73 results
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2020-088
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Quantifying inter-sectoral values within and among the Indigenous, commercial and recreational sectors

This study explored the extent to which values are shared (or not shared) by fishers across three key sectors (i.e., Indigenous, commercial and recreational). The study was run online using Q-Method Software (https://qmethodsoftware.com), a semi-quantitative technique used to explore human...
ORGANISATION:
Natural Capital Economics

Environment Social Governance (ESG) framework plan for fisheries and aquaculture

Project number: 2023-126
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $100,000.00
Principal Investigator: Amy White
Organisation: ERM Australia Consultants Pty Ltd
Project start/end date: 30 Sep 2024 - 9 Mar 2025
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) is seeking support to plan and develop an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework for fisheries and aquaculture to address the requirements of several stakeholders (government, investor, consumers) and be a leader addressing key current and emerging ESG trends and expectations. The ESG Framework would cover all fisheries and aquaculture sectors (Indigenous, commercial, wild catch, and recreational).

The proposal sets our suggested approach to developing an ESG framework development plan for Australian fisheries and aquaculture. It includes our proposed methodology, budget and work plan, as well as information on our team and experience.
The overarching objectives of this engagement are as follows:
- Identify the unifying purpose of an ESG framework for Australian fisheries and aquaculture, the drivers that will shape it and the intended audience.
- Review relevant frameworks, standards and agreements to identify existing requirements and best practice related to ESG for Australian fisheries and aquaculture.
- Provide options for how the Australian fisheries and aquaculture sector could design and structure an ESG framework aligned to existing frameworks and systems, and reflecting monitoring and evaluation aspirations and the unique needs of fisheries and aquaculture.
- Prepare an ESG framework development plan which clearly outlines and prioritises the steps that need to be taken to establish and build a mature framework for Australian fisheries and aquaculture.

Please refer to the attached file (Our Recommended Approach Section, pages 14 - 22) for our detailed approach based on our understanding of your needs (P0710649 Fisheries and aquaculture ESG Framework_V2_STC).

Objectives

1. To develop an ESG Framework Plan for fisheries and aquaculture covering all sectors (Indigenous, commercial wild catch, recreational fishing, aquaculture).
Environment

Non-market values to inform decision-making and reporting in fisheries and aquaculture – an audit and gap analysis

Project number: 2018-068
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $118,293.91
Principal Investigator: Louisa Coglan
Organisation: Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Project start/end date: 3 Feb 2019 - 29 Jun 2020
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Most Australian fisheries policies require that fisheries management take account of the cumulative effect of all human users of marine resources, including professional, recreational and Indigenous Australian fishers. The triple bottom line (TBL) approach is the general framework used to assess performance against economic, social, and environmental dimensions. TBL requires articulation of these broad values, but these may be qualitatively assessed. Significant progress has been made in incorporating some of these elements into fisheries management decision, particularly prioritising different objectives of fishery management [e.g. 1, 2]. In some cases, development of semi-quantitative approaches have been used to assist in decision-making across these multiple dimensions [e.g. 3], including in some cases indigenous value [e.g. 4]. Recent research has also extended this focus to develop a robust articulation of Indigenous Australian customary fishing values to enable their inclusion when developing fisheries management policies [5].

Optimal decisions require the trade-off between costs and benefits to be considered. TBL approaches do not explicitly consider this trade-off, resulting in challenges in identifying optimal outcomes. Where these costs and benefits are expressed as explicit monetary values, assessing the trade-off requires deducting the expected costs from the expected benefits (commonly referred to as cost-benefit analysis (CBA)).

However, in fisheries, many costs and benefits do not have an explicit monetary value. Hence, decisions about the use and management of marine resources increasingly requires objective information on the non-market value of benefits (and costs). Some attention has been focused on the estimation of non-market values of recreational fishing [e.g. 6, 7], although only limited attempts to-date have been made to use these values in supporting management decision making [e.g. 8]. Many other values have not been quantified, and their use in fisheries management has not been fully explored.

Objectives

1. To support robust and defeasible evidence based decision-making in fisheries and aquaculture decision making that is understood and supported by key fisheries and aquaculture managers.
2. To provide managers with an understanding of the resources available to account for non-market values in fisheries and aquaculture decision making
3. To identify key research gaps and make recommendations related to the need for further empirical non-market valuation studies

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-925553-26-0
Authors: Louisa Coglan Sean Pascoe Gabriela Scheufele Samantha Paredes and Aimee Pickens
Final Report • 2021-03-19 • 3.77 MB
2018-068-DLD.pdf

Summary

This study examined the issues around non-market values requirements and identified potential sources of robust and defensible estimates of key values, including those generally viewed as difficult to measure.  
The project identified thirteen types of non-market values that fisheries and aquaculture managers considered as potentially important to their decision making. Of these, the top four involved values related to users of the fisheries resources, including fisher satisfaction, values to Indigenous Australian fishers, and the value of fish and experience to recreational fishers. The next four involved impacts of fishing on others, including habitats, species, local communities and other users of the marine environment.
The gap analysis identified that recent values for most of the values of potential use to fisheries and aquaculture management were unavailable. This limits the role of benefit transfers and identifies a need for further primary studies of non-market values.

Fisheries Management: From Science to Sustainable Practices (program development)

Project number: 2023-089
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $134,589.09
Principal Investigator: Jenny Cook
Organisation: Brentwood Kitchens Pty Ltd trading as Jenny Cook Consulting
Project start/end date: 30 Nov 2023 - 28 Oct 2025
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Developing the capability and capacity relating to fisheries management is crucial to enable a sustainable fishing industry and a viable fishing and aquaculture community.

Current global, national and jurisdictional workforce challenges are impacting on attracting and retaining capable fisheries managers, with a growing need to build entry level capability with new entrants and those transitioning into fisheries management. Additionally, the need to inform and educate stakeholders about fisheries science and fisheries management continues to increase as changes to regulations and operations occur, impacting on license to operate, undertake strategic business planning and necessitating capabilities enabling negotiation, collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

In collaboration with Ian Knuckey, FRDC and end users, this project will design and develop a road map to build and pilot a Fisheries Management: From Science to Sustainable Practices program. This approach will increase access and reach in terms of stakeholder engagement/end users, building capability and capacity in fishing and aquaculture community beyond current learning opportunities. Learning will be accessible to a range of cohorts and via industry structures requesting access to fisheries management training and development, specifically harvest strategies and stock assessment. The project will enable different approaches to learning to be explored by FRDC and available stakeholders including self-directed (on demand), hybrid and face to face workshops via extension.

This project provides an opportunity to ensure DAWE/DAFF investment is leveraged, to think differently on utilising resources to build fisheries management capability and move towards a learning hub approach to build capability and capacity. The project will provide a flexible learning journey pathway for a variety of end users which is clear, can be personalised and aligned to enabling continuous capability and capacity development, providing a structured approach capable of future growth.

Objectives

1. Transition and enhance learning resources to improve awareness, access and applicability to enable capability development
2. Develop clear learning and development pathways with and for diverse, identified audiences
3. Build individual and collective capability and capacity within the fisheries community
4. Enable effective learning and knowledge transfer through varied modalities, catering to different learning styles that foster engagement

Final report

Author: Jenny Cook
Final Report • 2024-11-22
2023-089-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Fisheries Capacity Building Network project, led by Ian Knuckey and funded through Department of Water and Environment (DAWE) aimed to drive more effective engagement in Commonwealth fisheries management processes by Indigenous, recreational and commercial fisheries representatives and concluded in 2023. The Fisheries Capacity Building Network developed a portal with information, resources and links to help educate stakeholders about fisheries science and fisheries management; training activities in consultation with Indigenous, recreational and commercial fisheries representatives; and delivered training activities to Indigenous, recreational and commercial fisheries representatives. Whilst successful, this project was significantly impacted by COVID-19 which restricted face to face workshop delivery with stakeholders. As a result, the project utilised online resources, information sharing and meeting environments to build capacity. 

With the project ceasing, there was an opportunity to include project delivery and engagement learnings and transition resources into improved learning pathways to enable self directed, hybrid and facilitated learning via FRDC. The project will utilise the FRDC website for on-demand style learning and learning management system (LMS) platform to host topics/modules.

This project builds on initial transition work, funded by Fisheries Capacity Building Network project in collaboration with FRDC, to retain and re-imagine building capability and capacity for broader and diverse stakeholders which utilises technology to compliment learning approaches.  The program aims to:
 
  • Develop clear learning pathways for diverse audiences
  • Build sustainable capacity and capability
  • Enable effective learning through varied modalities
  • Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among diverse stakeholders within the fisheries sector
  • Providing accessible, engaging foundational educational resources on fisheries science and sustainable management practices
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