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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.
Industry

Market study to assist target seafood marketing campaign to restore consumer confidence after Hunter River fishing closure due to contamination

Project number: 2016-251
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $16,500.00
Principal Investigator: Tricia Beatty
Organisation: Intuitive Solutions
Project start/end date: 29 Sep 2016 - 29 Dec 2016
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Rac Nsw
Promotion
Marketing
Health And Safety
Contamination

Need

A promotional campaign strategy is now being discussed and implemented (shortly) to establish consumer confidence in seafood sourced from the Hunter River and greater Newcastle regions. Marketing research is needed to ensure that this campaign is effective in addressing consumer concerns and restoring consumer confidence.

This research will then define the target audience, the key messages that must be addressed, and any additional details that will ensure an effective promotional campaign

Objectives

1. To identify through market research the understanding of the Hunter River Seafood Contamination by local residents, and regional, state-wide and national seafood consumers
2. To identify what is their confidence in NSW Government risk assessment and decision to re-open fishing in the region
3. To identify questions they have regarding safety in eating seafood sourced from the Hunter River and greater Newcastle region
4. To provide information to assist in a target seafood promotion campaign of Hunter River and Newcastle region seafood to restore confidence and repair brand damage due to the Williamtown Seafood contamination.

Final report

Author: Michael Sparks
Final Report • 2016-10-01 • 1.41 MB
2016-251-DLD.pdf

Summary

In early September 2015 the discovery of a chemical contamination around the Williamtown RAAF base in the NSW Hunter Valley was made public The NSW Environment Protection Authority warned that chemicals perfluorooctane sulfonate ( and perfluorooctanoic acid ( had been found in surface water, groundwaters and some fish species in nearby waterways Residents living near the base were warned to take precautions such as not eating fish or oysters from local waterways or drinking bore water. The NSW Government formed an expert panel and conducted an investigation into this issue The Expert Panel, after undertaking a major study, has advised that the levels of PFOS and PFOA within seafood in the region are at levels that provide minimal risk to most consumers Commercial and recreational fishing in the Tilligerry Creek and Fullerton Cove areas has re opened since October 1 st 2016 with an ongoing restriction on dusky flathead caught in the Hunter River for commercial fishers. A market research study was initiated to provide an estimate of the likely ‘ and ’ of this issue The research was conducted with two target groups of consumers:
o first, among Newcastle consumers (those who live within 50 km of Newcastle) and
o secondly, consumers who live 50 km 200 km from Newcastle
Industry
Blank
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-026
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

e-fish - An Integrated Data Capture and Sharing Project

The e-fish project provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges currently experienced by fisheries agencies in data integration and sharing. The project, led by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) in consultation with Australia’s State and NT fisheries jurisdictions,...
ORGANISATION:
Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)
TAGS
Traceability
Rac Cmwth
Market Opportunities
Data
App
SPECIES
John Dory
Environment
Industry
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2022-038
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Valuing WA smaller commercial fisheries across the supply chain

This study aimed to produce information about the economic contribution of the supply chain of selected small-scale fisheries in Western Australia (WA), as well as a method that can be applied to making these estimates for other fisheries. Substantial research has been completed to estimate the...
ORGANISATION:
BDO EconSearch
TAGS
Resource Sharing
Resource Sharing
Rac Wa
Non Market Values
Inshore
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-098
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Southern Bluefin Tuna: Changing The Trajectory

Life on the Line is the true story of the Southern Bluefin Tuna, its biological traits and its history of exploitation and most recently its recovery. This documentary covers how research, managers and the fishing industry - commercial and recreational have contributed to the recovering status of...
ORGANISATION:
Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)
TAGS
Wild Catch
Sustainability
Stock Assessment
Recreational Fishing
Rac Cmwth
SPECIES
Chub Mackerel
Atlantic Mackerel
Shark Mackerel
Slender Tuna
Grey Mackerel

Sensory testing of seafood - fresh versus frozen - and development of frozen seafood recipes

Project number: 2017-179
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $67,870.00
Principal Investigator: Peter Horvat
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 14 Jan 2018 - 30 Dec 2019
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Supply Chain
Seafood Quality
Consumer
Awareness
Adaptation

Need

The FRDC has developed a range of materials that assist consumer to better understand seafood - seafood user manual, Eyre Peninsula Seafood Guide, flavour wheel, etc. however little material has been developed to address consumer needs on preparing seafood in a way that reduces smell or touching.

In looking at the recipes developed as part of the seafood user manual, many are now dated and do not reflect the current simplified approach to cooking used by Australian consumers.

Some recipe development has been undertaken by the Alaskan Seafood Marketing Institute - and could possibly be used as a base for adaptation to local species.

Objectives

1. Develop recipes that address consumer needs - do not smell or use frozen seafood
2. Provide the research (qualitative sensory evaluations) to underpin consumer confidence in choosing and using frozen seafood

Final report

Authors: Sue Poole Carl Paulo Philippa Lyons Paul Exley
Final Report • 2019-10-30 • 928.34 KB
2017-179-DLD.pdf

Summary

There is a strong negative perception of frozen fish amongst consumers, with many considering that frozen product is of inferior quality compared to ‘fresh’ (chilled) fish. The resistance to purchase frozen fish continues, despite modern freezing technology and practices resulting in frozen product that remains as premium quality for longer than chilled fish.

Project products

Book • 4.94 MB
2017-179-Fishfreshfrozen.pdf

Summary

Which is better… fresh or frozen? When it comes to fish and seafood, everyone says that fresh is best … but is this really true? Sensory testing research shows there is no discernible difference between fresh or frozen fish from a culinary perspective.
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