Increase the participation and employment of Indigenous people in the NT commercial fishing, management and seafood industry
More than 25% of the NT Population identify as Indigenous - the highest proportion in any state or territory. Indigenous people also own approximately 84% of the NT coastline. Participation of Indigenous people in industries and businesses that align closely with cultural values such as in natural and cultural resource management have been shown to have beneficial social, economic and health outcomes.
There is a need to expand the proportion of Indigenous people participating in all aspects of the NT commercial fishing and seafood industry. This includes through capacity building activities, traineeships, employment, research, education and extension services.
Currently there is a silo approach across local, Territory and Commonwealth agencies and programs to achieve this and poor integration across sectors. Julian Morison from EconSearch, the Principal Investigator for this proposed project, is currently leading two projects in the NT that are designed to address the problems largely arising from this silo approach. One is the lack of current economic information about the NT Seafood Industry. The second involves providing advice on fishing and aquaculture industry market opportunities, through an economic assessment of the current value and nature of opportunities in the NT market with a particular focus on the market size, value and opportunities that are present in East Arnhem Land.
These two studies which are due for completion in March and May 2017, respectively, will provide a solid basis for the proposed project. The primary aim of this project is to conduct research and stakeholder consultation to identify ways to promote and increase participation and employment of Indigenous people in NT fishing and seafood industries.
The project is to be managed under the auspices of Developing East Arnhem Limited (DEAL). DEAL is a not-for-profit development body established in November 2014 to act as the front door to the region for industry and business. DEAL facilitates connections between private enterprise, industry, community and government agencies to support economic diversification and growth in the East Arnhem region for the benefit of the regional population.
Travel Bursary to attend the AquaVet program at Cornell University, in Massachusetts, USA
up-skilling as an aquatic veterinarian as well as exposure to the most recent research and best practice in aquaculture and fisheries in North America. This knowledge and experience gained would be directly reflected back onto projects that Panaquatic participates in as well as our aquaculture clients present and future.
Final report
AQUAVET is a demanding intensive 4 week aquatic veterinary medicine course aimed to equip members of the veterinary profession with the skills and knowledge required to work in the aquatic field. The biomedical skills used so successfully by veterinarians to deal with disease and increase productivity in the terrestrial world can be applied to aquaculture too, but this is only possible by fostering knowledge and skills through programs such as AQUAVET. I attended this course in May/June this year to further my own knowledge and skills in aquatic medicine for the benefit of Panaquatic and Australian aquaculture.