Water abstraction impacts on flow dependent fisheries species of the Northern Territory, Australia - a synthesis of current knowledge and future research needs
The Detection of Ciguatera Toxins in NSW Spanish Mackerel
Future oysters CRC-P: Polymicrobial involvement in OsHV outbreaks (and other diseases)
Assess causes and implications of anomalous low lobster catch rates in the shallow water areas near the centre of the Western Rock Lobster fishery
Mud cockle (Katelysia spp.) stock enhancement/restoration: practical implementation and policy evaluation
Improving Outcomes of Fisher Interactions with Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras
Our Pledge: Australian seafood industry response to community values and expectations
Despite considerable investment in RD&E to understand why the Australian seafood industry has been experiencing diminished levels of socio-political and community acceptability, there is still uncertainty regarding the significant values of different segments of the Australian community for coastal and marine systems, their management and industry (Essence Communications 2015). Further, there is evidence these values and associated expectations are highly changeable and can have significant individual, business and national repercussions. While the seafood industry already operates from a strong values-based position of its own - ‘sustainability’, there is evidence the community's concerns have expanded to include animal welfare, supply chain integrity, modern slavery for example.
Understanding community values and expectations is important but not enough. Industry must articulate and demonstrate its commitments to addressing kncommunity expectations. This is critical to breaking the reactive negative cycle that threatens resource access, mental health and viability of our industry. A means of monitoring and tracking industry's success in responding to the community's changing expectations and values must also be developed.
Seafood Industry Australia's (SIA) members have identified social licence. This project is a tangible commitment to a national conversation and action to address community values. It is an opportunity to build seafood industry unity on the basis of a set of shared values and supporting practices.
Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries (ACPF) has initiated a lot of this listening and values-related work relevant to wild catch prawns. ACPF is ready to design, implement and evaluate activities that embed these values as messages and convey the supporting or changing behaviours as proof. ACPF needs to ensure that its outputs reflect the direction of the Australia seafood industry and sees advantages in liaising with SIA as it produces outputs at sector level. In doing so, it will provide a test case for how other seafood industry sectors can undertake to acknowledge and respond to community values and expectations, and make a national set of shared industry-community values their own.
Report
Seafood Industry Australia commissioned Futureye to review existing research into the Australian communities attitudes toward seafood, as well as other market research, that has been undertaken since 2014. The findings from this review were used to make recommendations to Seafood Industry Australia about what to address in their pledge to demonstrate the industry’s intent to earn its ‘social licence to operate.’
Project products
Australian Society for Fish Biology: Scientific networking, early career development and international engagement
In the face of mounting pressure on Australia’s marine and freshwater ecosystems, there is a need for robust scientific information to support the sustainable development and management of our aquatic resources. The ASFB is Australasia’s premier professional association for fish and fisheries researchers. The annual science conference and associated workshop/s makes an important and tangible contribution to skill development of people involved in fish and fisheries research and management, particularly offering students and early career researchers opportunities to present their work, interact with peers and develop collaborative links. The ASFB has a strong commitment to promoting and communicating science, encouraging sustainable management practices, encouraging excellence in fisheries research, and recognizing outstanding contributions of scientists and professionals through various awards and scholarships. In addition the ASFB has recognised the need for increased international engagement in particular via increased active involvement with World Council of Fisheries Societies.
This proposal is seeking sponsorship support for the annual science conference in 2016 (Hobart), 2017 (Western Australia) and 2018 (location to be decided but possibly Victoria) and a series of conference associated awards that support student travel and recognise research excellence. The proposal addresses three people development program goals, namely (i) to encourage knowledge transfer and R&D adoption (ASFB annual science conference) and (ii) to recognise and promote achievements (ASFB student research awards) and (iii) to enhance industry leadership (bringing together a range of people for the annual conference). These activities will encourage participation and exchange of information and provide an opportunity to develop networks and collaborations with outside organisations. In addition this proposal seeks support for one senior ASFB office bearer to attend the 7th World Fisheries Congress (WFC) in Busan as part of an Australia-New Zealand team bidding to host 8th WFC in 2020.
Handbook
The 2019 ASFB conference was held in Canberra from 14 to 17 October, 2019 at the National Library of Australia, ACT. The conference theme of “Communicate to illuminate & inspire" encouraged the 251 delegates (including 62 students) from across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa, the USA and Fiji to find new ways to share our passion for fishes, and raise their profile among the many people who depend on them for their everyday health and wellbeing.