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Establishing a national end of life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system for Australia

Project number: 2023-124
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $273,080.00
Principal Investigator: Anissa Lawrence
Organisation: TierraMar Ltd trading as Ocean Earth Foundation
Project start/end date: 29 Sep 2024 - 29 Jun 2026
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Wild Catch
Recreational Fishing
Rac Wa
Marine Plastics
Environmental Impact

Need

Building on the circularity discussions and work being undertaken by FRDC and the industry, this project seeks to undertake the legwork required to establish a nationwide on-demand End of life (EOL) fishing gear recovery system for Australia and pilot it in key locations. The materials that many nets and ropes are made of are highly valuable and recyclable and in fact in many other countries, is already being recycled or remanufactured. Until now, having a national system has been cost prohibitive due to the large distances and need for economies of scale and limited local buyer interest. As a part of the national targets set by the Australian Government relating to plastics use and recycling, commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors have been exploring how to move to a circular economy model and reduce plastic inputs through a variety of projects run by FRDC and others. However, with fishing gear the biggest plastic polymer input, and contamination challenges, there has yet to be a suitable system established.

This project seeks to enable the opportunities that addressing EOL gear provides in Australia to the commercial fishing and aquaculture sector through the establishment of an effective EOL fishing gear recovery system for the country to reduce the landfill costs to industry. It seeks to build on the learnings from previous projects as well as the ten years of experience of our partner Bureo has in in operating an EOL fishing gear recovery program. Bureo currently have an EOL gear recovery system active in 9 countries.

The key objectives are:
● By the end of 2026 there is an effective end-of-life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system implemented across key fishing ports, and key aquaculture centres benefiting regional communities and fisheries conservation and assisting the Australian Government to address plastic recovery/recycling targets.
● By the end of 2024, the enabling environment for an effective and fit for purpose EOL fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system is in place within Australia, with commencement of recycling underway in key pilot locations.

Objectives

1. By March 2025 the feasibility of and logistical requirements are understood to establish a national end of life recovery system for commercial fishing and aquaculture gear in Australia and an enabling pathway for roll out created.
2. By the end of 2026 there is an effective end-of-life fishing/aquaculture gear recovery system for Australia implemented across at least 5 key fishing ports, with measurable benefits being delivered to regional communities, industry, conservation, while contributing towards the Australian Government’s recycling targets.
Environment

Catch the Drift - Leadership and development training for the next generation in the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries

Project number: 2016-401
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $113,635.00
Principal Investigator: Jill Briggs
Organisation: Affectus Pty Ltd
Project start/end date: 31 May 2016 - 28 Dec 2017
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Wild Catch
Training
Survey
Rac Vic
Leadership

Need

There are considerable leadership capacity building opportunities throughout the Australian seafood industry and community however it must be noted that these opportunities are delivered in a manner that may be perceived as difficult to access and focused on national issues. Considering this the VICFRAB has identified a need. The need is that within the Victoria seafood industry research, industry consultation and a the provision of a pilot leadership learning opportunity targeting young people across the state, from those already working in the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries to those who have completed a university degree should be developed and delivered.

This project will address strategic directions outlined in the Seafood Industry Victoria (SIV) Strategic Plan with the focus people and leadership. SIV has 8 objectives, centered on the themes of leadership and innovation, member service, business growth, people, fiscal responsibility and operational issues.

The project will also respond to Fisheries Victoria Victorian Aquaculture Strategy Action Plan that outlines the importance of capacity building and communication opportunities. Also throughout the Victoria Fisheries management plans for the commercial fisheries consultation and representation are mentioned which requires industry people to have the skills to lead the industry during both forms of engagement.

Objectives

1. To establish the leadership skills gap for the commercial and aquaculture sectors of the Victoria seafood industry
2. To develop a leadership program for two regional locations and address the skills gap
3. To deliver the two regional leadership programs
4. To support the program participants in the above programs
5. To create strong network and leadership succession opportunities for the Victoria seafood commercial and aquaculture sectors
6. To develop and deliver a project evaluation process at the conclusion of the project

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9872781-5-9
Author: Jill Briggs
Final Report • 2018-10-01 • 1.43 MB
2016-401-DLD.pdf

Summary

Catch the Drift (CTD)was successfully completed in October 2018 with the completion of the stakeholder survey. The project delivered three CTD programs within the scheduled timeframe, meeting the expected requested participant numbers.
Additionally, due to the success of the first two regional programs and in response to a request from the Victorian seafood community, a third leadership program was delivered. Forty-five (45) individuals registered for the three programs which met the funders expectations from across a number of sectors. Of the 45 participants, 29 were men and 16 women. There was also diversity in the ages and cultures represented.
The CTD participants are well placed to ensure positive change occurs for industry and are all poised to take on new opportunities. Program evaluation found that the participants and stakeholders consulted identified that the CTD achieved strong outcomes for participants and already there is evidence that the industry is being rewarded with positive outcomes.
CTD has delivered high valued outcomes for Victorian seafood industry and participants and met its objectives.
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-103
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

The evaluation of two species, Cobia and Giant Grouper, as alternative species to farm in the WSSV affected areas of South East Queensland.

In 2016/17, the Rocky Point Prawn Farm, along with other farms in the Logan River region of south-east Queensland, was severely affected by a white spot disease outbreak caused by the exotic white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Measures enforced to eradicate WSSV resulted in a complete loss of stock...
ORGANISATION:
Rocky Point Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd
TAGS
Rac Qld
Marketing
Disease
Consumer
Aquaculture
SPECIES
Cobia
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-086
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Assessment of the capability of Shrimp MultiPath White Spot virus tests: A multiplexed screening platform for pathogen diagnostics in prawns

This report summarises the development and performance assessment of novel PCR based assays to monitor and detect the microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) in Penaeid shrimp samples using a cost-effective and high-throughput approach. The original Project objective was to...
ORGANISATION:
Genics Pty Ltd
TAGS
Rac Qld
Disease
Diagnostic
Biosecurity
Aquaculture
SPECIES
Black Tiger Prawn
Banana Prawns
Tiger Prawns
Endeavour Prawns
Bay Prawns
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-190
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Assessment of gamma irradiation as a feasible method for treating prawns to inactivate White Spot Syndrome Virus

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was detected in diseased farmed prawns by Biosecurity Queensland’s Biological Sciences Laboratory and confirmed by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Diagnostic Preparedness (ACDP) Fish...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
TAGS
White Spot Disease
Vaccine
Rac Qld
Disease
Agriculture
SPECIES
Prawns
Industry
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-118
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Reinvigorating the Queensland Oyster Industry

The overall objective of this study is to provide critical background knowledge to support the reexpansion of Queensland oyster aquaculture, which has been experiencing low levels of production since the 1920s. Once the epicentre of the oyster industry in Australia (Schrobback, 2015),...
ORGANISATION:
Griffith University Nathan Campus
TAGS
Wild Catch
Stakeholder
Rac Qld
Mortality
Husbandry
SPECIES
Oysters
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2019-214
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Survey for WSSV vectors in the Moreton Bay White Spot Biosecurity Area

The objective of this project was to undertake opportunistic plankton sampling and collect small non-commercial species of decapod crustaceans in northern Moreton Bay and near the intakes of the three prawn farms which remained operating on the Logan River during April and May 2020, at a time when...
ORGANISATION:
DigsFish Services Pty Ltd
TAGS
White Spot Disease
Survey
Rac Qld
Fisheries Management
Disease
SPECIES
Black Tiger Prawn
Freshwater Prawns
King Prawns
Banana Prawns
Tiger Prawns
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-157
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Evaluation of Cobia and Giant Groper production and health in multiple growout systems, as an alternative species to farm in WSSV affected areas of South East Queensland

The report details the production performance and health performance of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) and Giant Groper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) reared in tanks, ponds and cages within a farm in the previously white spot syndrome virus affected region of the Logan River, Queensland. Findings of this...
ORGANISATION:
Rocky Point Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd
TAGS
Vaccine
Recirculation System
Rac Qld
Market Opportunities
Husbandry
SPECIES
Cobia
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