Recent research shows general public support for Australia’s fishing industry (Sparks 2017; Voyer et al 2016) that depends on people’s assessments of industry’s commitment to implement best practice and demonstration of being effective environmental stewards (Mazur et al 2014). The FRDC has recognised external pressure for the fishing industry to move beyond compliance with environmental and other regulations and improve its performance in key areas, including animal welfare. As noted above, the FRDC has provided support for a range of research and industry initiatives to achieve positive aquatic animal welfare outcomes. The FRDC also recognises that further improvement to the seafood industry’s aquatic animal welfare practices are required.

Recent FRDC project investments has produced valuable knowledge about how when change is called for it is very important to recognise that multiple factors influence – positively and/or negatively - people’s decisions to take up those new, innovative, and/or different practices (i.e. 2017-133, 2017-046, 2017-221). These factors typically include personal values and belief systems, access to different kinds of resources required to make changes, particular features of the recommended practices, as well as a range of macro-levels factors that while they may be outside of people’s direct control still affect their choices. FRDC Project 2017-133 generated important insights about how and to what extent these kinds of factors have been keeping the seafood industry from making more substantive progress towards building greater stakeholder and community trust (Mazur & Brooks 2018).

Further work of this nature is now needed to shed greater light on aquatic animal welfare in the seafood industry (FRDC 2017-221). In particular the research should be focused on identifying the particular features of ‘best care’ for aquatic animals, the range of factors that may be obstructing industry members’ use of those practices, and examples of recent (extension) initiatives used to encourage better aquatic animal welfare.

Similar to the development process of the previous plans, an industry-government workshop is proposed to be held in late 2020 to consider the review’s findings and consult industry and governments on priority issues to be included in the 4th AQUAPLAN. The workshop would be organised and supported primarily by APHP staff, in conjunction with FRDC, and funding is required to hold the workshop in a venue that maximises attendance from key stakeholders (i.e. in a convenient location). The workshop will be held 18-19 March 2020 and planning will need to begin as soon as possible.
Workshop participants would include representatives from industry (including wild catch, aquaculture and ornamental fish sectors), Commonwealth and state and territory governments, and other government and non-government agencies (e.g. CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Animal Health Australia).