138 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2022-137
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Ensuring market-focused value adding capabilities are available to SA Seafood companies today and through to 2030

Context Fresh premium seafood has long been the best pathway to a viable consumer. That remains true for premium SA wildcatch species (e.g., rock lobster, prawn, abalone) that are, and will continue to be, prosperous. But processing and value adding have never been more critical to attract retail...
ORGANISATION:
Ridge Partners
Industry
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2023-205
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Role of marine reserves in sustainable management of Australia's ocean estate - review of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands bioregion

The statutory requirement to undertake a 10-year review of the Heard and McDonald Islands (HIMI) Marine Reserve led to a proposal to expand the HIMI marine reserve and include new National Park Zones (IUCN II) and Habitat Protection Zone (IUCN IV) arrangements. Subsequently, the total...
ORGANISATION:
TJB Management Pty Ltd
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2020-049
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Monitoring and mitigating interactions between small pelagic fisheries and dolphins: literature review and analysis of fishery data

This review compares approaches taken to monitor and mitigate common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) interactions with the South Australian Sardine Fishery (SASF) with those taken for protected species interactions with other fisheries for small pelagic species, including Australia’s Commonwealth...
ORGANISATION:
University of Adelaide
SPECIES

Aquatic animal welfare – a review of guidance documents and legislation

Project number: 2020-040
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $209,420.00
Principal Investigator: Paul Hardy-Smith
Organisation: Panaquatic Health Solutions Pty Ltd
Project start/end date: 14 Jan 2021 - 29 Nov 2023
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The aquaculture, commercial and recreational fisheries sectors along with the FRDC have recognised the need to continue the work of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) Aquatic Animal Working Group (AAWG) (2005-2013). In September 2018, the FRDC funded a workshop to review the activities of the AAWS-AAWG and for the industry peak bodies to prioritize knowledge gaps for future R&D. One of the recommendations from the workshop funded by FRDC 2017-221 was to conduct a stocktake of the current industry processes and legislation that relate to aquatic animal welfare.

The initial stocktake was completed in 2006 by Dr Paul Hardy-Smith and colleagues. The aquatic animal welfare landscape has significantly changed since 2006. States and Territories are developing animal welfare legislation and guidelines that either specifically addresses aquatic animal welfare considerations and/or includes aquatic animals (e.g. fish, crustaceans) under the definition of “animal” in the legislation. This changing landscape has implications for “in-field” practices (e.g. methods used to kill aquatic animals) and other practices (e.g. transportation of live aquatic animals).

It is critically important that the commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational fishing sectors understand the implications of this changing landscape. These sectors need to ensure their own guidelines or codes of conduct are addressing the regional requirements and if they are not, then it is important that they are assisted in addressing changes to protect themselves. It is important that aquatic animal welfare requirements in no way place human welfare at risk. There is a need to promote the changes to industry practice that have positive outcomes for aquatic animal welfare and to ensure industry practices are keeping within the welfare requirements of that State or Territory.

Our project will comprehensively document and analyse the legislative framework as it applies to aquatic animal welfare in each State and Territory. The project will identify key areas of concern for commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational sectors which will be used to assist in developing priority case studies.

Objectives

1. To conduct a contemporary stocktake of Australia's current aquatic animal welfare policies, programs, and procedures as expressed in legislation, Codes of Practice, Standards or other relevant guidance documents as applicable to the commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational fishery sectors.
2. To develop case studies to assess the suitability and practicality of the all Codes of Practice, Standards or other relevant guidance documents to align with industry practice and the legislative animal welfare requirements in the commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational fishery sectors.
3. Make recommendations to improve the alignment of industry practice with legislation for improved outcomes for aquatic animal welfare in the commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational fishery sectors.

Report

ISBN: 978-0-9756047-6-2
Authors: Dr Paul Hardy-Smith Dr Joy A. Becker and Dr Robert Jones
Report • 2023-03-01 • 3.07 MB
2020-040-DLD.pdf

Summary

This report provides a contemporary review of aquatic animal welfare in Australia, focussing on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods that are captured or farmed in the commercial wild capture, aquaculture and recreational fishing sectors in Australia. It also reviews the welfare of aquatic animals used in teaching or research.
Aquatic animals, like all animals, play an important role in maintaining a healthy environment. Many aquatic animals are valuable sources of nutrition for humans and other animals and contribute significantly to Australia’s primary industry in both domestic and international trade. Other aquatic animals have cultural and economic importance to our tourism and recreational industries. For aquatic animals, as with other animals, better health through improved welfare can increase productivity and can have beneficial impacts on sustainability.
The last review of aquatic animal welfare arrangements in Australia was conducted in 2006. Community understanding of animal welfare, including aquatic animal welfare, has increased since then. Having a sound understanding of animal welfare laws and any changes that may be happening to those laws is important to industries that work with aquatic animals.
Blank
PROJECT NUMBER • 2022-075
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

National Workshop to develop a regional collaborative plan to control the invasive Longspined Sea Urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii)

The 2023 National Centrostephanus Workshop was convened by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. The workshop brought together 130 representatives from industry, government, research, Aboriginal communities, recreational fishing groups, and the community to: • Identify...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE TAS)

Safety in Seafood - Saving lives through a culture of safety

Project number: 2021-103
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $960,000.00
Principal Investigator: Bridie Schultz
Organisation: Seafood Industry Australia (SIA)
Project start/end date: 30 Jul 2022 - 29 Jun 2026
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The primary objective of this program is to measurably improve personal safety culture and outcomes in the Australian Seafood Industry through an industry led behavioural change approach underpinned by a national engagement process. Engagement will occur at all levels of industry to ensure that sustainable culture change is driven through shifts in core beliefs from leadership (top down) as well as grassroots and peer to peer (bottom up). Every person from owner to junior and even volunteers have a responsibility to keep themselves and each other safe. By leveraging and deepening existing relationships at all levels of industry, behaviours at every level will shift as a result of educational, experiential and peer to peer learning and influence.

The application is needed because current and traditional methods of improving safety are not working – people are still dying in our industry. Almost all effort in safety in our industry to date has been compliance driven and from the 'office' down. Compliance based activities, such as safety management systems remain an imperative part of a safe operation, but without the underlying values and behaviours that drive people’s desire to stay safe, to arrive home from work safely, systems and processes become checklists and box ticking. Other Industries and the Stay Afloat program have demonstrated that a culture-based approach to safety behaviour change is the most effective strategy - examples can be seen in high-risk settings such as construction through to linked industry bodies such as the South Australian Research and Development Institute. The Independent Evaluation of the Stay Afloat program indicated the potential strength of the peer-to-peer approach and also endorsed the centralised support and management structure that was utilised. A similar approach is being proposed for this project. Using peer-based education and intervention is key to facilitating and expediting this change.

This program will educate and engage industry members in exploring their beliefs and values and reflecting on how that relates to their work and their safety each day. The significance of the capacity and capability that will be built across our industry cannot be underestimated. The investment in the relationship with AMSA, through to the enormous impact of capacity building in local community over a 4-year period will change the game for our industry. Communities will have confidence that their families and friends will come home safely and that they will enjoy a workplace with vastly lower fears for their safety – physically and psychologically.

The collaborative approach will build capability, knowledge, confidence and resilience through a combination of activities based around minimising risk of incident and also risk of long-term physical and psychological harm.

The project will span 4 years and will be evaluated against a detailed program logic model. A program logic model enables the measurement or evaluation of qualitative and complex human behaviour related projects where quantitative measures may not be useful or achievable in terms of outcomes. The program logic model will measure short term, medium- and long-term indicators of the work being done to achieve outcomes as well as the outcomes themselves. We expect that by the end of Year 2, every industry member body and each of its members will have had initial exposure to the program with a goal of reaching 8,000 people in a meaningful way over the course of the program.

Year 1 – Establish and consolidate industry collaborators, partnerships and steering/advisory groups – set 4-year calendar for consultation and discussion to ensure best practice collaboration and consultation for life of project. Develop terms of reference for Steering Committee to ensure appropriate oversight, governance and contribution to project.
- Establish program logic and project evaluation models which will be core activities
- Finalise project plan ensuring alignments to program logic and evaluation framework
- Establish relevant program policies, guidelines and tools
- Establish program risk register (aligned with the FRDC online risk register) and stakeholder feedback mechanisms.
- Establish program performance and conflict management policy and procedure

Year 1 – Establishment of industry networks made up of two types of influencers
- Peak/industry leaders to act as ‘enablers’ to link us to and encourage forums for conversation, education and consultation. To assist in identification and introductions to grassroots industry members
- Grassroots Safety Advocates – Grass roots in this instance referring to all operational and hands on industry members from supervisors and skippers to deck hands and labourers. These people will be the centre of the peer-to-peer learning, storytelling and ultimately education and influence. They will also be key to the continuing identification of Safety Advocates in industry.
Year 1 – Collect information and extend education tools through online and face-to-face forums
Year 1 – Develop and continually refine a robust communications and extension plan
Year 1 – Launch first industry initiative (eg, Personal E-perb targets)
Year 2 – Full integration of Fish Safe Australia and SeSAFE activities into this program
Year 2 – Expand network of Safety Advocates
Year 2 – Expand and increase uptake of education, storytelling and example sharing
Year 2 – Complete first industry initiative (eg, Personal E-perb targets) and consult with industry on next initiative for greatest impact
Year 2 – Commence promoting short- and medium-term outcomes in early adopting communities
Year 3 – Continue narrative based and other behaviour change activities
Year 3 – Second industry initiative rolled out
Year 4 – Establish methods for continuation of culture of safety activities to be led by industry
Year 4 – Identify the role of potential sponsors for ongoing leadership
Year 4 - Consultation with AMSA and other industry bodies to refine and set strategic safety direction for industry

Industry members from managers to junior staff will influence one-another through narrative, stories and other means to effect behavioural change that reduces risk-taking behaviours - even when no-one is looking. The channels for sharing this narrative and gradual shift in beliefs will be twofold. Firstly, through day-to-day interaction and information sharing that is promoted through the various program elements including the Safety Advocates. These activities will be captured through monthly activity reporting to be designed as part of the program logic and evaluation planning on project kick off. Secondly through the use of the Sensemaker platform which collects narrative and sentiment in a way that also enables users to review the stories and experiences of others. In simple terms industry members will learn from the experience of peers.

As outlined in the project plan, quarterly meetings will be held for the duration of the program to report, review and collaborate with key partners and stakeholders ensuring that the program is maximising reach and impact as well as ensuring that the potential of partners and sponsors to maximise program communications and activities is leveraged. Reporting measures will be finalised with the assistance of expert consultant(s) familiar with program logic design and evaluation.

A robust communications and extension plan will ensure maximum program awareness and uptake of initiatives and training.

Objectives

1. To measurably reduce the number of injuries and incidents across seafood sector- Provide insight and influence to the sector to deepening understanding of the benefits of reporting- Improve reporting of incidents and injuries, noting that an increase in reported incidents and injuries may occur in the short to medium term, with ultimate reductions in actual injuries and deaths being the long-term measure
2. To demonstrate a shift in sentiment and values towards safe practices across industry
3. To establish a recognised culture of safety and support all seafood industry sub-sectors demonstrated through shifts in sentiment around safety values and activities via SenseMaker and also through other identified measures of industry information (such as SIA member forums and other industry information collection to be identified as part of Program Logic)
4. To demonstrate the ability for Industry to be a significant strategic partner in strategic planning and implementation for safety regulation and practice moving forward.
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-053
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Enhancing the understanding of the value provided to fisheries by man-made aquatic structures

In 2018, the state’s recreational and commercial fishers (represented by the peak bodies Recfishwest and WAFIC) commissioned a program of research as part of a Fisheries Research Development Corporation project aimed at documenting the social and economic values and benefits that stakeholders...
ORGANISATION:
Curtin University
View Filter

Organisation