout the Australian Oyster industry. Without this coordination it will be very difficult to achieve the change at the extent and rate necessary to achieve the growth targets for the industry.

Level of Impact

The Oyster Consortium will be pivotal in achieving the CRC objective with respect to the Oyster industry and will be responsible for meeting two distinct needs involved in their national R&D strategy;
1. The strategic issues of R&D prioritization, funding and the linkages to (and support for) both industry development plans and Government objectives of industry development.

2. The operational issues of facilitating effective communication and coordination at all levels (industry/researchers, among researchers, among industry, FRDC/researchers etc).